Renaissance

Discovery of the new world

Oct 21, 1492

Christopher Columbus attempted to find a shorter route to Asia instead of travelling around Africa but accidently found the new world. He died believing he had found a short route from Spain to India which gave American Indians their name. He inspired many artists and explorers of the time period.

Cantus Firmus

Jan 1, 1495

Composers began to use cantus firmus in their music. Cantus firmus is a melody that has contrapuntal parts added.

Painting of the Mona Lisa

Feb 2, 1503

Leonardo da Vinci

Painting of the Sistine Chapel (Vatican)

Feb 2, 1508

Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint gigantic scenes from the Bible on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo painted the Creation, the Fall of Man and Woman, the Flood, and other biblical subjects while lying on his back on a scaffold. His bright, heroic figures show individual human beings who are noble and capable of perfection. This optimistic view of humanity was expressed by many other Renaissance painters and writers.

The Prince

Feb 2, 1513

First major publication of the renaissance was Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince. Started to define a new culture.

Painting of The Ambassadors

Feb 2, 1533

Hans Holbein, The Younger. The ambassadors are Jean de Dintville and Georges de Selve, from the court of King Henri II of France. The objects on the table represent the arts and sciences. Holbein also designed the title page for Luther's German translation of the Bible (1522) and 51 woodcuts for his series "The Dance of Death," published in Lyon. His major religious paintings date from the 1520s in the Reformation.

King Henry VIII deems himself Supreme ruler of the Church of England

May 5, 1535

King Henry VIII was denied a divorce by the pope so he separated the Church of England from Rome and declared himself supreme ruler. This started a reformation in England. Henry and his advisors felt the pope was acting in the role of an Italian prince involved in secular affairs, which obscured his religious role.

Publishing laws

Feb 2, 1538

In 1538 England established first copy right laws.

The Bible is first printed in England

Dec 25, 1539

With reformations occurring bibles needed their own version to keep their religion seperate. Religion played a major role in many of the citizens. King Henry tried to surpress the bible and England was one of the last European countries to obtain a printed version.

William Byrd

Jan 30, 1543

William Byrd was the leading English composer of the late renaissance. He created church, secular, concert, and keyboard music.

Addition of Music in church

Jan 30, 1550

A Catholic Counter-Reformation began to occur. The Council of Trent met to discuss complaints against music being added to the church.

The violin

Jan 30, 1553

The present day styled violin starts to develop. It was later used in the church to beautifully match the harmonious melody of the choir.

Elizabeth’s accession to the throne, rise of Protestantism

Feb 2, 1558

Queen Elizabeth was a Protestant ruler of England. King Henry VII was originally catholic but he converted to divorce one of his wives. This sparked antoher Catholic versde Protestant war as Ireland during this time period was trying to take control of England by assassinating the Queen.

Writer of the era

Feb 2, 1564

William Shakespeare stands out as the most popular poet and playwright of the era. Has inspired countless stories and poems.

Hilliard's Miniature Elizabethan Portraits

Feb 2, 1572

Many of the famous portraits of Elizabeth were painted by Nicholas Hilliard. Hilliard was appointed Court Miniaturist and Goldsmith c. 1570.
Many of the larger court portraits of Elizabeth were based upon Hilliard's miniatures and portraits.

Elizabethan Madrigals

Jan 30, 1588

They were performed in rich peoples homes in England. They were either spoke, sung, or danced. They could be solo or in groups. They came from the Italians and had a religous influence on the sound because of this.

Theatues are shut down

Feb 2, 1593

1593-1594 the plauge shuts down all the theaters in England.
Hurts the entertainment industry.

KaBuki

Feb 2, 1603

Okuni forms the first kabuki theater company in Japan. Demonstrates how theater is becoming recognized as a profession and an art.

Jamestown

Jan 1, 1607

This was the first permanent English settlement in the new world. The colony was sponsored by the Virginia Company in London , whose stockholders helped to make profit off the resources in the new world. Many English poeple came to the new world to form their own religion or convert indian tribes.

Daniel in the Lion's Den

Feb 2, 1615

Peter Paul Rubens. Flemish artist, northern Europe.