Although there were no doubt pockets of isolated tranquility, !7th century England was a land in turmoil, racked by civil and foreign war, religious stirfe, political conflict, plague, and civil disturbances, not to mention class warfare between the old aristocracy and the rising middle class. The breakdown of the old baronial system was converting the English Yeoman farmer, once an example of prosperity for all Europe, into an unemployed vagabond, as the great land owners converted their tenant estates to sheep runs for the Spanish Market (The Dons had all that Aztec silver and had become as addicted to English wool as we are to Arab oil). Newton left London to avoid the plague, and as Tom suggests, found the time and peace he needed to work on Principia. But every period in history was a hellhole somewhere, what else is new?
Unfortunately, people only remember the good times.
Just think, some day we'll look back at THIS as "the good old days".
Current Events » in reply to Newton had "vagabonds" instead of hippies.
re: Newton had "vagabonds" instead of hippies.
The whole thread (33 posts)
- Jonathan Haidt: The real difference between liberals and conservatives
- Very nice...however he forgot to mention one thing...
- "Startle Response Linked to Politics."
- That was truly remarkable
- That was superb.
- Fascinating and insightful,