1600 to 1699: Principia to An Essay Concerning....

A Chronology of World, British and American Literature.

Sir Isaac Newton. British. 1687. Science. Principia. Presents the law of gravitation and rules for reasoning from physical events.

Henry Purcell (music) and Thomas Wharton (text). British. 1688. Song. “Lillibulero.” Savagely thunderous British marching song of the English Revolution of 1688. Satirizes James II and the Catholics.

Racine. French. 1689. Play. Esther. Based on the Book of Esther in the Bible. Relates the story of Esther and Ahasuerus. Written for school girls.

William and Mary. British. 1689. Nonfiction. Declaration of Right. Sets forth the fundamental principles of the English Constitution. Limits royal power.

John Locke. British. 1690. Philosophy. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Knowledge stems from the perception of the relationships among ideas. The mind at birth is a blank sheet. There are no innate ideas. We acquire knowledge through experience, sensation and reflection.