Renaissance Timeline By MKid2010 Jan 1, 1335 First public clock made Jan 1, 1387 Geoffrey Chaucer writes "The Canterbury Tales" in English Jan 1, 1416 Donatello, a sculptor, creates a statue of David Jan 1, 1454 Gutenberg invents the printing press Jan 1, 1474 Leonardo da Vinci is born Jan 1, 1497 Vasco De Gama sails around Africa to India Jan 1, 1502 First watch made Jan 1, 1508 Michelangelo paints the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel Jan 1, 1509 Spain begins settlement of the Americas Jan 1, 1517 Martin Luther calls for reform to the Catholic Church Martin Luther calls for reform to hte Catholic Church Jan 1, 1522 First round-the-world voyage is complete Jan 1, 1534 King Henry VIII breaks away from the Catholic Church Jan 1, 1543 Copernicus puts the sun at the centre of the uninverse Jan 1, 1564 William Shakespeare is born Jan 1, 1595 First miscroscope built Jan 1, 1596 First toilet invented