Origins of the Plague and Newton's Isolation

The second plague pandemic began in 1331 AD in Central Asia and spread rapidly throughout Asia and Europe, devastating urban areas and causing the deaths of approximately 20% of the global population. London experienced its last significant outbreak in 1666, leading to about 100,000 deaths, around a quarter of its population. This context of fear and chaos mirrored the earlier experience of many during the COVID-19 pandemic, evoking feelings of isolation and disruption of daily life. Isaac Newton, forced to return home from Cambridge during this tumultuous time, found himself in a position to delve deeply into his scholarly pursuits in the months of retreat at his family estate.