Chapter 2: The Enlightenment Era

Born in 1663 during Europe’s Enlightenment, Newton thrived in an environment that encouraged scientific exploration. This was a time when the aristocracy actively promoted scientific advancements, despite the tension between science and religion. The financial support from affluent individuals allowed scientists like Galileo to profit from their inventions, further fueling their research.

During this transformative period, Britain emerged as a hub for scientific progress. Newton, a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, became fascinated with the concept of gravity after witnessing an apple fall from a tree, which led to the formulation of his laws of motion.

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Section 1.1: The Birth of Calculus

Intrigued by planetary motion, Newton realized that contemporary mathematics was insufficient to explain these complexities. Consequently, he pioneered a new branch of mathematics known as calculus, though he only revealed his findings years later after encouragement from a close friend.

Subsection 1.1.1: Newton's Social Isolation

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Section 1.2: The Allure of Alchemy

Despite his remarkable intellect, Newton was a reclusive individual who shunned social interactions. His eccentricities were notable; for instance, he once gazed at the sun for an extended period, resulting in temporary blindness that necessitated days of recovery in darkness. Most perplexing of all was his deep-seated fascination with alchemy.

In a time when alchemy was outlawed in England, practitioners often operated in secrecy. Newton maintained a clandestine laboratory for decades, obsessively searching for the elusive formula that would allow him to transform any substance into gold. His financial resources were largely consumed by the acquisition of alchemical texts and maintaining his lab.