West and the World

Bubonic Plague begins

Jan 1, 1347

The Bubonic Plague circulated among many rodents and their fleas in this time period. The infection was spread from the fleas through the skin and travels through to the lymph nodes, causing them to swell (called buboes). They are very painful and appear in the areas of the groin, armpit and neck. The most painful way to die, killing 30-40% of Europe's population in a matter of just a few years.

West and the World

Period: Jan 1, 1347 to Apr 13, 1598

Renaissance begins

Jan 1, 1350

The Renaissance was an artistic, cultural and intellectual movement that spanned the period between the 14th and 17th period. It is believed to have started in Florence, Tuscany in the 14th century. Its influence was felt in literature, philosophy, art, music, politics, science, religion as well as many other aspects. The most well known artists from this time still have an impact on the people of today, and their artwork is also very well known. ex. the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Brunelleschi creates Linear Perspective

Jan 1, 1413

Brunelleschi did this by painting the outlines of various Florentine buildings onto a mirror. When he was finished, he noticed that the lins converged on the horizon line. After this, nearly every artist used this aspect in their artwork.

Joan of Arc and the Siege of Orleans

Jan 1, 1429

Joan of Arc is a national heroine of France, and a Roman Catholic saint, who led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War. When transferred to England, she was burned at the stake at the age of 19. The uncrowned King Charles VII sent her to the Siege of Orleans as part of a relief mission. She overcame the dismissive attitude of the veteran commanders and lifted the siege in only nine days.

Johann Gutenberg invents the printing press

Jan 1, 1439

The invention of the printing press played a key role in the development of the Renaissance. He had many contributions to the printing revolution, the invention of a process for mass-producing movable type, he use of oil-based ink, and the use of a wooden press. The combination allowed the mass production of printed books and was economically viable for printers and readers.

Cosimo de Medici dies

Aug 1, 1464

Cosimo inherited his wealth and expertise in business from his father. He and his whole family had a large impact on Florence, and was in charge of the bank there. His power over Florence stemmed from his wealth, which he used to control votes. He pretended to have little political ambition because Florence was so proud of its democracy.

Spanish Inquisition begins

Jan 1, 1478

Used for political and religious reasons. The pope gave permission in 1478 to begin the Spanish Inquisition to purify the people of Spain. They started by driving out the Jews, Protestants and other non-believers of Catholicism

Sandro Botticelli paints Birth of Venus

Jan 1, 1486

This painting depicts the goddess Venus emerged from the sea as a full grown woman, arriving at the sea shore. Many scholars have made many different interpretations as to what the painting means.
The painting is held in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Columbus dicovers the America's

Jan 1, 1492

Columbus' voyages and his efforts to establish permanent settlements in the island of Hispaniola, initiated the process of the Spanish colonization, which forshadowed the general European colonization of the New World.

Da Vinci paints The Last Supper

Jan 1, 1495

The Last Supper is a 15th century mural painting in Milan done by Leonardo Da Vinci. It represents the scene of the Last Supper from the final days of Jesus as it is told in the Gospel of John 13:21 when Jesus announces that one of his Twelve Apostles would betray him.

Raphael paints The School of Athens

Jan 1, 1510

The School of Athens is one of the most famous frescoes by Raphael. The fresco is located in the Stanza della Segnatura, which was one of the first rooms to be finished with paint, in the Vatican. The painting focuses on the vanishing point where Aristotle and Plato are talking.

Michelangelo paints the Sistine Chapel

Jan 1, 1512

The Sistine Chapel ceiling was painted by Michelangelo. It depicts nine scenes from the book of Genesis. The Last Judgment is painted on the Church wall, also done by Michelangelo. Many different painters also had input on the paintings in the chapel.

Thomas More Utopia

Jan 1, 1514

The book Utopia written by Thomas More is a work of fiction and political philosophy. The book was originally written in Latin depicting a fictional island society and its religious, social and political customs.

Machiavelli writes the Prince

Jan 1, 1514

This book is a political treatise, written by Machiavelli. This book is sometimes claimed to be one of the first works of modern philosophy, especially in modern political philosophy. It was in direct conflict with the dominant Catholic and scholastic doctrines of the time considering how to consider politics and ethics.

Martin Luther 95 Theses

Jan 1, 1517

The 95 theses were the primary catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. The disputation protests against clerical abuses, especially the sale of indulgences. They center on the practices within the Catholic Church regarding baptism and absolution. Luther argues that the sale of indulgences was a gross violation of the original intention of confession and penance. He basically said that people shouldn't be able to get absolution through the purchase of an indulgence.

Start of the European Wars of Religion

Jan 1, 1524

These wars were a series of wars waged in Europe following the Protestant Reformation in western and northern Europe. All of these wars were strongly influenced by the religious changes of the period, and the conflict and rivalry that it produced.

Henry VIII of England excommunicated

Jan 1, 1533

Henry VIII was excommunicated because he wanted to divorce Catherine to marry Anne Boleyn. He wanted to have an heir to his throne, and Catherine was getting too old to have children. While married to Catherine, he was having an affair with Anne, and he had got her pregnant. He went to the pope to ask for a divorce, but they said no because Henry and Anne already had sex. Henry still did not get an heir to his throne, because Anne gave birth to a baby girl.

Ivan the Terrible is born

Aug 25, 1533

Ivan was the grand prince of Moscow from 1533 until his death. Ivan managed countless changes in the progression from a medieval state to an empire and emerging regional power, and he became the first ruler to be crowned as Tsar of All Russia.

Jesuit Order founded by Ignatius Loyola

Jan 1, 1534

Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537. He founded the society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. He emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation. The Jesuits are male members of the Society of Jesus, and they follow the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Desiderius Erasmus dies

Jan 1, 1536

Desiderius Erasmus was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian. He was a Catholic scholar who wrote in a pure Latin style. He prepared important new Latin and Greek editions of the New Testament. He lived through the Reformation period, but did not join the Reformers.

Scientific Revolution / Copernicus

Jan 1, 1543

This was a time period during which new ideas and knowledge in physics, astronomy, biology, medicine, and chemistry. transformed medieval and ancient views of nature and laid the foundations for modern science. Copernicus' book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium is often regarded as the starting of modern astronomy and the defining epiphany of the scientific revolution.

Spain declares bankruptcy for the 1st time

Jan 1, 1557

Phillip II of Spain had to declare four state bankruptcies on Spain, the first of which in 1557. Due to his father leaving behind an enormous amount of debt, and Phillip's bad way of managing money, a trait learned from his father led to Spain's economic downfall.

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth I

Jan 1, 1559

Sometimes called The Virgin Queen. She was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. She was the daughter of Henry VIII, born a princess, but her mother, Anne Boleyn was executed two and a half years after her birth. Historians of the time period such as J.E Neale, and A.L Rowse, interpreted that Elizabeth's reign as a golden age of progress.

Saint Bartholomew's Massacre

Aug 24, 1572

In this massacre, the Protestants were the victims. It was one event in the series of civil wars between Roman Catholics and Huguenots that beset France in the late 16th century. When the news struck, Protestant nations were horrified.

Edict of Nantes

Apr 13, 1598

The Edict of Nantes granted a large measure of religious liberty to his Protestant subjects, the Huguenots. It upheld the Protestants in freedom of conscience and permitted them to hold public worship in many parts of the kingdom. It granted them full civil rights and established a special court. It also restored Catholicism in all areas where Catholic practice had been interpreted.