The basis of its power was commerce, and especially sea trade. The second has to do with the fatefulness of Galileo's decision, after his triumphant international success with The Starry Messenger , to move back to his native Florence, where the money became available to enable him to dispense with teaching in order to devote himself exclusively to research, but where he was no longer outside the reach of the Vatican when his researches led to conclusions threatening to its interests. See note 1 above. Outbreak of the Thirty-Years War in Germany. Go to the Study Guide for Part 5 of Bronowski's The Ascent of Man .
Suggestions are welcome.
Contents copyright 1997 by Lyman A. Baker . This page last updated 20 January 1999 .