Giovanni di Casali
Encyclopedia
Giovanni di Casali (or Casale) was a friar
in the Franciscan
Order, a natural philosopher and a theologian. He entered the order in Genoa
and was lecturer in the Franciscan stadium at Assisi
from 1335 to 1340. He subsequently was lector at Cambridge
ca. 1340 to 1341, where he encountered the mathematical physics developed by the Oxford Calculators
.
After he returned to Italy
he taught at Bologna
from 1346 to ca. 1352. About 1346 he wrote a treatise On the Velocity of the Motion of Alteration, which was subsequently printed in Venice
in 1505. In it he presented a graphical analysis of the motion of accelerated bodies. His teachings in mathematical physics
influenced scholars at the University of Padua
and, it is believed, may have ultimately influenced the similar ideas presented over two centuries later by Galileo Galilei
.
He was appointed Papal Legate
at the court of King Frederick of Sicily by Pope Gregory XI
. He died about 1375.
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
in the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Order, a natural philosopher and a theologian. He entered the order in Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
and was lecturer in the Franciscan stadium at Assisi
Assisi
- Churches :* The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi is a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, il Sacro Convento, and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253...
from 1335 to 1340. He subsequently was lector at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
ca. 1340 to 1341, where he encountered the mathematical physics developed by the Oxford Calculators
Oxford Calculators
The Oxford Calculators were a group of 14th-century thinkers, almost all associated with Merton College, Oxford, who took a strikingly logico-mathematical approach to philosophical problems....
.
After he returned to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
he taught at Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
from 1346 to ca. 1352. About 1346 he wrote a treatise On the Velocity of the Motion of Alteration, which was subsequently printed in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1505. In it he presented a graphical analysis of the motion of accelerated bodies. His teachings in mathematical physics
Mathematical physics
Mathematical physics refers to development of mathematical methods for application to problems in physics. The Journal of Mathematical Physics defines this area as: "the application of mathematics to problems in physics and the development of mathematical methods suitable for such applications and...
influenced scholars at the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
and, it is believed, may have ultimately influenced the similar ideas presented over two centuries later by Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei , was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations and support for Copernicanism...
.
He was appointed Papal Legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
at the court of King Frederick of Sicily by Pope Gregory XI
Pope Gregory XI
Gregory XI was pope from 1370 until his death.-Biography:He was born Pierre Roger de Beaufort, in Maumont, in the modern commune of Rosiers-d'Égletons, Limousin around 1336. He succeeded Pope Urban V in 1370, and was pope until 1378...
. He died about 1375.