The European Renaissance: by Antoinette Clark By branham Period: Oct 16, 1300 to Oct 16, 1400 1300 - 1400 Jan 16, 1305 1305 - Giotto completes his work on the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. Feb 16, 1308 1308 - Dante writes his epic poem the Divine Comedy. Mar 16, 1341 1341 - The first great humanist, Petrarch, is named the poet laureate of Rome. Mar 16, 1400 Early Renaissance Oct 16, 1419 Architect Brunelleschi designs the dome for the Florence Cathedral. Apr 16, 1434 The Medici family becomes the head of the city-state of Florence. May 16, 1450 Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press. Jun 16, 1453 - The Ottoman Empire captures the city of Constantinople, signaling an end to the Byzantine Empire. Aug 16, 1485 - Henry VII becomes king of England beginning the reign of the House of Tudor. Dec 16, 1486 Boticelli completes the painting The Birth of Venus. Nov 16, 1492 Explorer Christopher Columbus discovers the Americas. Oct 16, 1495 1495 - 1527 High Renaissance Oct 16, 1495 - Leonardo da Vinci paints the Last Supper. Sep 16, 1496 - Lorenzo de Medici becomes head of the city-state of Florence. He is one of the great patrons of the arts. Aug 16, 1498 1498 - Vasco da Gama arrives in India after sailing around the southern tip of Africa from Portugal. May 16, 1501 Michelangelo begins his work on the sculpture David. Oct 16, 1503 Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa. Oct 16, 1508 - Michelangelo begins his painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Oct 16, 1509 Henry VIII becomes king of England. Oct 16, 1509 Humanist author Erasmus writes Praise of Folly. Oct 16, 1511 Raphael paints his masterpiece The School of Athens. Oct 16, 1516 1516 - Sir Thomas More publishes his work Utopia on political philosophy.