Galileo

Solomon Barnett
History 291
November 19

Galileo


In the early seventeenth century, Galileo Galilei began the construction of a device that would transform the scientific world.   Galileo did not invent the telescope but his improvements on it made him the most scientifically successful user of this instrument in his time.   However, Galileo would not stop at scientific discovery.   The father of three successfully marketed the improved instrument to the Senate of Venice and the Grand Duke Cosimo II of Tuscany in hopes of possibly furthering his career.   In the telescope's transitional form, Galileo is able to obtain a salary raise and a permanent position at the University of Padua   but he is disappointed with this offer and continues to make improvements on the telescope.   He realizes that his ties to Cosimo's court, he taught the Grand Duke when he was younger,   could be used to his advantage.   The medium for his objective was The Sidereal Messenger.   This treatise gives a direct dedication to Cosimo and his court with the hope that he will gain its favor and "patronage from the ruler of his native land."   It is also the medium through which he conveys his advocacy of the Copernican system, particularly using his telescopically enhanced observations of the moon's irregular surface and Jupiter's moons.  
Galileo saw the opportunity to gain a great deal from his telescope from the beginning of its conception.   The senate of Venice offered him an increase in salary and a permanent appointment at the University based on Galileo's first improvement which only magnified objects by ten times .   He realized that the telescope could improve his financial situation but he was smart enough to not settle for his first offer.   He quickly wrote to the Tuscan court about his discoveries.   When Galileo heard that the Grand Duke Cosimo and his three brothers were astonished by his almost supernatural intelligence,   he realized that he could use this to his advantage.... [continues]

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