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Isaac Newton (1642-1727) is best known for his natural philosophical and mathematical works. Yet he devoted ample time to the study of ancient chronology, resulting in the posthumously published
The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended (1728). Here, Newton attempted to show how the antiquity of Greece, Egypt, Assyria, Persia, and other Mediterranean nations could be reinterpreted to fit the timespan allowed for by Scripture. As the hundreds of books from his library and the thousands of manuscript pages devoted to the topic show, the Chronology was long in the making. This volume provides the first comprehensive analysis of the genesis and evolution of Newton's studies of ancient history and demonstrates how these emerged from that other major scholarly project of his, the interpretation of the apocalyptic prophecies in Scripture. A careful study of Newton's reading, note-taking, writing, and ordering practices provides the key to unravelling and reconstructing the chronology of Newton's chronological studies, bringing to light writings hitherto hidden in the archives.
List of contents
Illustrations, Abbreviations, Acknowledgements, Conventions, Introduction, 1 Past, Present, Future, 1 Chronology as an Early Modern Discipline, 2 The Four Monarchies, 3 Isaac Newton ... Chronologist? 2 Reading Classics, 1 Reading for the 'Origines', 2 Notes and Records, 3 An Independent Scholar, 3 Chaos and Order, 1 The Origins of the 'Origines', 2 'Originals', 3 Ordering Words and Worlds, 4 Lost in Space and Time, 4 Sacred Chronology, 1 Methodising the Apocalypse, 2 Rooted in Scripture, 3 Critical Readings, Some Concluding Remarks, Appendices, Appendix A: The Evolution of the 'Origines', Appendix B: From 'Origines' to Proto-
Chronology, Bibliography, Index.
About the author
Cornelis J. (Kees-Jan) Schilt is a historian of early modern knowledge making based at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and an editor with the Oxford-based Newton Project. He was educated at Utrecht, Sussex, and Oxford University, and specializes in the life and writings of Isaac Newton.
