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Dec 6, 1440
Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press
The Gutenberg press with its wooden and later metal movable type printing brought down the price of printed materials and made such materials available for the masses. It remained the standard until the 20th century. -
Apr 15, 1452
The birth of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo was born in a small town of Vinci located between the Tucsan cities of Pistoia and Empoli.A child of unearthly beauty, Leonardo showed precocious genius in math, music and art. -
Mar 6, 1475
The birth of Michelangelo
Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer. His most famous statues include the 18-foot David (1501-1504) and the Pietà (1499), -
Mar 4, 1513
Machiavelli writes "The Prince"
The Prince is sometimes claimed to be one of the first works of modern philospohy.The descriptions within The Prince have the general theme of accepting that ends of princes, such as glory, and indeed survival, can justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends -
Dec 12, 1516
Thomas more publishes Utopia
Utopia literally translates, "Of a republic's best state and of the new island Utopia". One interpretation holds that this suggests that while Utopia might be some sort of perfected society, it is ultimately unreachable.[ -
Oct 1, 1517
martin Luther posts his 95 Theses
The arrival of Johann Tetzel in Saxony in 1517 to proclaim the indulgence granted by Leo X prompted Luther to post his historic 95 theses on the door of the castle church. Luther's theses were widely distributed and read, finding sympathy among the exploited peasantry and among the civil authorities, who deplored the drainage of funds to Rome. -
Jan 3, 1521
martin Luther is excommunicated from the church
His refusal to retract all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521 resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the emperor.Luther taught that salvation is not earned by good deeds but received only as a free gift of God's grace through faith in Jesus as redeemer from sin. -
Feb 10, 1545
The council of Trent begins
The Council of Trent, "in session off and on for eighteen years from 1545 to 1563.The Council made many decisions for the church during its years in session in an effort to establish the traditions and doctrines of the church.
