This poster presents a reference network for early modern natural philosophy (c. 1600–1800). Unlike modern citation networks, early modern texts lack standardized references, yet in-text mentions reveal how scholars positioned themselves during a period of scientific transformation. These references, extracted from over 400 Latin works, allow us to map intellectual engagement and construct a historical reference network.

Processing unstructured, noisy data required a custom multilingual transformer-based Named-Entity-Recognition (NER) model, as no existing tool supported early modern Latin. The analysis identified 50,000 mentions and 80,000 ties, highlighting the prominence of ancient and Arabic scholars and a shift toward experimental and Newtonian natural philosophy.

The historical approach to citation network analysis reveals a field shaped by both continuity and change: ancient and scholastic authorities remained central, while figures like Descartes, Newton, Sennert, Gassendi, and Mariotte emerged as influential.

The poster features a network graph, source and tool criticism, and a critical reflection on the research’s insights and limitations. By linking European scholars and extending beyond their boundaries through data-driven, machine learning methods, this study aligns with the EADH theme, offering a critical examination of intellectual exchange and the evolution of natural philosophy.