16th Century

EXPLORATION. Pedro Álvares Cabral (K.B.)

Apr 23, 1500

A Portuguese navigator who officially discovered Brazil. He embarked on his exploration with 13 ships and 1500 men. When he and his crew reached Brazil they believed it was an island.

ARTWORK. Statue David (E.R)

Jan 1, 1501

Michelangelo returns to his native Florence to begin work on the statue David.

ARTWORK. Mona Lisa (E.R)

Jan 1, 1503

Leonardo da Vinci begins painting his famous art work during the Italian Renaissance. He finished it within the next three to four years.

WAR. Battle of Cerignola (K.R)

Apr 21, 1503

Spain defeats France at this battle. It is considered to be the first battle in history won by gunpowder small arms.

REFORMATION. Martin Luther and the Augustinian Friars (K.B.)

Jul 1, 1505

He joined the friars in 1505. After only nine months, he was ordained and took his final vows. Today, it takes most priests nine years before they are ordained. Luther showed a lot of progress, and after he studied for a year and a half he was promoted to professor.

RANDOM. St. Francis Xavier (E.R.)

Apr 7, 1506

He was born on April 7, 1506, in Navarre Spain. He was an important person, because he helped to establish Chritianity in India, Sri Lanka, and Japan. He tried to go to China, but ended up dieing on the way. He also became one of the first seven people to join the Society of Jesus.

ARTWORK. St. Peter's Basilica (E.R.)

Apr 18, 1506

The new basilica's buidin process began when Julius II laid the forst stone. The design for the basilica came from Donato Bramante. When he died, Leo X appointed other architects. Eventually, Michaelangelo was made the chief architect.

WAR. Jewish Massacre (K.R.)

Apr 19, 1506

At least two thousand converted Jews are massacred in a Lisbon riot.

RANDOM. Smallpox Epidemic (E.R.)

Jan 1, 1507

First recorded outbreak of smallpox in the New World occurred in Hispaniola. It killed off the native Taíno people. Smallpox is a contagious disease. It causes fevers and small blisters or pimples to be on the skin, which usually leave permanent scars.

WAR. Battle of Diu (K.R.)

Feb 3, 1509

The Battle of Diu was crucial for the Portuguese to win because it would allow them to control the Indian Ocean, which meant that they would also be able to dominant trade.

REFORMATION. John Calvin (K.B.)

Jul 10, 1509

John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509, in Noyon, France. He studied for a career in the Church at the University of Paris and at the University of New Orleans. John Clavin's teachings: All authority is contained in the Scriptures (not humans), human freedom doesn't have the power to do good works, man can't gain merit through good works, none of the sacraments give grace, and human nature is totally corrupt and rotten.

RANDOM. Commentariolus by Copernicus (E.R.)

Jan 1, 1512

Commentarioulus ("Little Commentary") was Nicholas Copernicus's first version of his heliocentric theory about the universe. The commentary was a forty page outline, which contained Copernicus's idea about the sun being at the center of the universe.

REFORMATION. Concordat of Bologna (K.B.)

Jan 1, 1516

The Concordat of Bologna led the King of France to assume more power over the Church.

REFORMATION. Posting of the 95 Theses (K.B.)

Oct 31, 1517

Martin Luther's 95 Theses was nailed to the door of the Church at Wittenburg in Germany on October 31, 1517. None of these were directly heretical but they do undermine the teaching authority of the Church. The 95 Theses argued against indulgences and the sale of indulgences.

EXPLORATION. Circling the Earth (K.B.)

Sep 20, 1519

A Spanish expedition was commanded by Magellan and Elcano. 5 ships and 237 men set out to circumnavigate the Earth. Magellan didn't complete the voyage becasue he died in a battle in the Phillipeans. Of the 237 people who embarked on the journey, 18 returned to Spain in 1522 led by Elcano. Few other survivors did return at a later time to Spain.

EXPLORATION. Discovery of the Phillipines (K.B.)

Mar 16, 1521

Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Phillipines on March 16, 1521. The Phillipines were then claimed by him for Spain and became a prospering Spanish country

PAPACY. Death of Pope Leo X (K.R.)

Dec 1, 1521

Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici was born on December 11, 1475. On March 11, 1513, he was made Pope Leo X. One thing he did as pope is when he sent Martin Luther a papal bull or an official letter that said Luther would have to retract his position in two months or he would be excommunicated. Luther then burnt the bull in public. Pope Leo X died in Rome on December 1, 1521.

RANDOM. Peasants' Revolt in the Holy Roman Empire (E.R)

May 1, 1524

300,000 peasant insurgents and 100,000 deaths. Motivated largely by social discontent as a result of increasing economic inequality at a time when the Feudal system was ending. Another reason was because of religious differences.

EXPLORATION. Giovanni da Verrazona (K.B.)

Sep 9, 1524

First European to explore the Atlantic Coast of North America between South Carolina and Newfoundland. Explored because the King of France wanted to claim new land. First man to set foot in the New York Harbor.

WAR. Spain and Germany defeat France at the Battle of Pavia (K.R.)

Feb 24, 1525

They captured Francis I. Left the French army broken from the major defeat.

WAR. Sack of Rome (K.R.)

May 6, 1527

Rome suffered the worst assult that it had ever known. Various cardinals and prelates were tortured and humiliated, altars were ransacked, the Sistine Chapel was used as a stable, riches confiscated, patients in hospitals and children in orphanages were butchered. End of renaissance and the beginning of the Catholic Reformation.

REFORMATION. Protestant Reformation Begins in Sweden (K.B.)

Sep 13, 1527

On September 13, 1527, the Protestant Reformation began.

REFORMATION. Church of England Breaks Away (K.B.)

Mar 23, 1531

England broke away from the Church, because King Henry VIII wanted a male heir. Anyone who remained Catholic was imprisoned.

RANDOM. Our Lady of Guadalupe (E.R.)

Dec 12, 1531

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego. She left her image on his tilma and it still resides in Mexico today. At a time when millions were leaving the Church in Europe, this miracle brought many of the native people into the Church.

WAR. Inca Civil War (K.R.)

Nov 3, 1532

War of the two brothers. Huascar and Atahualpa were sons of the King and fought over the empire. Atahulpa won the Battle. Right after the war was over the Spanish invaded.

WAR. The Ottomans Capture Baghdad (K.R.)

Apr 13, 1534

Safavid War was fought betweem Suleiman the Magnificent and Tahmasp I. War was caused by territorial disputes. After three campaigns by Suileman it ended in an agreement. Ottomans kept Baghdad, Mesopotamia, mouths of the Euphrates and the Tigris, and part of the Persian Gulf coast in the Peace of Amasya

PAPACY. Death of Clement VII (K.R.)

Sep 25, 1534

The pope died on September 25, 1534.

EXPLORATION. Amazon River is Discovered (K.B.)

Jan 1, 1541

Discovered by Francisco de Orellana. He gave the river its name after reporting pitched battles with tribes of female warriors, whom he likened to the Amazons of Greek mythology.

ARTWORK. The Last Judgement (E.R.)

Jan 1, 1541

Gigantic frescoe is among the greatest achievements of Western painting. This frescoe was painted in the Sistine Chapel on the altar wall for Pope Paul III.

RANDOM. Nanban Trade Period Begins (E.R.)

Jan 1, 1543

Begins after Portugese traders make contact with Japan.

PAPACY. Council of Trent (K.R.)

Dec 13, 1545

Pope Paul III became pope in 1534. He called the Council of Trent, which began on December 13, 1545, and eventually ended in 1563. Within these eighteen years, there were twenty five sessions and three popes. The councils met in congregations and included lay men and theologians. The final decisions were lastly sent to the pope for approval. This council was important because it help to revitalize the Roman Catholic Church in parts of Europe.

WAR. Battle of Uedahara (K.R.)

Jan 1, 1548

Firearms are used for the first time on the battlefield in Japan.

WAR. Mongols invade China (K.R.)

Jan 1, 1550

Led by Altan Khan, the mongols seige Beijing.

REFORMATION. Henry VIII Married Anne Boleyn (K.B.)

Jan 25, 1553

In 1527, Henry wanted to get an annulment from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. She and Henry had a daughter, but Henry wanted to have a male heir. Henry appointed Thomas Cranmer as Archbishop of Canterbury. He then had Cranmer marry him to Anne Boleyn, who was pregnant at the time. Henry hoped she would provide him a son.

REFORMATION. Bloody Mary (K.B.)

Jan 1, 1554

Mary was the daughter of Catherine and Henry VIII. She wanted to restore England. In 1554, England was reunited with Rome. During this time, about 300 heretics were burned at the stake, which gave Mary the name Bloody Mary.

RANDOM. The Shaanxi Earthquake (E.R.)

Jan 1, 1556

In China, history's deadliest known earthquake.

RANDOM. Spain's Bankruptcy (E.R.)

Jan 1, 1557

First sovereign nation to declare banckruptcy under Phillip II.

WAR. French War of Religion (K.R.)

Jan 1, 1562

Between Catholics and Huguenots.

PAPACY. Pope St. Pius V (K.R.)

Jan 1, 1566

He was elected Pope in 1566. He was also a fromer Dominican monk and cotinued to live a religious life after he became the pope. Pope St. Pius V also lived in a cell while Pope.

PAPACY. Gregorian Calendar (K.R.)

Jan 1, 1582

Pope Gregory VIII issues the Gregorian Calendar.

RANDOM. Power Shift (E.R.)

Jan 1, 1587

A power shift in the government of Japan occurred, which led the Church to become outlawed and persecuted.

REFORMATION. Edict of Nantes (K.B.)

Jan 1, 1598

Ends French Wars of Religion.