Renaissance Timline By GreenJello4 Jan 1, 1347 Black Death First Ravages Through Europe Jan 1, 1374 Death of Petrarch Jan 1, 1417 (1417-1436) - Brunelleschi works on dome of Florence Cathedral Jan 1, 1431 Joan of Arc is burnt at stake in Rouen Jan 1, 1450 Gutenberg invents the printing press Jan 1, 1469 Lorenzo de Medici “the Magnificent” takes power in Florence, his rule is considered a high point of the Florentine Renaissance Jan 1, 1492 Columbus discovers America Jan 1, 1504 Leonardo Da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa Jan 1, 1508 (1508-12) – Michelangelo paints the roof of the Sistine Chapel Jan 1, 1532 1532-34 – Henry the VII declares self head of Church Jan 1, 1546 Martin Luther dies Jan 1, 1558 Elizabeth succeeds throne in England Jan 1, 1564 William Shakespeare is born Jan 1, 1588 English navy defeats Spanish Armada Jan 1, 1590 Invention of the Microscope Jan 1, 1603 Samuel de Champlain travels to top of North America Jan 1, 1605 Gundpowder Plot Jan 1, 1609 Invention of the Telescope Jan 1, 1616 Miguel de Cervantes Jan 1, 1666 Isaac Newton first discovers law of gravity