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Apr 15, 1385
Catastrophe: Black Plague
Officially known as the bubonic plague, because it caused buboes, which are swollen lymph nodes, which were very painful. It began in the year 1347, and lasted for a very long time. It was believed to have started in Asia, but it did massive damage to parts of Europe as well. -
Oct 1, 1415
Famous World Event: 100 Years War
It lasted from 1337 to 1453. It was caused by the relationship of the kings from France and England. Eventually, the French took control of the war and defeated the English. -
Apr 15, 1453
Famous World Event: Fall of Constantinople
It took place in 1453. The Ottoman Turks led the assault against the capital of the Byzantine Empire. They eventually managed to defeat the great and powerful city. -
Sep 16, 1467
War: War of the Roses
The series of wars known as the wars of the roses lasted from 1455 until 1485. They were fought for the English throne, between the Houses of Lancaster and York. They are nicknamed the wars of the roses because the badges of the opponents were both roses of different colors. -
Mar 6, 1495
Famous Person: Michelangelo
He is another famous painter and sculptor. His most famous works include his sculpture of David, and the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. He is remembered as an incredibly skilled sculptor and even a more skilled painter. -
Jul 4, 1566
Famous Composer: William Byrd
He lived from 1540 to 1623. Born in England, he wrote organ music. He spent most of his life in London, where he was one a student of another famous composer, Thomas Tallis. His major works include church music, for Catholic churches as well as Anglican churches. One of his most widely known masses was the mass for 4 voices; composed in 1592. It was composed for Catholic masses, which interestingly was forbidden in England at the time it was written. -
Apr 15, 1572
Famous Person: Leonardo Da Vinci
He is one of the most famous painters, sculptors and inventors. He painted some of the most widely known paintings including, “Mona Lisa”, and “The Last Supper.” He also came up with many ideas about machines that were considered very ahead of his time. -
Famous Composer: Claudio Monteverdi
He was born in 1567 and he died in 1643. One of his famous compositions is “Vespro della beata vergine.” It was written in 1610, and is considered as a “choral” work. He lived in Italy for a long period of his life, when he was employed at the St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. -
Famous World Event: Jamestown Settlement Established
It was one of the earliest European settlements in North America. The ship landed on May 14th, 1607. Life was not easy for the first settlers because there was not many resources. Many died from disease, famine, and injury. -
Catastrophe: Earthquake in Arequipa, Peru
This region is very prone to earthquakes. In February of 1619, the city saw an 8.6 magnitude earthquake. Over seven thousand people were killed in the massive earthquake. -
Famous World Event: Arrival of Pilgrims
In 1620, around 100 people from England left in search for a new land, where they could be free from religious persecution. They sailed on a ship called the Mayflower, and eventually made it to North America after a very long and demanding journey. They were successful in establishing relationships with natives from America, which proved to be crucial to their survival. -
War: 30 Years War
It was fought in Europe from 1618 to 1648. Many different nations fought in it for various reasons, which include territorial, religious, and dynastical reasons. It began because of a religious rebellion when Ferdinand II tried to force Catholicism on Bohemia and Austria. The war is named the 30 Years war since it lasted exactly 30 years. -
Famous Person: Johann Pachelbel
He was a German composer who was born on September 1st, 1653. He is most famously known for his works on organ. He is known for his composition, “Pachelbel Canon,” which many people are familiar with. -
Famous Person: Antonio Vivaldi
He was born on March 4th, 1678, in Venice. He is most known for his composition, “The Four Seasons.” At one time, he was actually ordained as a priest, but he chose to leave the priesthood for complaints of a physical ailment. -
Famous Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
He was born in Germany on March 21st, 1685. He is considered one of the most talented composers of all time. He came from a large family of musicians. He grew up in Eisenach, Germany. Some of his most well recognized pieces include the “Brandenburg Concertos,” and “The Well-Tempered Clavier.” The first part of “The Well-Tempered Clavier was written in 1722, and the second part was completed in 1740. -
Famous Composer: George Frederic Handel
He was born in Germany on February 23, 1685. He spent most of his life living and working in England. He died on April 14th, 1759, in London. He wrote many different types of music, including operas and even music for royalty. One of his well-known compositions was his theme to “Joy to the World.” It was completed in 1742. -
Famous Person: Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach
He was a son of the very well-known Johann Sebastian Bach. He was so talented that he could completely read some of his father’s challenging pieces by the time he was only seven. He wrote numerous keyboard sonatas that are very different in style from the ones his father wrote. -
Catastrophe: Earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal
In 1755, one of the largest earthquakes they’ve ever had hit Lisbon, Portugal. It is actually even known as The Great Lisbon Earthquake. It hit the country in November of 1755. -
War: 7 Years War
It lasted from 1756 to 1763. It is also known as the French and Indian War. It began when England declared war on France. -
Famous Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
He lived from 1732 to May 31st, 1809, where he died in Vienna. He spent most of his life living and working for the Esterhazys, who treated him with much respect. In 1798 he wrote the choral work that was nicknamed “The Creation.” He also composed another work nicknamed, “The Surprise,” because it suddenly gets very loud during a quiet section, which surprises people. -
Famous World Event: Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson drafted it between June 11th and June 28th. It marks when the colonies officially became independant from England. It talks about many problems with the King's practices. -
Famous Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
He spent a lot of his life touring Europe through cities such as London and Paris. He was born in Austria on January 27th, 1756, and he also died in Austria on December 5th, 1791. He is well-known for many of his compositions, such as “Cosi Fan Tutte,” and “Don Giovanni,” which was completed in 1787. It was one of his many operas. -
Famous World Event: Beggining of Industrial Revolution
It lasted from 1760 to 1850. It changed the way many things were made, by replacing people with various types of machines. There were many new things invented, including the very important steam engine. -
Famous Person: Ludwig van Beethoven
Regarded as one of the most well-known composers, he was born in 1770 and died in 1827. He has many very well-known works, including “Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata, and Ode to Joy,” just to name a few. He even continued to write music when his hearing started to fail, and then failed completely.