c. 1610–1638Reputable sourceWell documented
Galileo and Experimental Physics
On the timeline · around c. 1610–1638 ·
What happened
The Italian scientist Galileo Galilei insisted that nature be studied through careful observation and experiment rather than the authority of ancient philosophers. He studied falling bodies and the motion of pendulums, and turned the newly invented telescope on the heavens, discovering moons around Jupiter and the phases of Venus — evidence for a Sun-centered cosmos that brought him into conflict with the Church.
Why it matters
Galileo pioneered the experimental method and the mathematical description of motion, earning him the title 'father of modern physics.' His insistence on evidence over authority helped launch the scientific revolution.