Galileo was born in 1564 in Pisa during the Renaissance. In 1609, Galileo invented a telescope with 30x magnification, allowing him to make groundbreaking astronomical observations. His discoveries included the moons of Jupiter and evidence supporting a moving Earth, challenging the geocentric view. As Galileo became more open about his heliocentric views, he faced opposition from the church. The Pope's Inquisition found him "vehemently suspect of heresy" and forced him to recant his views to avoid torture. Galileo died under house arrest, leaving a legacy as a key figure in the Scientific Revolution.