Censorship in the Papal States and the Suppression of Galileo and Cremonini

Presenter: Breanna Keesling

Faculty Sponsor: Kate Martin

School: Cape Cod Community College

Research Area: History

Session: Poster Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM, Auditorium, A52

ABSTRACT

This research examines how the Papal States determined written works as perceived threats to the Church and how said threats were dealt with in the 16th to 17th centuries. Censorship is a frequent issue in history, often stemming from the suppression of ideas to keep control over the people. I hypothesize that the Papal States censored written works to control threats that challenged their beliefs and authority. Through a literature review and analysis of primary and secondary sources, this study explores how and why the Papal States used censorship to maintain control, particularly by evaluating Galileo's and Cesare Cremonini's suppression. Despite Galileo being a citizen of Tuscany and not the Papal States, he was still brought forth to stand trial in Rome as a perceived threat to the Church’s teachings, particularly due to his written works. Similarly, Philosopher Cremonini, a citizen of the Papal States, and a friend of Galileo, faced the banning of his book due to his philosophies conflicting with the church. This research highlights the use of censorship to maintain control of a state’s authority while exploring how censorship is used to maintain power. Analyzing the use of censorship to control ideas in history allows for a better understanding of how censorship is used in modern-day societies. Overall, the suppression of the works of Galileo and Cremonini provides context as to how the Papal States identified and dealt with written works as a perceived threat.

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