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Apr 16, 1492
Christopher Columbus sails to the Americas
In 1492 Columbus convinced Spain to allow him to find a route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean. He made a mistake in thinking that he could reach Asia by just sailing west. He landed on an island in the Caribbean thinking it was the East Indies. He encountered Native Americans when he first arrived. Columbus returned a number of times but with a different purpose; instead of coming as an explorer, he came as an empire builder. -
Apr 16, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Treaty of TordesillasA 1494 agreement between Portugal and Spain declaring newly discovered lands to the west of an imaginary line in the Atlantic Ocean would belong to Spain and newly discovered lands to the east of the line would belong to Portugal. -
Apr 16, 1497
Vasco de Gama
Vasco de GamaPortugal explorer who began exloring the east African coast. He reached the port of Calicut in 1498 -
Apr 16, 1521
Cortez conquers the Aztecs
After landing in Mexico, Cortez learned of the wealthly Aztec Empire. He marched 600 men to the Aztec capital. Montezuma, the Aztec Emperor, at first thought Cortez was a God because of how he was dressed. After a series of skirmishes, Cortez took the Aztec Empire in 1521. -
Apr 17, 1543
Copernicus presents the Heliocentric Theory
Polish astronomer who advanced the theory taht the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun. The theory was the idea that the Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun. Copernicus was told by many scholars that he should make his new findings accessible to others by publishing it. In 1543 the book called "On the revolutions of the heavenly bodies" was released. Copernicus's book had a great impact that angered the Catholic and Protestant Church. -
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Phillip II sent an armada to invade England. If the invasion worked, it would have been the end of Protestantism in England. The invasion was a disaster. In 1598, Phillip II reign ended: Spain was bankrupt, and Spain was replaced by France and England as a world power. -
Edict of Nantes
Edict of NantesA 1598 declaration in which the Frech King Henry IV promised that protestants could live in peace in France. And that they could set up houses of worship. -
English settles Jamestown
English settle JamestownIn 1606, a company of London investors recieved from King James a charter to found a colony in North America. The colony's start with a disaster. Seven out of ten people died out of hunger, disease, or battles with the Native Americans in the first few years. The colony's outlook improves once they discovered tobacco. -
Lousis XIV of France begins his reign
Lousis offically in 1643, but didn't takeover power until 1661. He was 23 when he bagan his rule. He was known for having affairs with his maids. He had complete power over: foreign policy, religion, and taxes. -
Peter the Great of Russia begins his reign
Age 17, removed sister from throne, took power for himself. One of his first acts, stormed Azov, Black Sea port held by the Turks.He wanted to borrow European technology to modernize the military. -
The Glorious Revolution in England
William of Orange and his wife Mary are invited to take power in England by Parliament. Parliament did not want Mary's father (James II) to rule because he was Catholic; William and Mary were Protestant. -
French Revolution Begins
Before the Revolution, France had an Absolute Monarchy. The social and political system of France was called the Old Regime. Under this system, the poeple of France were divided into 3 social classes, or estates. 1st estate = clergy (wealthy/no taxes) 2nd estate = nobles (wealthy/few taxes) 3rd estate = every body else (some rights) The third estate was upset with the monarchical system resting on priviledges and old social order. Opposition led to drastic action against the absolute monarch. -
The Storming of the Bastille
Storming of the BastilleThe mob, joined by some of the King's soldiers, stormed the Bastille. Part in response to the King bringing in Swiss soldiers. The commander of the Bastille, de Launay, attempted to surrender, but the mob would not accept it. -
Night of August 4th
The Nationl Assembly responded to the Great Fear. On the Night of August 4, 1789, one by one mambers of the nobility and clergy rose to give up: fuedal dues, serfdom, the tithe, hunting and fishing rights, and personal privileges. In one night feudalism was destroyes on France.
