Unit 1-4 Timeline By SteamMan 1492 Christopher Columbus discovers the Americas Period: 1500 to 1700 Height of renaissance 1509 Henry VIII becomes king 1517 Martin Luther posts the 95 Theses Period: 1517 to 1648 Protestant Reformation 1518 Cortes conquers the Aztecs in Mexico 1530 Calvin creates a new form of Protestantism 1535 Michelangelo begins painting the Sistine Chapel Period: 1540 to 1800 Scientific Revolution 1543 Copernicus creates heliocentric theory 1558 Elizabeth I creates the Anglican Church Period: 1600 to 1800 Enlightenment Period: 1642 to 1649 English Civil War 1643 Louis XIV becomes king of France 1660 Charles II takes power (Restoration) 1666 Newton creates the Laws of Gravity 1682 Peter the Great becomes Czar of Russia 1688 William and Mary take power (Glorious Revolution) 1689 Locke writes the Two Treatises of Government 1748 Montesquieu writes the Spirit of Laws Period: 1775 to 1783 American Revolution Period: 1789 to 1799 French Revolution Period: 1791 to 1821 Latin American Revolutions 1799 Napoleon takes power 1814 Congress of Vienna meets