Renaissance Timeline

The Yongle Encyclopedia

Nov 9, 1408

The Yongle Encyclopedia, literally The Great Canon or Vast Documents of the Yongle Era, was a Chinese compilation commissioned by the Chinese Ming Dynasty emperor Yongle in 1403 and completed by 1408.

Jacoba van Beieren

Jan 1, 1417

Jacqueline of Wittelsbach (Dutch: Jacoba van Beieren; French: Jacqueline de Bavière; was Duchess of Bavaria-Straubing, Countess of Hainaut and Holland from 1417 to 1432.

China Discovered the World

Nov 9, 1421

On the 8th of March, 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen sailed from its base in China

Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas

Jan 1, 1430

Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,430 metres (8,000 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cuzco

Order of the Golden Fleece

Nov 9, 1430

The Order of the Golden Fleece (German: Orden vom Goldenen Vlies; Dutch: Orde van het Gulden Vlies; French: Ordre de la Toison d'Or; Italian: Ordine del Toson d'Oro; Spanish: Orden del Toisón de Oro)

Jeanne d'Arc ( Joan of Arc )

Nov 9, 1437

Joan of Arc, in French, Jeanne d'Arc, also called the Maid of Orleans, a patron saint of France and a national heroine, led the resistance to the English invasion of France in the Hundred Years War.

Mehmed II, The Conqueror

Nov 9, 1446

Mehmed II (1432-1481), nicknamed the conqueror, was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire a short time in 1444 to 1446, and from 1451 to 1481.

The Fall of Constantinople

Nov 9, 1453

The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire which occurred after a siege laid by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Sultan Mehmed II. The siege lasted from Thursday, 5 April 1453 until Tuesday, 29 May 1453

Gutenberg Bible, First Real Printed Book

Nov 9, 1455

In the mid-15th century Johann Gutenberg invented a mechanical way of making books. This was the first example of mass production. He was born about 1400, the son of a rich family in Mainz, Germany.

Nicholas of Cusa, Polymath

Jan 1, 1464

Nicholas of Kues, also referred to as Nicolaus Cusanus and Nicholas of Cusa, was a cardinal of the Catholic Church from Germany (Holy Roman Empire), a philosopher, jurist, mathematician, and an astronomer.

Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy

Nov 9, 1467

Charles the Bold, last reigning duke of Burgundy (1467–77), son and successor of Philip the Good.

Henry VI of England

Nov 9, 1471

Henry VI (6 December 1421 – 21 May 1471) was King of England 1422–1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and controversial King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realms were governed by regents

Leon Battista Alberti, Humanist Polymath

Aug 8, 1472

Leon Battista Alberti was an Italian author, artist, architect, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher, and cryptographer, and general Renaissance humanist polymath.

Regiomontanus, Astronomer / Mathematician

Nov 9, 1476

Regiomontanus, real name Johannes Müller, a mathematician and astronomer, was a priest who studied in Vienna and in Rome, acquiring in addition to mathematical skills a knowledge of Greek, an unusual accomplishment at that time.

Columbus Discovers America

Nov 9, 1492

After little over a month at sea, Columbus' ships sighted land in what is now known as the Bahamas. The ship's recorder entered in his journal on Thursday, October 11, 1492, the following:

Hans Memling

Nov 9, 1494

Hans Memling (also spelled Memlinc), leading Flemish painter of the Bruges school during the period of the city's political and commercial decline. The number of his imitators and followers testified to his popularity throughout Flanders

Johannes Ockeghem, Composer

Jan 9, 1497

Johannes Ockeghem was the leading composer of the second generation of the Netherlandish school. Ockeghem is often considered the most important composer between Dufay and Josquin Des Prez.

Frederick III of Habsburg

Nov 9, 1497

Frederick III of Habsburg was elected as German King as the successor of Albert II in 1440.

Discovery Sea Route to India, Da Gama

Nov 9, 1498

Prince John and Prince Manuel continued the efforts of Prince Henry to find a sea route to India, and in 1497 Manuel placed Vasco da Gama, who already had some reputation as a warrior and navigator,

Antarctic Time Line of Discovery

Nov 9, 1519

Exploration in the Antarctic region. It is nearly impossible to exhibit a detailed chronology of exploration in the Antarctic region simply due to the fact that there have been over 300 expeditions to the Antarctic mainland,

The Siege of Rhodes

Nov 9, 1522

The Siege of Rhodes of 1522 was the second and ultimately successful attempt by the Ottoman Empire to expel the Knights of Rhodes from their island stronghold and thereby secure Ottoman control of the Eastern Mediterranean.