Early Modern Era By natalie1221 Jan 1, 1450 Printing press by Gutenberg Gutenberg created the printing press in Europe Jan 1, 1450 Renaissance in Europe Europe was recovering from the Dark Ages. Period: Jan 1, 1450 to Dec 31, 1750 Early Modern Era Jan 1, 1453 Ottomans capture Constantinople Capture of the Byzantine Empire Jan 1, 1517 Martin Luther/Protestant Reformation Martin Luther separated from the Catholic church.