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May 29, 1453
Constantinople Falls
In 1453 Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks. This caused many Greeks to migrate from Constantinople to Italy. The battle for the city took fifty days. The Turks had about 150,000 men on there side. The city changed its name from Constantinople to Istanbul. Islam became the religion of the city. -
Jan 30, 1455
War of the Roses
This was the name of the series of civil wars in England from 1455-1485. These wars were extremely violent and brutal. These wars were fought between the Houses of Lancaster and York. Both houses where competing for the Throne of England. The finally victory went to the House of Tudor. -
Feb 1, 1470
Printing Press is Invented
The printing press was used to print music, which led to a spread of songs and styles across the world. The printing press also made it more affordable for people to buy and play music. -
Jan 30, 1496
Da Vinci paints The Last Supper
Da Vinci painted The Last Supper sometime between 1495 and 1498. He was commissioned by Duke Sforza of Milan. The painting had quite lively interactions between the participants and shared in the Renaissance idea of humanism, despite it being a religious painting. -
Period: Feb 1, 1500 to
The recorder becomes popular.
The recorder is a cylindrical wind pipe with seven finger holes on the front. It is a relatively simple instrument that became very popular during the Renaissance. Even the King of England, Henry VIII, was an avid musician with the recorder. In addition, the recorder is often referenced in literature, by authors such as Shakespeare and Milton. -
Period: Feb 1, 1500 to
Vocal Music is Dominant.
During the 1500s, vocal music was the dominant form of music. It triumphed over instrumental music, which was just beginning to gain popularity. Even the instrumental music of the time was fashioned in the vocal style. -
Jan 30, 1510
Michelangelo paints The Creation of Adam
Michelangelo finishes his work of the Sistine Chapel's The Creation of Adam. This shows of a complex relationship between man and God and that man and God are linked. It represents clearly a Renaissance ideal of God and man being linked. -
Jan 27, 1513
Niccolo Machiavelli writes The Prince
Machiavelli wrote The Prince in 1513 as a "manual" for being a ruler. The book encompasses several aspects of government and ruling, including those of authoritarian governments, republican governments, and traits of the ruler himself. The book was dedicated to Lorenzo D'Medici. -
Jan 30, 1514
Titian paints Sacred and Profane Love
Titan paints his masterpiece in 1514. It represents several of the Renaissance ideals, mainly the glorification of the human and the shift of artistic values into more warm and personified paintings. -
May 6, 1527
Sack of Rome
The imperial army attacked the city of Rome after Pope clement VII did not give the Imperial army its compensation. They claimed the city after twelve hours. After eight days thousands of houses, churches, and palaces were destroyed. This event represents the demise of Renaissance Italy. The Sack of Rome also ended Rome’s reign as the Renaissance center. -
Jan 30, 1560
Viol
The viol is a part of the violin family that was primarily used during the Rennaissance. It has six strings and is played with a bow. -
Apr 23, 1564
Shakespeare is born
Shakespeare was born in 1564. He had a major influence on British literature works of the Renaissance period and has works still known to this day. The exact details of his birth are a mystery, with even the date questionable. However, it is accepted that he was born on April 23rd. -
Spenser publishes The Faerie Queene
The Faerie Queene is a book that details an allegory that tells of a "Faerie Queene," which represents Queen Elizabeth. The Faerie Queene tells of the struggles between Catholics and Protestants that was prevalent during Elizabeth's reign. -
Lute
During the Renaissance, there was a growth in instrumental music, such as the lute. The lute was constructed of twenty-five ebony or rosewood ribs with ivory spacers, and Alpine spruce. One of the most prominent English lutists was John Dowland. -
Milton publishes Paradise Lost
Milton published the long, blank-verse narrative epic Paradise Lost. It tells of the struggle between Satan and God and the fall of man from the Garden of Eden. This was considered a seminal work and Milton wrote a sequel, Paradise Regained.
