During the sixteenth century, the Renaissance began to spread throughout Europe, bringing change to people's lives and altering their view of the world. Through art, literature, and science, men and women looked with excitement toward a brighter future. In Italy, one of those pioneers of the future was the great scientist and astronomer Galileo Galilei. His lifelong curiosity and thirst for knowledge was a driving force behind his studies of medicine, mathematics, physics, and, most of all, astronomy. By pointing a new scientific tool, the telescope, toward the heavens, he opened new doors of knowledge and wonder. In challenging the mistakes made by earlier scientists and philosophers, Galileo also became one of the most controversial men in history.

Early directions -- Born of the Renaissance -- A searching mind -- A new direction -- New posts, new obligations -- An eye to the heavens -- Man of the stars -- A controversy of ideas -- The trial -- The pendulum swings.