Paris in the Age of Exploration
The atlas holds 14 people and 35 moments here, from 1429 to 1648. The most recorded lives are René Descartes, Blaise Pascal and Thomas Hobbes.
Notable people
René Descartes
from 1616 to 1648
7 moments here
French philosopher, mathematician, and natural philosopher whose methodic doubt, mind-body distinction, analytic techniques, and mechanical account…
Blaise Pascal
from 1631 to 1648
5 moments here
French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and Catholic writer. Pascal spent his life principally between Clermont-Ferrand, Paris,…
Thomas Hobbes
from 1629 to 1647
3 moments here
English philosopher and political theorist, best known for Leviathan (1651). Hobbes’s documented movements include study at Oxford, European travel…
Giordano Bruno
from 1581 to 1586
3 moments here
Italian Renaissance philosopher, Dominican friar, writer, and cosmological theorist. Born at Nola, Bruno studied and lived in Italy, Switzerland,…
Jean de La Fontaine
from 1635 to 1641
3 moments here
French fabulist, poet, dramatist, and author whose Fables became foundational works of French literature.…
John Calvin
from 1531 to 1536
3 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…
Molière
from 1622 to 1644
2 moments here
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière, was a French playwright, actor, and theatrical manager.…
John Milton
from 1638 to 1639
2 moments here
English poet, polemicist, and civil servant. This chronology follows documented residences, education, continental travel, marriages, public service,…
François Rabelais
from 1528 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;…
Joan of Arc
in 1429
1 moment here
French visionary and military figure of the Hundred Years' War. Born at Domrémy, Joan sought the support of Charles VII, helped relieve Orléans,…
Francis Bacon
in 1576
1 moment here
English philosopher, lawyer, statesman, Attorney General, and Lord Chancellor under James I.…
Louis XIV
in 1638
1 moment here
Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 1638–1715), king of France from 1643, was the Bourbon monarch known as the Sun King.…
Peter Paul Rubens
in 1622
1 moment here
Flemish Baroque painter, designer, humanist, collector, and diplomat. Rubens was born at Siegen, spent formative years in Cologne and Antwerp, worked…
Desiderius Erasmus
in 1495
1 moment here
Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, theologian, editor, and author. Erasmus was born in the Burgundian Netherlands, educated in the Low…
Moments
- 1429 Attacks Paris from La Chapelle Joan of Arc
- 1495 Theological study in Paris Desiderius Erasmus
- 1528 Stay in Paris François Rabelais
- 1531 Return to Paris after his father's death John Calvin
- 1533 Return to Paris amid reform controversy John Calvin
- 1536 Paris visit with Antoine Calvin John Calvin
- 1553 Death in Paris François Rabelais
- 1576 Diplomatic journey to Paris Francis Bacon
- 1581 Thirty lectures in Paris Giordano Bruno
- 1585 Return to Paris with Castelnau Giordano Bruno
- 1586 Disputation at the Collège de Cambrai Giordano Bruno
- 1616 Moves to Paris after university René Descartes
- 1622 Baptism at Saint-Eustache Molière
- 1622 Medici-cycle negotiations in Paris Peter Paul Rubens
- 1622 Visits Paris during property settlement René Descartes
- 1625 Settles again in Paris René Descartes
- 1628 Meets Bérulle after returning to Paris René Descartes
- 1629 Tutor in Paris Thomas Hobbes
- 1631 Family relocation to Paris Blaise Pascal
- 1635 Studies at a Paris collège Jean de La Fontaine
- 1638 Visit to Paris John Milton
- 1638 Birth at Saint-Germain-en-Laye Louis XIV
- 1639 Return through Paris John Milton
- 1639 Presentation at a Mersenne meeting Blaise Pascal
- 1640 Exile in Paris Thomas Hobbes
- 1641 Entered the Oratory Jean de La Fontaine
- 1641 Transferred to Saint-Magloire for theology Jean de La Fontaine
- 1644 Opening of the Jeu de Paume des Métayers Molière
- 1644 Visits Paris during a French journey René Descartes
- 1647 Mathematical instructor to the Prince of Wales Thomas Hobbes
- 1647 Return to Paris and meeting with Descartes Blaise Pascal
- 1647 Meets Pascal in Paris René Descartes
- 1648 Barometer experiment at Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie Blaise Pascal
- 1648 Return to Paris during the Fronde Blaise Pascal
- 1648 Arrives in Fronde-era Paris René Descartes