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Period: Nov 16, 1440 to
Invention of the Printing Press to the Death of Elizabeth I
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Nov 16, 1450
Invention of the caravel
The caravel, a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship was developed by the Portuguese to explore into the Atlantic and along the West African Coast. The triangular sails gave the caravel the speed as well as the capacity for sailing to windward. -
Jul 14, 1454
Angelo Ambrogini Poliziano
Angelo Ambrogini Poliziano, commonly known as Poliziano, was an Italian scholar and poet, and one of the most eloquent poets of the northern renaissance-the author of the Stanze. He was a friend of Lorenzo, whom he saved from assassination in the Pazzi Conspiracy. -
Mar 22, 1459
The Gutenberg Printing Press
Printing from moveable metal type was the key technology behind spread of knowledge and philosophy in Europe. Johann Gutenberg (1400 - 1468) set up the first European printing presses in Mainz, Germany, at around 1450. By 1473, a printing press was recorded in Spain, and William Caxton started his press up in England in 1476. -
Nov 16, 1460
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama was the Portugeus explorer, and was one of the most successful in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India. In 1492, he commanded the defense of Portuguese colonies against the French in Guinea. Then he set sail for India with four ships. During this voyage, his ships were fitted with enough food and wine for three years! Da Gama sailed around the Coast of Africa. Da Gama received many awards for his achievements. -
Nov 16, 1480
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer, In 1519, he set sail from Seville across the Atlantic with five ships and over 270 men in search of the Spice Islands. He is credited with circumnavigating the world because he had earlier (1501-12) made it to the Spice Islands via the Cape of Good Hope. -
Nov 16, 1488
Titian (Tiziano Vecello)
Titian was a Venice painter who was outstanding while working with flesh textures, and was in much demand for court portraits such as those of Charles V and Suleiman the Magnificent. Titian was one of the most versatile of Italian painters, equally skillful with portraits, landscape backgrounds, and mythological and religious subjects. -
Nov 6, 1494
Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman the Magnificent was the tenth and the greatest Ottoman sultan. He was the builder of a great empire and buildings, giver of laws (and for that also remembered as "Suleiman the Law Giver") and effective administrative systems, promoter of the arts, writer of poems - particularly concerning his love for his chief wife Roxelena. -
Feb 15, 1564
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei, most commonly known as Galileo, was an Italian astronomer, physicist, mathematician, and philosopher who played a major role in the scientific revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope, astronomical observations and the support of Copernicanism. Galileo has been called the "father of modern observational astronomy", the "father of modern physics", the "father of science", and "the Father of Modern Science". -
Apr 26, 1564
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare: an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language of all times and as the world's pre-eminent dramatist. His surviving works consist of about 38 plays,154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. Shakespeare's plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. He had a big impact on the world, particularly the english language. -
British East India Company
Queen Elizabeth I signed the royal charter which created the British East India Company. Originally a monopoly joint stock trading company tp pursue trade with the East Indies, the British East India Company grew to being the administrator of India as a whole until the rebellion of 1857. It ended up trading mainly with the Indian Subcontinent and China.
