JOSEPH PRIESTLEY (1733 1804)
A New Chart of History, according to Act of Parliament, April 11th 1769 by J. Johnson (1770) published by J. Brwles/ R. Sayer/ T. Jeffreys in 18 sections mounted...

JOSEPH PRIESTLEY (1733 1804)
A New Chart of History, according to Act of Parliament, April 11th 1769 by J. Johnson (1770) published by J. Brwles/ R. Sayer/ T. Jeffreys in 18 sections mounted on linen, folded, engraved by Pulman and Butterworth, Leeds, the dedication is To Benjamin Franklin L.L.D, F.R.S. In Testimony of Esteem and Friendship, inscribed by his most obliged and humble servt. Joseph Priestley, 620 x 907mm

The philosopher and polymath Priestley, best known for his research into air, that led to the discovery of oxygen, encapsulated the spirit of the Enlightenment. He produced this chart, (alongside a book of explanation [not present]), to illustrate the comparative developments of world history and the rise and decline of empires. This new non-imperial and non-Eurocentric idea that all the worlds history was significant adopted by Voltaire and other thinkers, was absorbed by the intellectuals behind the movement for Independence in North America.

 

 

 

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