Writers of the Scientific Revolution
The atlas holds 23 people and 354 moments here, from 1543 to 1687. The most recorded lives are René Descartes, John Milton and Giordano Bruno.
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,…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
Martin Luther
from 1544 to 1546
5 moments here
German Augustinian friar, priest, theologian, professor, translator, and leading figure of the Protestant Reformation.…
Michelangelo
from 1547 to 1564
4 moments here
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet.…
Jonathan Swift
from 1667 to 1682
3 moments here
Anglo-Irish writer, satirist, political pamphleteer, and Church of Ireland cleric, best known for Gulliver's Travels, A Tale of a Tub, and A Modest…
Daniel Defoe
from 1660 to 1685
3 moments here
English merchant, political writer, journalist, intelligence agent, and novelist. This chronology records documented physical presences from his…
John Calvin
in 1564
2 moments here
French Protestant reformer, pastor, and author. Born in Noyon, he studied law in Bourges and spent formative periods in Paris and Basel before moving…
François Rabelais
from 1545 to 1553
2 moments here
French Renaissance writer, physician, humanist, and Catholic priest. His birth date is disputed, with scholarship placing it between 1483 and 1494;…
Nicolaus Copernicus
in 1543
1 moment here
Renaissance astronomer, canon, physician, administrator, and economist whose heliocentric model placed the Sun rather than Earth at the center of the…
Hernán Cortés
in 1547
1 moment here
Spanish conquistador, commander, explorer, governor, and writer whose 1519–1521 campaign against the Aztec Empire helped establish Spanish rule in…
Moments
- 1543 Death at Frauenburg Nicolaus Copernicus
- 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 Takes charge at St. Peter’s Michelangelo
- 1547 Born in Alcalá de Henares Miguel de Cervantes
- 1547 Death at Castilleja de la Cuesta Hernán Cortés
- 1548 Birth at Nola Giordano Bruno
- 1550 Sculpts the Bandini Pietà in Rome Michelangelo
- 1551 Childhood relocation to Valladolid Miguel de Cervantes
- 1553 Death in Paris François Rabelais
- 1557 Councillor of the Bordeaux Parlement Michel de Montaigne
- 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 Born in Stratford-upon-Avon William Shakespeare
- 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
- 1569 Serves Cardinal Acquaviva in Rome Miguel de Cervantes
- 1570 Return to the family estate Michel de Montaigne
- 1571 Retirement to the château tower Michel de Montaigne
- 1571 Birth in Weil der Stadt Johannes Kepler
- 1572 First Mass at Campagna Giordano Bruno
- 1572 Studies at the Colegio Imperial Lope de Vega
- 1572 Campaigns at Corfu Miguel de Cervantes
- 1573 Stationed with his company in Naples Miguel de Cervantes
- 1573 Student at Trinity College Francis Bacon
- 1575 Embarks from Naples for Spain Miguel de Cervantes
- 1576 Diplomatic journey to Paris Francis Bacon
- 1576 Lodging at Santa Maria sopra Minerva Giordano Bruno
- 1576 Arrival at Genoa Giordano Bruno
- 1576 Teaching at Noli Giordano Bruno
- 1576 Admission to Gray's Inn Francis Bacon
- 1577 Family move to Leonberg Johannes Kepler
- 1578 Bergamo stop during northern journey Giordano Bruno
- 1578 Stop at Chambéry Giordano Bruno
- 1579 Residence for legal study Francis Bacon
- 1579 Philosophy teaching at Toulouse Giordano Bruno
- 1579 University enrollment in Geneva Giordano Bruno
- 1579 Brief stay at Lyon Giordano Bruno
- 1580 Lodging at Baden’s baths Michel de Montaigne