INDEX LIBRORUM PROHIBITORUM: The index of prohibited books created by the Catholic Church lasted from 1560-1966. Books written by philosophers, astronomers, and even saints were banned due to ‘heretical’ ideas the church found dangerous and disruptive. For example the outrageous idea that the earth wasn’t flat, or that the sun, not the earth was the centre of our solar system. If the church had its way, we would still be living in the Dark Ages. 

1711 illustration: The Holy Ghost supplying the book-burning fire.