-
Period: 476 to
The Middle Ages (Dark Ages)
The Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages were a more primitve time, compared to the civilized Greeks and Romans before, mainly ruled by Barbarian tribes. There were few educated people around. -
Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Dec 31, 1300
The High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages was a time of a little advancement from its predecessor, the Dark Ages. During this time, some of Europe's finest castles and cathedrals were built. The church exerted much power over the people and was feared by many. -
Period: Jan 1, 1350 to
The Renaissance
The Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" was a revolutionary period in Europe that started in Italy. It produced amazing works of art and made lasting advancements in fields from science to religion. -
Jan 1, 1430
Donatello's "David"
The bronze statue "David" was sculpted by a young artist named Donatello. Donatello was the first European sculptor since ancient times to create a large, free-standing human figure in the nude. "David" embodies Doantello's goals as an artist. It is free-standing and it seems real and alive. One theory of its creation was that it was comissioned by Cosimo de Medici. -
Mar 10, 1498
Michelangelo's La Pieta
La Pieta is a marble scuplture by italian Michelangelo Buonarroti that depicts the Virgin Mary holding her son after his death. This was one of Michelangelo's first works as a popular artist. It was to be unveiled at St. Peter's Basilica in Florence for the Jubilee of 1500. -
Mar 10, 1503
Mona Lisa painted
The Mona Lisa was an oil painting by italian Leonardo Da Vinci painted from 1503 to 1507. Her most famous features are her faint smile and distinctive gaze. She is one of the most well-known art masterpieces. The most common theory is that she is the daughter of a wealthy merchant in Florence who ordered her portrait, but that idea is disputed. -
Jan 1, 1508
Copernicus' heliocentric theory
Nicolaus Copernicus, a polish astronomer, turned the astronomical world upside down when he came up with the theory that the sun was the center of the universe, as opposed to the earth. He added that the earth moved (revolved around the sun) as opposed to stood still, which Ptomely, one of the greatest ancient astronomers and geographers, said. He wrote a book on his theory, but it was not published until right before he died. -
Jul 1, 1508
Painting of Sistine Chapel
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican was painted by Michelangelo Buonarroti on resquest of Pope Julius II. It depicts many biblical scenes from the creation to Noah's Ark. There are also hundreds of figures such prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah, ancestors of Jesus, and small figures such as cherubs. The ceiling is about 131 feet high and 43 feet wide. It took Michelangelo about 4 years to paint. -
Mar 10, 1510
The School of Athens
Italian painter Raphael Santi was ordered by Pope Julius II to paint the walls of his council chamber in the Vatican Palace with subjects of his own choice. This painting depicts Raphael's vision of the world of Humanist thought. In the center are greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle. Next door to Raphael painting, was Michelangelo painting the Sistine chapel. -
Jan 1, 1543
Beginning of modern anatomy
Belgian doctor Andreas Vesalius was considered the "father of modern anatomy". He collected corpses from gallows and graveyards. Vessalius then performed dissections and made detailed observations of all aspects of the body's structure. His dicoveries were assembled into a book. His study of anatomy is part of the basis of modern medicine. -
Study of advanced magnetism
Englishman William Gilbert was credited by many as the "father of electricity and magnetism". He performed many experiments that, some of which resulted in the discovery that magnetic forces often produced circular motions. He connected magnetism with the rotation of earth. He then proposed that earth is a magnetic planet with corresponding north and south poles. -
Pendulum designed
Italian Galileo Galilei discovered the essence of a pendulum while watching a lamp swing back and forth. He discovered that pendulums take equal time regardless of their width. Pendulums were used as a sort of stopwatch or clock back then. Today, you can still see them counting beats in old grandfather clocks. -
Galileo revolutionizes telescope
When Italian Galileo Galilei learned of the telescope, he made several others, each more powerful than the next. When he pointed one to the sky, he made many discoveries, including that there are mountains and valleys on the moon, Jupiter has four moons, and the Milky Way is made of countless separate stars.
