1687

1687 was a year in the late 17th century marked most famously by Isaac Newton's publication of Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, commonly known as the Principia. Published in London, the work articulated Newton's three laws of motion and his law of universal gravitation, providing a mathematical framework for describing the motion of bodies both on Earth and in space. The Principia is widely regarded as a turning point in the Scientific Revolution and had a profound influence on the development of physics and astronomy.

The year sits within a broader climate of political and religious tension in Europe. In England, the reign of King James II continued, a period that culminated in the political upheavals of the subsequent Glorious Revolution of 1688. In continental Europe, the late 1680s were dominated by power politics among major states, alongside ongoing intellectual exchange through scientific societies such as the Royal Society, which facilitated the dissemination of new ideas.

Globally, European colonial expansion and trade persisted, fostering networks that connected scholars and markets across continents. The cultural milieu of the Baroque era also shaped contemporary arts, architecture, and music in Europe and its overseas territories. In this way, 1687 is often remembered primarily for the Principia, but it sits within a wider tapestry of scientific, political, and cultural developments characteristic of the era.