According to Classical Physics (and Isaac Newton), the laws of motion require time to have some specific features. Simultaneity is a concept and time brings order to the events occurring in space. No matter when or where an event occurs, classical physics assumes that you can objectively say whether it happens before, after or simultaneously with any other event in the universe. In addition, Classical Time must also be continuous to define velocities and accelerations. The whole description of Newtons laws depended on time.
Newton himself began by defining time as: Absolute, true, and mathematical time, in and of itself and of its own nature, without reference to anything external, flows uniformly and by another name is called duration. Relative, apparent, and common time is any sensible and external measure (precise or imprecise) of duration by means of motion; such a measure for example, an hour, a day, a month, a year, is commonly used instead of true time.
In Newtonian time, another concept has to be encompassed by it, like the concept of duration, of a metric, so that we can distinguish events apart.
Newtons definitions and laws were quickly accepted because they led to correct predictions about the world. Which have allowed us to calculate when such eclipses occurred in the past.
Now another scientist who maybe lesser known, is Pierre-Simon Laplace. He supposedly proved the stability of the solar system. In analysis Laplace introduced the potential function and Laplace coefficients. He also put the theory of mathematical probability on a sound footing. He correctly argued that given the laws of mechanics, the complete picture of the past and future world is encapsulated in the present world.
I am obviously a fan of Isaac Newton (if you couldn't tell) lol
Although Newton was a deeply religious man. (I am not religious at all) He was able to not confuse or intertwine science with religion. Which is cool