Rennaisance and Reformation Timeline

By arjun.elamurugu
  • Jul 24, 1345

    Petrach collects letters and publishes in his Epistolae Familiares

    Petrarch collects letters and publishes them in Epistolae Familiares. They were his letters, which he edited and compiled into a book.
  • Cosimo De Medici Gains Control of Government in Florence
    Jul 11, 1434

    Cosimo De Medici Gains Control of Government in Florence

    Cosimo De Medici and his family take over Florence. They rule until 1537.
  • Apr 27, 1450

    Johann Gutenberg creates the printing press

    Gutenberg creates the printing press, which makes it much easier to make copies of papers.
  • Jun 27, 1501

    Michelangelo sculpts David

    Michelangelo creates David, a very humanlike sculpture. It became one of the most famous sculptures in the world.
  • Leonardo Da Vinci Paints the Mona Lisa
    Aug 13, 1503

    Leonardo Da Vinci Paints the Mona Lisa

    Leonardo Da Vinci paints his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa. It becomes one of the most, if not the most famous painting in the world.
  • May 25, 1509

    Raphael Paints School of Athens

    The School of Athens is painted by Raphael. It showcased all of the greatest scholars of the time.
  • Jun 20, 1511

    Erasmus writes Praise of Folly

    Erasmus writes Praise of Folly, his most famous work. It is written as a satire novel.
  • Mar 21, 1513

    Niccolo Macchiavelli writes The Prince

    Niccolo Machiavelli writes The Prince, which is one of the most basic texts of Western political science. It is still relevant to this day.
  • May 24, 1516

    Thomas More writes Utopia

    Utopia is written and published by Thomas More. It is written about a place where greed, corruption, and war are not present.
  • Nov 10, 1517

    Luther publishes his 95 thesis

    Luther published his 9 thesis, which explained that true salvation can only be reached through faith.
  • Jan 22, 1528

    Castiglione publishes The Courtier

    The Courtier is published. It is about court life in the Renaissance and provided insight to what Courtiers went through.
  • Dec 14, 1529

    Henry VIII summons Reformation Parliament

    Henry VII makes the Reformation Parliament, which purpose was to help him divorce Catherine of Aragon, which was not allowed my the church.
  • Sep 4, 1534

    St. Ignatius founds Jesuits

    Ignatius de Loyola founds the Jesuits, a group of global missionaries.
  • Jun 18, 1536

    Calvin leads Geneva, Switzerland

    Calvin becomes the supreme religious leader of Geneva, converting everyone to Protestanism.
  • Feb 5, 1543

    John Knox forms Presybyterians

    John Knox forms the Presbyterian Church, which believed in the sovereignty of God.
  • Dec 13, 1545

    Council of Trent begins

    The Council of Trent is created to reject Protestanism and reinforce Catholicism.
  • Jun 12, 1555

    Peace of Augsburg is signed

    The Peace of Augsburg is signed, which made it possible for rulers to choose their faith between Lutheranism and Catholicism.
  • Nov 23, 1558

    Queen Elizabeth Inherits the Throne

    Queen Elizabeth inherits the throne from her father, Henry VIII. She rules for 44 years.
  • Sep 24, 1572

    St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

    Catholic mobs and assassins kill a large amount of Huguenots.

  • William Shakespeare writes Hamlet

    William Shakespeare writes Hamlet, one of his most famous plays. It is still relevant to this day.