West and the World

  • Bubonic Plague
    Jan 1, 1346

    Bubonic Plague

    The Bubonic Plague or the Black Death was the most devastating pandemic in human history. It was carried by fleas living on black rats and came to Europe on merchant ships. The plague killed one third of Europe's population, wiping out entire towns. It returned several times but finally left Europe in the 19th Century.
  • Renaissance Begins
    Jan 1, 1350

    Renaissance Begins

    A rebirth, a movement in high culture a revival of interest in art, literature and learning which began in Italy. Art became realistic, in depth and potrayal of 3D space became extended and relateable. Leonardo da Vinci is known as the Renaissance Man becasue he was a renowned painter, sculptor, musician, architect, engineer, anatomist, mathmetician, inventor, scientist, etc, and had many capabilities and artistic talent.
  • Invention of Linear Perspective
    Jan 1, 1413

    Invention of Linear Perspective

    Filippo Brunelleschi discovered linear persepective in 1413. Because of this discovery, art became realistic, in depth, and helped give the name the Renaissance.
  • Joan of Arc and the Siege of Orleans
    May 30, 1429

    Joan of Arc and the Siege of Orleans

    At sixteen, Joan of Arc, a French peasant girl, said she heard voices from three saints telling her aid Dauphin in capturing Riems. Joan informed Charles VI of her voices and for several weeks he had Joan questioned. Afterwards, Charles gave Joan a small army
  • the Printing Press Invention
    Jan 1, 1439

    the Printing Press Invention

    The printing press was invented by Johann Gutenberg in 1439. The invention changed the world of printing as things could now be produced for less and more rapidly. This technology also brought development in art, science and religion as tests could be could be made faster.
  • Cosimo de Medici dies
    Aug 1, 1464

    Cosimo de Medici dies

    Cosimo de Medici was born Sept 27, 1389 and was the founder of the Medici family that ruled 1434 to 1537.
  • Spanish Inquisition Begins
    Jan 1, 1478

    Spanish Inquisition Begins

    The Spanish Inquistion began with Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand writing a request to the Pope asking permission to start and inquistion in Spain. They decided Catholicism would be the ultimate religion. They began imprisoning, torturing and persecuting Jews, Chrisitans, Protestants and non- believers, and many, possibly thousands were burned at the stake.
  • the Birth of Venus
    Jan 1, 1486

    the Birth of Venus

    Birth of Venus was panted by Filipepi (Sandro) Bottlicelli in 1486.
  • Discovery of America
    Oct 12, 1492

    Discovery of America

    Christopher Columbus discovered America in October 12 1492. He was the first European to explore America since the Vikings landed in Greenland and Newfoundland during the 10th century.
  • the Last Supper
    Jan 1, 1495

    the Last Supper

    The Last Supper was painted by Leonardo de Vinci in 1495. The piece inspired many artsits during the Renaissance. Today, it is in horrible condition even through many restorations.
  • the School of Athens
    Jan 1, 1510

    the School of Athens

    The School of Athens was painted by Raphael Sanzio in 1510.
  • Sistine Chapel Painting
    Oct 1, 1512

    Sistine Chapel Painting

    The Sistine Chapel was painted by Michelangelo by the request of Pope Julius II in 1512. The ceiling which Michelanelo has to paint is well over 5 000 square feet, It took him just over four years to paint andhe painted scenes from the Bible.
  • Thomas More Utopia
    Jan 1, 1514

    Thomas More Utopia

    Sir Thomas More, also known as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, scholar, author, and statesman. During his life he gained a reputation as a leading Renaissance humanist, a violent opponent of the Reformation of Martin Luther, and a government official. For the last six years of his life he was Lord Chancellor. Thomas More wrote Utopia in a attempt "to offer a practical response to the crises of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries by carefully defining an ideal republic."
  • Machiavelli writes the Prince
    Mar 6, 1514

    Machiavelli writes the Prince

    Niccolo Machivelli was head of the second chancery in Florence but lost his job when the Medici family took control. By writing the Prince, it was his attempt to earn the favour of the Medici family. Machiavelli describes the contents of the Prince as being an un-embellished summary of his knowledge about the nature of princes and "the actions of great men."
  • Martin Luther
    Oct 31, 1517

    Martin Luther

    Martin Luther, a priest and scholar, did not agree with the "indulgences" of the Roman Catholic Church and therefore posted a 95 theses on the church which began the Protestant Reformation.
  • Wars of Religion
    Jan 1, 1524

    Wars of Religion

    The Wars of Religion started in Europe in 1524 and lasted until the Edict of Nantes in 1598. The wars were fought between Catholics and Huguenots.
  • Henry VIII of England
    Jul 11, 1533

    Henry VIII of England

    Henry VIII of England is excommincated from the Catholic Church by Pope Clement VII.
  • Ivan the Terrible
    Aug 25, 1533

    Ivan the Terrible

    Ivan IV was born August 25 1533 was the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of tsar. Ivan the Terrible was called that for his reputation as being a one of the most violent leaders, killing innocent people and anyone who opposed him. He became mentally ill in the later half of his reign in which he apprently beat his daughter-in-law for dressing immodestly and killed is son. Ivan the Terrible died March 18 1584.
  • Jesuit Order
    Sep 27, 1534

    Jesuit Order

    The Jesuit Order was founded by Ignatius Loyola and played an important role in Counter- Reformation. The purpose was to convert "lost" to Catholicism. Loyola and six of his students took vows of chastity and poverty.
  • Desiderius Erasmus
    Jul 12, 1536

    Desiderius Erasmus

    Desiderius Erasmus, born in 1466, was a Dutch theologian, humanist, traveler, writer. He criticized the church, and also translated the Greek version of the New Testament into Latin. Erasmus died July 12, 1536
  • Copernicus and hte Scientific Revoltion
    Jan 1, 1543

    Copernicus and hte Scientific Revoltion

    The Scientific Revolution refers to the historical changes in thought and belief which started with Nicholas Copernicus, a Polish astronomer (1473- 1543) and ended with Isaac Newton, a British mathematician (1642- 1727). Copernicus was a ``scientific genius whose work revolutionized astronomy and altered our understanding of our place in the world.`` He was the first to suggest that our planet, and others, revolve around the sun and that the earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours.
  • Spain declares bankruptcy
    Jan 1, 1557

    Spain declares bankruptcy

    Spain was the first nation in history to declare bankruptcy and did so in 1557. Spanish King PhillipI II declared bankruptcy four times during his rule,1557, 1560, 1575, 1596.
  • Coroatio of Quee Elizabeth I
    Jan 16, 1559

    Coroatio of Quee Elizabeth I

    Elizabeth Tudoras born Spetember 7, 1533 and became Queen of England in 1559 when she was 25 years old. She ruled alone for almost half a century.
  • Saint Bartholomew's Massacre
    Aug 24, 1572

    Saint Bartholomew's Massacre

    King Charles IX of France, under pressure from Catherine de Medici order the assassination Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, a Huguenot leader which resulted in killing Huguenots all over France. An estimated 70 000 people were killed in France.
  • Edict of Nantes

    Edict of Nantes

    The Edicit of Nantes was a decree by Henry IV which gave religious tolerance to the Huguenots in France. It also marked the end of the Wars of Religion in France