Paris in the Scientific Revolution

The atlas holds 13 people and 50 moments here, from 1553 to 1684. The most recorded lives are Molière, René Descartes and Blaise Pascal.

Notable people

1. Molière

   from 1622 to 1673

   10 moments here

   Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière, was a French playwright, actor, and theatrical manager.…

2. 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…

3. Blaise Pascal

   from 1631 to 1662

   6 moments here

   French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and Catholic writer. Pascal spent his life principally between Clermont-Ferrand, Paris,…

4. Jean de La Fontaine

   from 1635 to 1684

   6 moments here

   French fabulist, poet, dramatist, and author whose Fables became foundational works of French literature.…

5. John Locke

   from 1675 to 1678

   4 moments here

   English philosopher, physician, and political writer. Locke was born in Somerset, educated in London and Oxford, served Lord Shaftesbury in London,…

6. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

   from 1672 to 1676

   3 moments here

   German polymath, philosopher, mathematician, jurist, diplomat, court councillor, historian, and librarian.…

7. Louis XIV

   from 1638 to 1674

   3 moments here

   Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 1638–1715), king of France from 1643, was the Bourbon monarch known as the Sun King.…

8. 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…

9. 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,…

10. 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,…

11. Francis Bacon

    in 1576

    1 moment here

    English philosopher, lawyer, statesman, Attorney General, and Lord Chancellor under James I.…

12. 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…

13. François Rabelais

    in 1553

    1 moment here

    French Renaissance writer, physician, humanist, and Catholic priest. His birth date is disputed, with scholarship placing it between 1483 and 1494;…

Moments

1. 1553 Death in Paris François Rabelais
2. 1576 Diplomatic journey to Paris Francis Bacon
3. 1581 Thirty lectures in Paris Giordano Bruno
4. 1585 Return to Paris with Castelnau Giordano Bruno
5. 1586 Disputation at the Collège de Cambrai Giordano Bruno
6. 1616 Moves to Paris after university René Descartes
7. 1622 Baptism at Saint-Eustache Molière
8. 1622 Medici-cycle negotiations in Paris Peter Paul Rubens
9. 1622 Visits Paris during property settlement René Descartes
10. 1625 Settles again in Paris René Descartes
11. 1628 Meets Bérulle after returning to Paris René Descartes
12. 1629 Tutor in Paris Thomas Hobbes
13. 1631 Family relocation to Paris Blaise Pascal
14. 1635 Studies at a Paris collège Jean de La Fontaine
15. 1638 Visit to Paris John Milton
16. 1638 Birth at Saint-Germain-en-Laye Louis XIV
17. 1639 Return through Paris John Milton
18. 1639 Presentation at a Mersenne meeting Blaise Pascal
19. 1640 Exile in Paris Thomas Hobbes
20. 1641 Entered the Oratory Jean de La Fontaine
21. 1641 Transferred to Saint-Magloire for theology Jean de La Fontaine
22. 1644 Opening of the Jeu de Paume des Métayers Molière
23. 1644 Visits Paris during a French journey René Descartes
24. 1647 Mathematical instructor to the Prince of Wales Thomas Hobbes
25. 1647 Return to Paris and meeting with Descartes Blaise Pascal
26. 1647 Meets Pascal in Paris René Descartes
27. 1648 Barometer experiment at Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie Blaise Pascal
28. 1648 Return to Paris during the Fronde Blaise Pascal
29. 1648 Arrives in Fronde-era Paris René Descartes
30. 1651 Private business in Paris Molière
31. 1651 Fronde crisis in Paris Louis XIV
32. 1658 Command performance before Louis XIV Molière
33. 1661 Opening at the Palais-Royal Molière
34. 1662 Death in Paris Blaise Pascal
35. 1664 Installed at Luxembourg Palace Jean de La Fontaine
36. 1670 Royal entertainment at Saint-Germain-en-Laye Molière
37. 1671 Psyché at the Palais-Royal Molière
38. 1672 Move to rue de Richelieu Molière
39. 1672 Departs for Paris Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
40. 1673 Residence with Madame de La Sablière Jean de La Fontaine
41. 1673 Death in Paris Molière
42. 1673 Final performance of Le Malade imaginaire Molière
43. 1673 Returns to Paris from London Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
44. 1674 Retreat to Saint-Germain-en-Laye Louis XIV
45. 1675 Arrival in Paris on French journey John Locke
46. 1676 Leaves Paris for Hanover service Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
47. 1677 Arrival in Paris as tutor John Locke
48. 1678 Departure from Paris toward Rome John Locke
49. 1678 Return to Paris after abandoned Rome journey John Locke
50. 1684 Reception into the Académie française Jean de La Fontaine

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