World History 2 timeline up to the Age of Exploration -- Rebecca Ellinger By Rebecca Ellinger 300 The Muslims invented the triangular sail 610 Muhammad began the Islamic religion 1300 Humanists were created during the Italian Renaissance 1368 The Ming Dynasty began in China 1400 The Songhai Empire started in Africa 1415 Jan Hus was burned at the stake for being a heretic. 1440 Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press 1478 King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella started the Spanish Inquisition 1492 Christopher Columbus was sponsored by Queen Isabella to sail westward to reach Asia. 1492 Gold, God, and Glory were the three main reasons for exploration. 1493 The Line of Demarcation divided the claims of Portugal and Spain 1498 Leonardo da Vinci finished painting the Last Supper. 1499 Michelangelo finished sculpting the Pieta 1500 Slaves were shipped along the Middle Passage of Triangular Trade 1508 Michelangelo started painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel 1517 Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses to a church door. 1519 Ferdinand Magellan started his circumnavigation of the globe. 1521 Hernando Cortes and his forces overthrew the Aztec Empire 1521 Leo X excommunicated Martin Luther 1526 The Mughal Empire began in India 1529 Henry VIII broke from the Church in Rome and divorced his wife. 1532 Francisco Pizarro led the defeat of the Incas 1534 Jacques Cartier explored the St, Lawrence River to Montreal for Canada 1541 John Calvin developed the idea of predestination 1541 John Calvin established the idea of predestination. 1545 Followers of Paul III meet at the Council of Trent 1558 Queen Elizabeth I became head of the Anglican Church 1588 Sir Francis Drake defeated the Spanish Armada. 1598 Henry IV of France issued the Edict of Nantes. 1630 Cardinal Richelieu got France involved in the Thirty Years' War
