Historical figures of the Scientific Revolution
The atlas holds 38 people and 540 moments here, from 1543 to 1687. The most recorded lives are René Descartes, John Milton and Galileo Galilei. Among them Writers, Philosophers and Political Leaders.
Notable people
René Descartes
from 1596 to 1650
45 moments here
French philosopher, mathematician, and natural philosopher whose methodic doubt, mind-body distinction, analytic techniques, and mechanical account…
John Milton
from 1608 to 1674
40 moments here
English poet, polemicist, and civil servant. This chronology follows documented residences, education, continental travel, marriages, public service,…
Galileo Galilei
from 1564 to 1642
35 moments here
Italian astronomer, physicist, engineer, mathematician, and natural philosopher. Born in Pisa, Galileo was educated in Tuscany, taught mathematics at…
Elizabeth I
from 1547 to 1603
35 moments here
Elizabeth I (1533–1603), daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death.…
Giordano Bruno
from 1548 to 1600
31 moments here
Italian Renaissance philosopher, Dominican friar, writer, and cosmological theorist. Born at Nola, Bruno studied and lived in Italy, Switzerland,…
Michel de Montaigne
from 1557 to 1592
29 moments here
French Renaissance writer, magistrate, diplomat, and two-term mayor of Bordeaux, best known for the Essais.…
Diego Velázquez
from 1599 to 1660
27 moments here
Spanish Baroque painter and court artist to Philip IV of Spain. Born in Seville, he trained there before establishing his long-term home and career…
Peter Paul Rubens
from 1577 to 1640
25 moments here
Flemish Baroque painter, designer, humanist, collector, and diplomat. Rubens was born at Siegen, spent formative years in Cologne and Antwerp, worked…
Molière
from 1622 to 1673
24 moments here
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière, was a French playwright, actor, and theatrical manager.…
Lope de Vega
from 1562 to 1635
23 moments here
Spanish playwright, poet, and novelist of the Spanish Golden Age. Born and died in Madrid, Lope de Vega studied in Madrid and Alcalá, served in naval…
Miguel de Cervantes
from 1547 to 1616
22 moments here
Spanish novelist, playwright, poet, soldier, purchasing agent and tax collector, best known for Don Quixote.…
John Locke
from 1632 to 1683
22 moments here
English philosopher, physician, and political writer. Locke was born in Somerset, educated in London and Oxford, served Lord Shaftesbury in London,…
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
from 1646 to 1687
20 moments here
German polymath, philosopher, mathematician, jurist, diplomat, court councillor, historian, and librarian.…
Rembrandt
from 1606 to 1669
18 moments here
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669) was a Dutch painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.…
Johannes Kepler
from 1571 to 1630
16 moments here
German astronomer, mathematician, astrologer, natural philosopher, and music theorist. Kepler’s documented life moved from Württemberg schooling…
William Shakespeare
from 1564 to 1616
15 moments here
English playwright, poet, actor, and theatrical shareholder. Surviving records place Shakespeare principally in Stratford-upon-Avon and London, with…
Francis Bacon
from 1561 to 1626
13 moments here
English philosopher, lawyer, statesman, Attorney General, and Lord Chancellor under James I.…
Louis XIV
from 1638 to 1685
12 moments here
Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 1638–1715), king of France from 1643, was the Bourbon monarch known as the Sun King.…
Blaise Pascal
from 1623 to 1662
11 moments here
French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and Catholic writer. Pascal spent his life principally between Clermont-Ferrand, Paris,…
Thomas Hobbes
from 1588 to 1679
11 moments here
English philosopher and political theorist, best known for Leviathan (1651). Hobbes’s documented movements include study at Oxford, European travel…
Jean de La Fontaine
from 1621 to 1684
11 moments here
French fabulist, poet, dramatist, and author whose Fables became foundational works of French literature.…
Baruch Spinoza
from 1632 to 1677
10 moments here
Dutch philosopher Baruch (Benedictus) de Spinoza lived entirely in the Dutch Republic. His securely documented locations trace a life centered on…
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
from 1547 to 1558
9 moments here
Charles V (1500–1558), also Charles I of Spain, was Holy Roman Emperor, king of Spain, and ruler of the Habsburg Netherlands.…
Isaac Newton
from 1643 to 1687
7 moments here
English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, theologian, alchemist, author, and public official.…
Moments
- 1543 Death at Frauenburg Nicolaus Copernicus
- 1543 Besieges Esztergom Suleiman the Magnificent
- 1544 Dedicates the Torgau Castle Chapel Martin Luther
- 1545 Exile in Metz François Rabelais
- 1545 Inaugurates Leipzig's university church Martin Luther
- 1545 Preaches in Halle's Market Church Martin Luther
- 1546 Delayed in Halle on his final journey Martin Luther
- 1546 Dies during his last Eisleben visit Martin Luther
- 1547 Household at Chelsea Elizabeth I
- 1547 Takes charge at St. Peter’s Michelangelo
- 1547 Battle of Mühlberg Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1547 Born in Alcalá de Henares Miguel de Cervantes
- 1547 Death at Castilleja de la Cuesta Hernán Cortés
- 1548 Birth at Nola Giordano Bruno
- 1549 Residence at Hatfield House Elizabeth I
- 1550 Imperial court at Innsbruck Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1550 Sculpts the Bandini Pietà in Rome Michelangelo
- 1551 Childhood relocation to Valladolid Miguel de Cervantes
- 1552 Arrival at Villach after escape Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1552 Flight from Innsbruck Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1552 Siege of Metz Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1553 Death in Paris François Rabelais
- 1553 Entry into London with Mary Elizabeth I
- 1554 Departure from Ashridge for interrogation Elizabeth I
- 1554 Imprisonment in the Tower of London Elizabeth I
- 1554 House arrest at Woodstock Palace Elizabeth I
- 1554 Abdication of Naples, Sicily, and Milan Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1555 Public abdication before the States General Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1555 Return to Hatfield House Elizabeth I
- 1557 Retirement at the Monastery of Yuste Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1557 Councillor of the Bordeaux Parlement Michel de Montaigne
- 1557 Death at Saint-Malo Jacques Cartier
- 1558 Death at Yuste Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1558 Accession at Hatfield Elizabeth I
- 1559 Coronation at Westminster Abbey Elizabeth I
- 1561 Birth at York House Francis Bacon
- 1562 Studies in Naples Giordano Bruno
- 1562 With Charles IX at the siege of Rouen Michel de Montaigne
- 1562 Birth in Madrid Lope de Vega
- 1564 Royal progress to Cambridge Elizabeth I
- 1564 Born in Stratford-upon-Avon William Shakespeare
- 1564 Baptized at Pisa Cathedral Galileo Galilei
- 1564 Born in Pisa Galileo Galilei
- 1564 Final sermon at St. Pierre John Calvin
- 1564 Dies at Macel de’ Corvi Michelangelo
- 1564 Works on the Rondanini Pietà Michelangelo
- 1564 Baptized at Holy Trinity Church William Shakespeare
- 1564 Death in Geneva John Calvin
- 1565 Entered San Domenico Maggiore Giordano Bruno
- 1566 Moves with family to Madrid Miguel de Cervantes