The 17th century, also referred to as the 1600s, spanned the years 1601 to 1700.
During the 17th century major changes in philosophy and science took place. Before the 17th century began, science and scientists were not truly recognized. In fact, at first people like the 17th century genius Isaac Newton were called natural philosophers, since there was no concept of the word scientist for most of the 17th century.
The intrusion of newly invented machines became part of the daily and economic lives of 17th century folk. During the 17th century, the science of chemistry developed from medieval alchemy, and the 17th century science of astronomy evolved from astology.
By the end of the 17th century, a scientific revolution had occurred and science had become an established mathematical, mechanical, and empirical body of knowledge. Galileo Galilei, René Descartes, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton, and others had become noted scientists.
1608
- Hans Lippershey invents the first refracting telescope.
1620
- The earliest human-powered submarine invented by Cornelis Drebbel.
1624
- William Oughtred invents a slide rule.
1625
- Frenchmen, Jean-Baptiste Denys invents a method for blood transfusion.
1629
- Giovanni Branca invents a steam turbine.
1636
- W. Gascoigne invents the micrometer.
1642
- Frenchmen, Blaise Pascal invents an adding machine.
1643
- Evangelista Torricelli invents the barometer.
1650
- Otto von Guericke invents a air pump.
1656
- Christian Huygens invents a pendulum clock.
1660
- Cuckoo clocks made in Furtwangen, Germany, in the Black Forest region.
1663
- James Gregory invents the first reflecting telescope.
1668
- Isaac Newton invents a reflecting telescope.
1670
- The first reference to a candy cane is made.
- Dom Pérignon invents Champagne.
1671
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz invents a calculating machine.
1674
- Anton Van Leeuwenhoek was the first to see and describe bacteria with a microscope.
1675
- Christian Huygens patents the pocket watch.
1676
- Robert Hooke invents the universal joint.
1679
- Denis Papin invents the pressure cooker.
1698
- Englishmen, Thomas Savery invents a steam pump.