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1215
King John of England agreed on the Magna Carta
King John agreed on the Magna Carta which limited the king's power. -
1231
The Inquisition was started by Pope Gregory the IX
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1252
Pope Innocent IV allowed torture to get confessions
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Period: 1300 to
The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a artistic and philosophical movement that renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman literature and life. -
1440
Johannes Gutenberg invented the first movable printing press
German inventor Johannes Gutenberg creates the first movable printing press in 1440. His invention helped spread ideas and print books. -
1441
Prince Henry of Portugal founds the Atlantic slave trade
Portuguese prince begins the Atlantic slave trade. -
1453
The Hundred Years' War between France and England ended
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1475
The printing press was operating in England, France, Italy, and Germany
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1478
Pope Sixtus IV authorized the Spanish Inquisition
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1492
Christopher Columbus discovers San Salvador
Italian explorer, that sailed for Spain, Christopher Columbus discovered San Salvador in 1492. -
1492
Columbus' crew saw the first signs of land
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1498
Vasco da Gama discovers a new trade route to India
Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, discovered a new trade route to India in 1498 -
1500
The Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral reached the shores of modern-day Brazil and claimed the land for his country
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1503
Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa
Italian painter, sculptor, architect, and inventor Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. The Mona Lisa was finished in 1503 and The Last Supper in 1498. -
1504
Michelangelo sculpted the Statue of David
Italian artist Michelangelo sculpted the Statue of David in 1504. Michelangelo also painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling in 1512. -
1507
A German mapmaker named the new continent "America" in honor of Amerigo Vespucci
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1509
Desiderius Erasmus published the Praise of Folly
Desiderius Erasmus criticized the Catholic Church in the Praise of Folly. The Praise of Folly was published in 1509. -
1517
Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses on a church door in Wittenberg
German monk marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation when he nailed the 95 theses on a church door in Wittenberg. -
Period: 1517 to
The Reformation
During the Protestant Reformation people demanded changes in the church. -
1519
Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigates the globe
In the service of Spain, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan becomes the first to circumnavigate the globe in 1519. -
1519
Ferdinand Magellan began his voyage
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1520
Pope Leo X issued a decree threatening Luther with excommunication unless he took back his statements
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1520
Some of Cortes' men killed many Aztec warriors and chiefs while they were celebrating a religious festival
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1520
The Aztecs rebelled against the Spanish intruders and drove out Cortes' forces
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1521
Hernan Cortes conquers the Aztecs
Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, conquered the Aztecs in 1521. -
1521
Martin Luther was summoned by the Holy Roman Emperor
Martin Luther was summoned by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, to appear before the Imperial Diet of worms. -
1521
Cortes and his men conquered the Aztecs
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1522
The last of Magellan's crew arrived back to Spain
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1532
Francisco Pizarro conquers the Inca empire
Spanish explorer and conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, conquered the Inca Empire in 1532. -
1534
Henry VIII creates the Anglican Chruch
Henry VIII created the Anglican Church because he resented the Pope for claiming power over him and denying him a divorce. -
1534
St. Ignatius de Loyola founds the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)
After St. Ignatius de Loyola founded the Society of Jesus the spread of Protestantism slowed. -
1534
Jacques Cartier discovers the St. Lawrence River
French explorer, Jacques Cartier, discovered and explored the St. Lawrence River in 1534. -
1536
John Calvin published The Institutes of the Christian Religion
John Calvin returns to Geneva and publishes The Institutes of the Christian Religion in 1536. -
1540
The Society of Jesus was recognized by Pope Paul III
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1542
Pope Paul III started the Roman Inquisition
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1543
Andreas Vesalius published "On the Fabric of the human body"
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1543
Nicolaus Copernicus discovers the sun is the center of the universe
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Period: 1545 to 1563
Meetings of Trent
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1559
Elizabeth I makes the Anglican Church the official state church
Elizabeth I made the Anglican Church the official state church and taxed non-Anglicans. -
1562
Huguenots attacked in civil wars
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Francis Drake defeats the Spanish Armada
English knight, Francis Drake, defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588 -
Johannes Kepler proved the heliocentric model with planetary motion
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William Shakespeare writes Romeo and Juliet
English poet and playwright William Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in 1597. -
King Henry IV gave Huguenots religious freedom
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Miguel de Cervantes writes Don Quixote
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Galileo Galilei invents a new telescope
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Louis XIII becomes king
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Galileo Galilei turned his telescope on Jupiter and saw it had 4 large moons orbiting it.
His discovery was important because it demonstrated that Earth was not the center of the Universe. -
Period: to
Thirty years war
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Francis Bacon published "Novuum Organum"
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William Harvey describes the human circulatory system
William Harvey was the first to describe the human circulatory system in 1628. -
Period: to
Charles I rules in England
Charles I rules in England from 1629-1647. He was executed in 1649. -
Oliver Cromwell leads Parliament to overtake the nobles
Cromwell leads Parliament to overtake the nobles in 1640. He ruled England from 1653-1658. -
Period: to
English Civil War
Those who remained loyal to King Charles were called royalists or cavaliers. On the other side were the Puritan supporters of Parliament. At first, neither side could gain a lasting advantage. However, by 1644, they found a general who could win; Oliver Cromwell. In 1645, Cromwell's New Model Army began defeating the Cavaliers, and the tide turned towards the Puritans. -
Thomas Hobbes published the Leviathan
Hobbes believed all humans were wicked, the main purpose of government was to maintain order in society, and absolute monarch was the best. -
Charles II takes Cromwell's place as king
Under his rule the Habeas Corpus is created. -
Louis XIV moves his court to Versailles
French absolute monarch, Louis XIV, ruled 1643-1715 and moved his court to Versailles in 1682. -
Period: to
Peter the Great rules Russia
Absolute monarch, Peter the Great, rules Russia. -
Isaac Newton comes up with the theory of gravity
Isaac Newton came up with the theory of gravity in 1687 and the laws of motion in 1686. -
William and Mary overthrew James II
The Bill of Rights is drafted in 1689 under their rule -
Period: to
Glorious Revolution (not done)
After the Glorious Revolution power was transferred to Parliament and the Bill of Rights was written. -
Parliament drafted the English Bill of Rights
Parliament drafted the English Bill of Rights. It created separation of powers, limited the power of the king, enhanced the democratic election, and bolstered the freedom of speech. -
John Locke published Two Treaties on Government
John Locke believed that people were sovereign, that people had the gift of reason, that rulers had a contract where they promised to protect the people's natural rights (Right to life, liberty, and property), and that is a government abused these rights, the people justified in rebelling. -
Period: to
Frederick the Great rules Prussia
Prussian absolute monarch, Frederick the Great, ruled 1740-1786. -
Montesquieu publishes Spirit of Laws
Montesquieu said the best form of government had separation of powers, believed England had the best government, said you can't have liberty if two branches are run by one person, and you need power to check each other and maintain balance. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes Social Contract
Rousseau believed that government was a contract between the rulers and the people, that civilization meant the stronger ruled over the weaker, and the only legitimate government rules with the consent of the people. -
Period: to
Louis XVI rules France
Louis XVI was the last king of France. -
Storming of the Bastille
The storming of the Bastille marked the beginning of the French Revolution. -
Period: to
Reign of Terror
Robespierre executed anyone who didn't agree with the revolution. -
Voltaire publishes Candide
Voltaire felt that religious toleration should win over religious fanaticism, believed in the separation of church and state, and wrote against prejudice, superstition, and intolerance. -
Napoleon Bonaparte becomes Emperor of France
Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Austrian Empire in 1797, became the Emperor of France in 1804, invaded Russia and was defeated in 1812, was exiled for the first time in 1815, and in 1815 he was defeated in Waterloo and exiled again. -
Eugene Delacroix paints "Liberty Leading the People"
