West and the World

Renaissance Begins

Jan 1, 1300

Cultural movement in europe that spanned from 14th century to 17th century.

West and the World

Period: Jan 1, 1300 to Jan 1, 1600

Bubonic Plague begins

Jan 1, 1347

Also known as the black death, this disease was carried by oriental fleas on black rats in Europe. Thought to have killed around 1/3 but could have been up to 60% of Europes population.

Brunelleschi creates Linear Perspective

Jan 1, 1420

Brunelleschi is credited with rediscovering the idea of Linear perspective. It is believed that the ancient romans and greeks knew of linear perspective but the knowledge had been lost over time, Linear perspective is the act of making objects in the painting appear 3D by including a vanishing point and horizon line to the picture.

Start of Joan of Arc and the Siege of Orleans

Oct 12, 1428

Joan of Arc was considered to be a maiden told of in prophecies that would save France. The Siege of Orleans was a siege that had gone on for just over 6 months when Joan got there. The siege ended less than 2 weeks after her arrival.

End of Joan of Arc and the Siege of Orleans

May 8, 1429

Johann Gutenberg invents the printing press

Jan 1, 1440

The printing press was a revolutionary invention for it's time. It allowed books and texts to be printed faster by the wooden, and soon after metal, letters in the machine. This invention allowed books to be much cheaper and available for the masses.

Cosimo de Medici dies

Aug 1, 1464

Cosimo de Medici was the first of the Medici Political Dynasty in Italy. He was also known as Cosimo Pater Patriae meaning "Father of the Nation" in Latin.

Spanish inquisition begins

Jan 1, 1478

A tribunal created with the intent of maintaining Catholic orthodoxy in the Kingdoms in Spain. It was needed because of all those who practiced Judaism and Islam were forced to convert or leave.

Sandro Botticelli pains Birth of Venus

Jan 1, 1486

Botticelli was commisioned by Lorenzo de' Medici to paint the Birth of Venus. It depicts the goddess Venus emerging from the sea as a fully grown woman.

Columbus Discovers America

Jan 1, 1492

Columbus led an expedition of three ships; The Pinta, the Santa Maria and the Nina, on an expedition to Asia. His goal was to find gold, jewels and spices but he instead discovered America.

da Vinci paints The Last Supper

Jan 1, 1498

Leonardo da Vinci painted the Last Supper while working for Ludovico Sforza, the duke of Milan. It is a relgious scene where Jesus has supper with his apostles before his crucifixion. The original painting was 29 feet long and 15 feet high.

Raphael paints The School of Athens

Jan 1, 1509

The School of Athens represents all the greatest philosophers, mathematicians and scientists from old gathered in one place and sharing their knowledge. The people represented were not all from the same generation.

Michelangelo Paints Sistine Chapel

Jan 1, 1512

Michelangelo was hired to paint the roof of the Sistine Chapel by Pope Julius II. Julius was attempting to restore Rome to its former glory and thought this incredible work of art would assist in his campaign to do so. The ceiling that was painted is 131 feet long by 43 feet wide.

Thomas More Utopia

Jan 1, 1516

Thomas More was a lawyer and author who wrote Utopia to poke holes in the catholic theology. This book was also the origin of the word Utopia meaning a perfect society.

Martin Luther 95 Theses

Jan 1, 1517

The Martin Luther 95 Theses can be considered the cause of the European wars of religion. Martin Luther published 95 points about the Catholic religion he would change, this was the start of the protestant reformation.

Start of the European Wars of Religion

Jan 1, 1524

The European Wars of Religion was a war that went through all of Europe and was essentially the Catholics trying to eliminate the new Protestant religion that was converting large amounts of Europe.

Ivan the Terrible is born

Mar 18, 1530

Ivan the Terrible was the first person to be name "Tsar of all Russians". He was known as an intelligent and devout diplomat, but also suffered from a mental illness that caused outbreaks of rage. During one outbreak he beat his eldest son, and heir, to death.

Machiavelli writes the Prince

Jan 1, 1532

The Prince was a novel that outlined a way for leaders to rule in a way that used fear rather than respect. It is one of the most remembered because of all time in politics.

Desiderius Erasmus dies

Jul 12, 1536

Erasmus was a humanist, priest, teacher, social critic, and theologian. He was considered one of the brightest of his time and prepared new Latin and Greek editions of the new testament. These helped influence the Protestant Reformation.

Henry VIII of England excommunicated

Jan 1, 1538

King Henry enacted Royal Supremecy against the Church, which gave the King power over the Church and not the pope. He did this because the Church refuse to annul his marriage with his wife, and he needed a new wife to bear hime a son. After Royal Supremecy was enforced, the pope excommunicated Henry.

Jesuit Order founded by Ignatius Loyola

Aug 15, 1539

Ignatius Loyola started off as a knight but was convinced to devote himself to god by Ludolph of Saxony after he was wounded in 1521. He founded Jesuit Order with a few followers in 1539 and it was officially recognized by the pope in 1540.

Scientific Revolution / Copernicus

Jan 1, 1543

Spain Declares Bankruptcy for first time

Jan 1, 1557

Phillip II of spain had to declare bankruptcy for the first time in 1557 due to rising military costs and insufficient funds for his plans. He kept borrowing from foreign bankers and burying the country in debt. Phillip II also caused 3 other bankruptcies in 1560 1575 1596.

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 1

Jan 15, 1559

Elizabeth was the second child of Henry VIII and the final heir. Her father died before her, followed by her half brother then half sister. Elizabeths coronation was a major turning point in England because it was a blend of the traditional Catholic coronation and the new Protestant ideals that she planned to implement in her reign.

Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre

Aug 23, 1572

The massacre was a target of violence caused by the Roman Catholics against the Huguenots, who were Protestant. It happened 4 days after the wedding of the Kings sister Margeret and Henry III of Navarre. It was an occasion that caused many of the most wealthy and prominent Huguenots to gather in largely catholic paris.

Edict of Nantes

Apr 13, 1598

The Edict of Nantes granted Calvinist Protestants in France substantial rights. France was still a mostly catholic country so this was a large step forward in equal rights. The Edict was passed by King Henry IV.