Story of Mankind By Odj199 1250 Venetians and Arabs monopolize European spice trade Period: 1300 to 1550 Renaissance in Italy 1450 Development of moveable type and printing press 1450 Prince Henry develops marine technologies and sends ships to explore the coast of Africa Period: 1450 to 1600 Renaissance elsewhere in Europe 1453 Fall of Constantinople-end of the Byzantine Empire 1492 Discovery and exploration of New World begins (Columbus) 1498 Da Gama reaches India Period: 1500 to 1800 Search for a practical NW Passage 1506 Da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa 1517 Luther posts 95 theses Period: 1519 to 1522 Magellan expedition circumnavigates the globe 1534 Henry VIII heads Church of England 1543 Copernicus proposes sun-centered solar system 1588 England defeats the Armada Period: 1618 to 1648 Thirty Years' War 1688 Glorious Revolution takes place in England 1700 Isaac Newton describes force and motion in mathematical terms 1733 John Kay invents the flying shuttle 1769 James Watt perfects the steam engine 1776 U.S. Declaration of Independence 1789 U.S. Constitution goes into effect
