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The ideal Renaissance man, Da Vinci did a little bit of everything. He is most noted for his artwork and anatomical drawings, especially the Mona Lisa and the Vitruvian Man. Da Vinci also invented many things that we use today, like hangliders and helicopters. Da Vinci's work was incredible and extensive, and unlike the work of any other person in history.
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Copernicus' biggest contribution to 16th century Europe and to today was his theory of heliocentricity. He went against the common thought that the Earth was the center of the universe, and instead said that the Sun (helio) was the center of the universe- heliocentric. His theory was later proved by Galileo, and is the common thought today.
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Martin Luther was one of the most important religious figures in the 16th century. He was the leader of the Protestant Reformation, and the one who caused people to start doubting the supremecy and holiness of the Roman Catholic Church, including the Pope. He posted his 95 theses against the Catholic Church on 31 Oct 1517
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Henry VIII, the King of England, is most remembered for his wives, and the English Reformation. He had six wives, and three children. The English Reformation came about because of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which he wanted annulled. The Roman Catholic Church would not grant his annullment, and Henry decided that England needed to become seperate from the RCC in order for him to get his annullment. Today, England is no longer a part of the Roman Catholic Church.
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Pedro Alvares Cabral, a Portuguese explorer, claims Brazil for Portugal. Brazil had been discovered earlier, but due to the Treaty of Tordesillas, the original discoverer could not claim Brazil for his own country.
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On All Hallow's Eve, the day before All Saint's Day, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of a church in Saxony. These theses are a list of grievances against the Catholic Church, and they lead to the Protestant Reformation, a giant part of the 1500's, and today.
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The Philippines were discovered by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese man working for the Spanish government. Magellan ended up dying in the Philippines in a battle, but the Philippines became an important Spanish state.
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The Church of England split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1531 as a result of King Henry VIII's failing marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Henry VIII wanted an annulment, the papacy denied his wish, and as a result, the Church of England decided to split from the Catholic Church, making Henry VIII the leader of the new religion.
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Mary Tudor, the oldest daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, became the first Queen Regnent of England in 1553. She followed her sickly half-brother Edward in the sucession to the throne. She was a devout Catholic, and was most remembered for restoring England to Catholicism in a very bloody manner- hence the nickname "Blood Mary".
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Elizabeth I became the Queen of England following the death of her half-sister, Bloody Mary. Gloriana was a Protestant, and had been imprisoned for a year during her Catholic sister's reign. During her 44 year reign, she imprisoned and had killed Mary, Queen of Scots. She changed England back yet again to Protestantism.
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Galileo is sometimes referred to as the father of modern science, and for a good reason. He found evidence for the heliocentric theory set forth by Copernicus. He studied kinematics, a theory that is still studied in high school and college science classes today.
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Mary, the cousin of Elizabeth I of England, was imprisoned by her cousin for 19 years because Elizabeth thought that Mary was a threat to her right as Queen. Mary spent the next 19 years in different places that were made to be her own prisons. Elizabeth I later ordered Mary to be killed
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Instigated by Catherine de' Medici, the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacres were held againts the French Huguenots. The Massacre was prompted by a marriage between Margaret, the (Catholic) sister of Charles IX to a Protestant, Henry III. The massacre marked a turning point in the French Religious Wars.
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Elizabeth finally ordered the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587, but had a lot of hesitation in doing so. She was worried of the consequences of the execution, but one of her privy counscillors made sure to order Mary's death before Elizabeth could change her mind. Mary was unfairly tried, and was not even a citizen of England, so she could therefor not legally be tried for treason, but she ended up being executed for treason.
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The Edict of Nantes was issued in 1598 by Henry IV, granting religious freedom and tolerance to most French Huguenots. This was a big step for France, and it ended the French Religious Wars that had been happening throughout most of 16th century France.
