Renaissance and Reformation

The Black Plague

Sep 12, 1348

Over half of the population of Europe was wiped out by the Black Plague. Afterwards, the economy was improved due to survivors inheriting money from their dead relatives, starting the Renaissance.

Leonardo Da Vinci Paints the Mona Lisa

Sep 12, 1503

The Italian artist, Leonardo Da Vinci, paints a half-length portrait of a woman called The Mona Lisa.

Michelangelo Paints the Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Sep 12, 1508

Michelangelo uses a technique called "fresco" to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with bright colors.

Thomas More writes Utopia

Sep 12, 1516

Thomas More, a noted Renaissance Humanist, writes "Utopia", a fictional book about political philosophy.

Martin Luther posts the 95 Theses

Sep 12, 1517

Martin Luther posts the 95 theses, which protests the ways of the Roman Catholic Church which started the beginning of the Reformation.

King Henry VIII Creates the Church of England

Sep 15, 1534

King Henry VIII separates the Church of England from Rome.

Ignatius of Loyola Founds the Jesuits

Sep 16, 1534

Ignatius of Loyola and six other students at the university of Paris met in Montmartre outside of Paris and called themselves the company of Jesus.

John Calvin Writes "The Institutes of Christian Religion"

Sep 15, 1536

John Calvin writes a book about Protestant systematic theology called "The Institutes of Christian Religion"

John Knox Brings the Reformation to Scotland

Sep 16, 1560

Protestant nobles led by Knox made Calvinism Scotland's official religion and got rid of the Catholic ruler, Mary Queen of Scots.

William Shakespeare Writes Romeo and Juliet

Sep 12, 1594

William Shakespeare writes the famous tragedy, "Romeo and Juliet" about two star-crossed lovers who end up killing themselves.