Technological Effects on Society
Curated by Austin Krause

Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury, Galileo Before the Holy Office, 1855

It was hard to keep up with technology advancing so quickly in the age of Enlightenment. Not only were people introduced to new technologies and critical ways of thinking, but they also were introduced to new lifestyles all together. The scientific revolution ultimately led to the creation scientific communities that were centered around the idea of thinking in a more reasonable manner. Scientists began to ask questions, wondering why it is this way with not evidence to support it.

Galileo was ordered to a stand trial because of this claim. The church and public were worried that he might be right, which would conflict with religion The church wanted to maintain the power it had over civilians. With Galileo claiming that the heliocentric idea is right and having the evidence to prove it, the church was put on the spot. Their authority was in jeopardy. Just by making this claim and the church rejecting it, it was used as proof that the church was against science and new knowledge, and anything else that would conflict with it.