Social Studies

Black Death hits Europe

1347

The Black Death was an epidemic of bubonic plague caused by infected fleas on rats. This event was important because it changed people’s lives forever, many people died, and the Feudal system started to collapse.

Printing Press

1440

The printing press was made by Johannes Gutenberg and it made printing copies easier and faster. This was important because it allowed people to share large amounts of information quickly and back then it made tons of copies of Luther’s 95 theses which allowed his ideas to spread faster.

Christopher Columbus

1492

Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. His goal was to sail until he reached Asia but he reached America by accident. This was important because he discovered new lands and it allowed Europeans to colonize and conquer the lands.

Mona Lisa

1503

The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci and it is known as the most visited and best-known painting. It is important because of the illusions Leonardo created and the techniques he used. For example how her eyes follow you where ever you go.

David

1504

The David is a sculpture sculpted by Michaelangelo made out of marble. It depicts the biblical hero, David and it is 17 ft. tall. It is important because it was the first time that a statue that large was made during the Renaissance.

Luther’s 95 Theses

1517

Luther’s 95 theses were a list of things about what was wrong with the Catholic Church. This was important because it sparked the Protestant Reformation in Europe.

Anglican Church

1534

The Anglican Church was made when King Henry VIII split from the Catholic Church because they wouldn't let him get an annulment. This is important because King Henry VIII created a whole new church taking power away from the Catholic Church. It also created another branch from Protestantism.

Copernican Heliocentrism

1543

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Scientific Revolution thinker that came up with the Heliocentric theory. He made a model where the Sun is the center of the Universe and all the other planets including Earth orbit the Sun. This is important because his model was correct but it went against the Church's beliefs. Galileo realized Copernicus's model was correct making him want to find proof.

Shakespeare was Born

1564

Shakespeare was born on April 26, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. This is important because it marks the date when the most famous play writer and English poet was born. He wrote so many plays that influenced so many people.

Galileo's Telescope

1609

Galileo heard about telescopes throughout Europe and made one for himself that magnified objects three times. This invention was important because without the telescope he wouldn't have been able to see the moons around Jupiter proving that the Earth isn’t the center of the universe.