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Nov 13, 1460
Prince Henry "the Navigator"
He was a Portuguese explorer who sponsored expeditions of discovery in the Atlantic Ocean but he never sailed on any of those expeditions. He also established a school for the study of arts of navigation, mapmaking and shipbuilding. -
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
This is the date in which Columbus first sighted land in the New World, which would later become the Bahamas. -
Period: Nov 27, 1494 to Nov 27, 1559
Hapsburg- Valois Wars
A series of wars involving the city-states of Italy, Papal States, France, Spain, HRE, England, and Scotland for dynastic disputes over the Duchy of Milan & Naples. These were a general struggle for power and territory. -
Feb 22, 1512
Amerigo Vespucci
He was an Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer. He wrote the first document describing America as separate from Asia. The continents of North and South America are named after him. -
Nov 27, 1516
Concordat of Bologna
This was an agreement between Pope Leo X and King Francis I, where he gained power to appoint bishops and abbots in France. It is one reason that France remained Catholic. -
Nov 17, 1558
Elizabeth I comes to power
She is the daughter of Henry VIII and became one of the most effective monarchs in British history. She was the most powerful woman in 16th century Europe. -
Nov 30, 1567
Council of Blood
AKA The Council of Troubles. The job of this council was to try cases of suspected treason committed by Protestant rebels against the Catholic government imposed by Spain. It was created by the Duke of Alba. -
Aug 24, 1572
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
The most violent series of confrontations between French Catholics and Protestants, each trying to secure control over the weak French government. This event took place in Paris on the day of the marriage of Margaret of Valois to Henry of Navarre. -
Period: to
War of the Three Henrys
The 8th and final conflict in the Wars of Religionwas fought between Henry of Guise, Henry of Navarre, and Henry III. King Henry III executed Henry of Guise, blamed the politiques, fled Paris, and was assassinated. Henry of Navarre won by default, converted to Catholicism, and was crowned King Henry IV. -
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada was used by King Philip II as an attempt to invade England and force Northern Europe back into the Catholic Church. The armada was defeated by the English fleet and bad weather. -
Edict of Nantes
A document issued by Henry IV of France granting liberty of conscience and public worship to Calvinists in 150 towns, which helped restore peace in Europe. -
Protestant Union
This was the allegiance of German Lutheran princes alarmed at the religious and territorial spread of Calvinism and Catholicism. Their leader was Frederick IV of the Palatinate. It resulted in the formation of the Catholic League in 1609. -
Peter Paul Rubens
Rubens was the epitome of Baroque in painting. He was enormously successful and liked to paint fat women and Christian themes. -
Defenestration of Prague
This occured when Protestants hurled 2 of Ferdinand of Bohemia's officials from a castle window in Prague. The men fell 70 feet but survived. This marked the beginning of the Thirty Years' War. -
Peace of Westphalia
This is a general name for a series of treaties that concluded the Thirty Years' War. This accomplished many things including reducing the role of the RCC in European politics and acknowledging the independence of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. -
Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach epitomized the Baroque style in music. He is considered one of the greatest composers in history and was not fully appreciated in his lifetime.
