Galileo

To understand the Renaissance, that 300 year period between the 14th - 17th century, you need look no further than Italy, and in particular Florence. It was the hub of an explosion in humanist philosophy, art and science known as the bridge between medieval and modern times. Considered civilization's re-birth coming out of the Dark Ages, this time period resulted in some of the world's greatest discoveries, and produced some of history's most accomplished human beings.

One of those is Galileo and his study of the planetary and earth sciences, widely acknowledged as the father of modern science. He did it all: math, physics, chemistry, natural sciences, astronomy, engineering, medicine. 

Galileo standing, showing the Doge of Venice his newest invention, the telescope:

One of the greatest challenges of his age  was defining time and the geography of the universe, for solving this riddle would enable the Church to establish a calendar, Feast Days and fixed Liturgical celebrations. This model of the knowledge of  planetary and celestial movement is twice as high as Marc.

A close-up of the known planetary and celestial trajectories:

17th century quadrant, as tall as us:

Aristotelian Planetarium the height of your knee:

A vast collection of globes throughout the centuries:

Including astrological mapping:

A mathematician's toolbox, 17th century, the size of a very large encyclopedia. 

Imagine lugging that through the cobblestone streets of Florence in your satin and silk robes! Wonderful.

Galileo himself, in front of his original model that measures speed on a curved versus straight plane.

I will let the panels speak:

His first telescopes:

A collection of subsequent models:

Telescope with accessories, 1764. The carving and artwork, soooo cool!

Galileo explaining to the church his theory of the sun being a stationary object with the planets rotating. Heresy at the time:

Resulting in his being called to The Inquisition with a subsequent guilty verdict.

Forced to not speak of his discoveries for the last 30 years of his life, often heard muttering "they move, they move...." He died following 10 years of house arrest, a sentence imposed because he could no longer remain silent.

Newton's telescopes, bigger and stronger:

This guy, the Keith Richards of 19th century science! 

Not sure what he did, but we loved his crazy look!

Giovanni Amici, Italian 1800s astronomer.

It really is amazing.

As of 2015, the Catholid Church has still not rescinded its judgement resulting from the Inquisition. There has been no formal apology, no formal honour hung within the Vatican walls. Committees and committees of priests, bishops, cardinals, and the last 3 popes still debate whether the verdict was wrong given the scriptural teachings and interpretations at the time.