Galileo Galilei: 2/15/1564- 1/8/1642
Brief Profile
Galilei is known as the “father of science” as well as the “father of modern physics”. He discovered the different phases of Venus via a telescope and also discovered for moons that orbited around Jupiter. Galilei also spent time studying the Sun, in particular he looked at sunspots and the significance of sunspots.
Events/ Figures in Galilei’s Lifetime
In 1607, the English founded Virginia in the Americas. This was part of the expansion into the Western hemisphere, which was done by all major European countries.
In 1636, Harvard College was founded in Cambridge in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This was named after a minister named John Harvard.
Reflection
The one thing that stood out to me during my research of these astronomers and specifically their lifetimes, was how close together they were. Excluding Copernicus, all of the other astronomers lived at overlapping times as the others, which to me shows that astronomy and the studying of our universe were quintessential to those times. I also did not know that Harvard was named after a minister, so it was interesting to learn something about one of the most influential universities in the world. On the same note, I also did not know that Massachusetts was called the Massachusetts Bay Colony at one point. This exercise was interesting way to gain perspective on history. I would have never thought that looking at the birthdays of astronomers would have lead to me learning more about the backstory of Harvard!
References
“Galilei Galilei.” Wikipedia. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei#Timeline >.
“History of Harvard University.” Harvard University. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.
< http://www.harvard.edu/history >.
“William Shakespeare.” Wikipedia. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare>.
Wood, Maren. “The Founding of the Virginia Colony.” Learn NC. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.
< http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-colonial/2029 >.
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