Renaissance and Reformation

  • Period: 1350 to 1550

    The Italian Renaissance

    Renaissance means "rebirth" and in this case was the rebirth of the ancient Greek and Roman classics.
  • 1405

    Zheng He sets on the first Chinese exploration

  • 1430

    China isolates itself

  • 1434

    Cosimo de' Medici takes control of Florence

  • 1447

    Francesco Sforza takes control of Milan

  • 1453

    The Ottomans conquer Constantinople

  • 1455

    The printing press is invented

  • 1469

    Festival started to celebrate Plato

    Lorenzo the Magnificent started the festival and is celebrated annually since then.
  • Period: 1494 to May 5, 1527

    The Italian Wars

  • 1513

    Machiavelli writes The Prince

  • Oct 31, 1517

    Luther posts the 95 Theses

  • 1518

    The first Spanish ship carries enslaved Africans to the Americas

  • 1519

    Charles V chosen Holy Roman Emperor

  • 1521

    Luther is excommunicated

  • Period: 1521 to 1535

    Hapsburg-Valois Wars

    Caused by Charles V and Francis I fighting over land
  • 1522

    Luther returns from hiding

  • 1524

    The Peasant Revolt

  • 1531

    War between Protestant and Catholic states in Switzerland

  • 1531

    Protestant German princes form an alliance

  • 1532

    Ottomans threaten Austria

  • 1534

    The Act of Supremacy

    The Act put Henry VIII in power of the Church of England instead of the Pope.
  • 1535

    Francisco Pizarro conquers the Inca Empire

  • 1536

    Calvin starts to reform Geneva

  • 1540

    Jesuits are recognized as a religious order

  • 1545

    The Council of Trent is established

  • 1545

    Truce between Charles V and Ottomans

  • 1547

    Henry VIII dies

  • 1547

    Charles V defeats Protestant alliance

  • 1553

    "Bloody" Mary takes power

    She kills as many as 300 Protestants.
  • 1555

    The Peace of Augsburg