9781422277614

Galileo demonstrates the power of his improved telescope to Venetian leaders in St Mark’s Square.

Words to Understand

concave lens— a lens in which one or both sides curve inward. The edges are thicker than the center. Rays of light are spread out after passing through it. convex lens— a lens in which one or both sides curve outward. The center of the lens is thicker than the edges. Rays of light converge on each other after passing through such a lens. Holy Inquisition— an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, founded to punish those who defied the teachings of the Church. philosophy— the word means, literally, “the love of wisdom.” It has come to mean the study of events and actions from the point of view of their underlying causes and reasons. theology— the science dealing with God’s relation to man and the universe, based on faith and information revealed in the scriptures.