-
Jan 1, 1280
The first eyeglasses are invented.
The first eyeglasses were invented in Italy. It's not known who exactly invented them, but eyeglasses were first seen in pictures around 1287. This event is significant because the eyeglasses helped the sight of people, and for people who couldn't read, it enabled them to read. That meant that when the printing press was invented and books spread faster, the glasses enabled even more people to read and learn the information. -
Jan 1, 1300
The first mechanical clock is invented.
With this invention, time began being measured in the 60 minute is equivalent to an hour, 24 hours is equal to a day system. It's significant because it marked the beginning of the time system we still use today, and if it hadn't been invented, who knows how we would be keeping track of time right now. No one is sure exactly when or by whom it was invented. -
Dec 5, 1443
Pope Julius II is born.
Pope Julius II reigned as pope from 1503-1513 and is considered one of the most influential men of his time. He did many efforts to beautify Rome, such as commisioning Michelangelo to paint the famous ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. In addition he was the art patron of many, such as Michelangelo. He's significant because without him many of the famous artists we still know today that he was art patron of, never would've become artists and we wouldn't see many of the famous landmarks. -
Apr 15, 1452
Leonardo Da Vinci is born.
Leonardo started off learning under Verrochio at the age of 14. Within his twenties, Leonardo was already a master artists, painting paintings for the wealthy. Not only was he an artist, he was a scientist and inventor as well. He's significant to the Renaissance because his inventions and art defined what the Renaissance was about. He lent art works and inventions (that were centuries before his time) that are still known and used today, and also really shaped our view of Renaissance art. -
May 29, 1453
The Ottoman Empire takes over Constantinople.
When the Ottoman Empire took over the capital, they took over the trade between Europe and the East. This was a significant event because it triggered many Greek scholars to move west, and thus bring their ideas of humanism with them. In addition because the Ottomans now controlled the trade, Europe had to find routes to India by sea, so this event also led to the Age of Exploration, one of the greatest moments of the Renaissance. -
Jan 1, 1456
Gutenburg invents the printing press.
He invented it by using moveable/replacable wooden letters. It's significant because if it weren't for the printing press, ideas would've spread much slower in the Renaissance and the idea of humanism might not have been as well known. In addition the Renaissance wouldn't be what it is, a mass exchange of ideas. -
Jan 1, 1469
Lorenzo de Medici takes power in Florence.
His accession to power was due to the death of his father, for his family had ruled for many generations. His taking of power is significant because it's always been considered that his rule was the high point of the Florentine Renaissance, and that many considered him as a true sovereign. In addition he was the art patron of many famous artists. Besides this the de Medici family were the family who created the banking system we still use today. -
Feb 19, 1473
Nicolaus Copernicus is born.
Nicolaus Copernicus was an Italian astronomer who learned under a Greek scholar. He is significant because he was the first to formulate that the Earth was indeed not the center of the universe, the Sun was and Earth revolved around the Sun. With out this idea, we might still have a completely wrong idea of the placement of the Earth, stars, Sun, Moon and planets. This idea was the start of the change of the view of many and Copernicus became known as the initiator of the Scientific Revolution. -
Jan 1, 1488
Portuguese sailors sail to the tip of Africa for the first time.
Led by Bartolomeu Dias, sailors manage to get to the Cape of Good Hope, back then, the closest any expedition had gotten to the East where the trades were. It's significant because it opened up trade between Europe and the East. With out this expedition, other Portuguese expeditions might not've been the first to discover the route to the East. In addition it led to the supplying of silk and spices, which were in high demand back then and which were a substantial amount of the Renaissance econom -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus discovers America.
Under the Spanish flag, Columbus leads an expedition in search for India, instead he finds America. Many years later due to the expedition the Spanish discover the gold mine that is Central America and enslave the natives. This is a significant event because it led to many other countries being interested in America and ultimately what America is today, Cananada and the United States, two of the most powerful countries in the world. -
May 20, 1498
Vasco da Gama arrives in India.
By using the route Bartolomeu Dias discovered earlier, Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese sailor, discovers a route via sea from Europe to India. This is a significant event because it means out of all the voyages that set out to find a route to trade with India, only Portuguese was successful and could now dominate the trade without the interference of the Ottomans. This was a huge advantage considering how popular silks and spices were in the Renaissance. -
Jan 1, 1499
France seizes Milan in the Italian War.
This war was fought primarily between Louis XII of France and Ferdinand II of Aragon. In 1499 Louis invaded Lombardy and seized Milan because he claimed he had the throne to Milan and Naples. This was a significant event because when France seized Milan, France adopted many of the Renaissance ideas that had already grown in Italy, causing the Renaissance to move to France. -
Jan 1, 1512
Michelangelo finishes the Vatican's Sistine Chapel's ceiling frescoes.
This piece illustrates much of the doctrine of the Catholic Church, humanity's need for Salvation as offered by God through Jesus. It is a visual metaphor of Humankind's need for a covenant with God. The complex design has many different individual figures that showcased Michelangelo's talents. It's significant because it's a cornerstone of High Renaissance art, is one of the most well known pieces and has provided an enormously influential pattern book of models for other artists ever since. -
Jan 1, 1517
The start of the Protestant Reformation.
The Protestant Reformation was because of the abuse of the Roman Catholic Church due to the leaders having to much greed and lust, an insult to the church. The new Protestants who branched away from the church aimed to drive the church in the direction of the older, purer days of the church. This was a significant event because it made the religion we still know to day, The Protestants, one of the biggest religious groups in the world, and a representation of what the Renaissance was about. -
Jan 1, 1517
Martin Luther writes The Ninety-Five Theses.
The Ninety-Five Theses disputes the buying of indulgence from the church and thus the penance of sin. He believed indulgence should be earned, not bought for if the church could give out indulgence, why not give it out for free? This work showed that the Catholic Church had become corrupt from what it once was. This was a significant event because The Ninety-Five Theses was known as the catalyst of the Protestant Reformation, one of the most important events of the Renaissance. -
Sep 8, 1519
The departure of the first expedition to circumnavigate the world
By way of sea, a Spanish expedition manages to be the first to sail around the world, going from West to East starting in Spain via the south Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. This expedition took three years and was led by Ferdinand Magellan (a Portuguese turned Spaniard) but he died before the completeion of the voyage. This is a significant event because it's such a great feat to sail around the entire world especially in those times when there weren't planes, or even maps to guide them. -
Feb 15, 1564
Galileo Galilei is born.
Galileo was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. During his life he supported Copernicus's new ideas instead of the Church's old ones. He was significant because he was known as the father of physics, conducting many experiments that formed laws of science we still use today. He was the first to actually experiment his theories, creating a whole new world of science that was much more accurate than the old one. -
Apr 26, 1564
William Shakespeare is born.
William was an English poet and playwright an important member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men company of theatrical players, writing tons of works ranging from History and Comedy to Tragedies and Tragicomedies. Some such as Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth, have become the most celebrated and known works of all time. This is a significant event because William was a true visionary writing plays that've captured the complete range of human emotion and conflict, changing the world of literature forever. -
Hans Lippershey invents the first real telescope.
With the invention of the eyeglasses, some started experimenting with using more than one glass to magnify objects that were far away. Hans Lippershey is said to be the first to invent the working telescope. This is a significant event because the telescope is the key that's unlocked our vast flood of knowledge about astronomy. With the help of this amazing device, we've been able to expand our knowledge of the universe to greater depths. -
Sir John Harrington invents the first flush toilet.
The toilet was used by him and his godmother, Queen Elizabeth. His friends teased him so he only made one. This is a significant event because with out the flush toilet, our rooms might still smell like waste, our streets still covered from the emptying of chamber pots.
