History Joseph Priestley and education

a redacted version of priestley s chart of biography (1765)

as supplement lectures on history, priestley designed , published chart of biography (1765) , new chart of history (1769) (which dedicated benjamin franklin). these charts , accompanying descriptions allow students, priestley said, trace out distinctly dependence of events distribute them such periods , divisions shall lay whole claim of past transactions in , orderly manner.

the chart of biography covers vast timespan, 1200 bc 1800 ad, , includes 2 thousand names. priestley organized list 6 categories: statesman , warriors; divines , metaphysicians; mathematicians , physicians (natural philosophers placed here); poets , artists; orators , critics (prose fiction authors placed here); , historians , antiquarians (lawyers placed here). priestley s principle of selection fame, not merit; therefore, mentions, chart reflection of current opinion. wanted ensure readers recognize entires on chart. priestley had difficulty assigning of people individual categories; attempted list them in category under important work had been done. machiavelli therefore listed historian rather statesman , cicero listed statesman instead of orator. chart arranged in order of importance; statesmen placed on lower margin, easier see, because names familiar readers.

the chart of history lists events in 106 separate locations; illustrates priestley s belief entire world s history significant, relatively new development in eighteenth century, had begun voltaire , william robertson. world s history divided following geographical categories: scandinavia, poland, russia, great britain, spain, france, italy, turkey in europe, turkey in asia, germany, persia, india, china, africa , america. priestley aimed show history of empires , passing of power; subtitle of description accompanied chart view of principle revolutions of empire have taken place in world , wrote that:

the capital use [of charts as] excellent mechanical knowledge of history, impressing imagination indelibly image of rise, progress, extent, duration, , contemporary state of considerable empires have ever existed in world.

as arthur sheps in article charts explains, horizontal line conveys idea of duration of fame, influence, power , domination. vertical reading conveys impression of contemporaneity of ideas, events , people. number or density of entries . . . tells vitality of age. voids in chart indicated intellectual dark ages, example. both charts popular decades—the new chart of history went through fifteen editions 1816. trustees of warrington impressed priestley s lectures , charts arranged university of edinburgh grant him doctor of law degree in 1764.