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1450
Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press
The invention of the printing press made it easier to make books and to spread knowledge throughout Europe. -
1492
Christopher Columbus discovers the new world
He was sent by the king and queen of Spain to search for a easier route to Asia. Instead, he discovered the Americas. -
1496
Leonardo da Vinci paints The Last Supper
It depicts Jesus before his execution. -
Period: 1497 to 1499
Vasco da Gama makes his first voyage to India
He set sail for India to get spices to send back to Portugal. However, he didn't get the amount he wanted because of conflicts with the Indians. -
1503
Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa
It is one of his most notable works and is now on display in the Louvre -
1504
Michelangelo finishes sculpting David
He finishes sculpting David, a biblical hero, in 1504. It is one of his most famous works. -
1509
Erasmus writes The Praise of Folly
It is about satirical criticism of society. -
1512
Michelangelo finishes painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
It is one of his most notable works. -
1517
Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses on his church's door
Since he was disappointed in the Catholic church, he wrote this paper to voice his complaints. -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigates the world
He crossed into the Pacific Ocean by sailing through the Strait of Magellan at the tip of South America. -
Period: 1519 to 1521
Cortez captures the Aztec Empire
Through the combination of better technology and introducing deadly diseases to the natives, Cortez was able to quickly defeat the Aztecs. -
1521
Diet of Worms
The Holy Roman Emperor ordered Luther to recant his sayings, but he would not. Then the emperor issued the Edict of Worms, which declared Luther a heretic. -
Period: 1532 to 1541
Pizarro conquers the Inca empire
Once in Peru, he executed the Inca emperor, which quickly destabilized the empire. This made it easy for him to conquer it. -
1533
John Calvin creates Calvinism
He believed in predestination, which meant that God knew what one's fate was at the beginning of time. His ideas started a theocracy in Switzerland. -
1534
Cartier makes his first voyage to Canada
After exploring Canada, he claims it for France. -
1534
St. Ignatius de Loyola establishes the Jesuits
It was a Roman Catholic order of religious men. -
1538
Henry VIII creates the Church of England
Since the Catholic church wouldn't let him get a divorce, he created the Anglican Church and took all of the Catholic land in England. -
1543
Copernicus publishes his heliocentric theory
He came up with his theory because he believed the old geocentric theory didn't account for planetary motions. -
Period: 1577 to 1580
Drake circumnavigates the world
After sailing around South America, he went to California to attack Spanish settlements before continuing on his journey. -
Miguel de Cervantes publishes Don Quixote
It is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age. -
Kepler publishes his laws of planetary motion
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Period: to
Thirty Years' War
It was a war between German Protestants and Catholics. It ended with the Peace of Augsberg. -
Louis XIV becomes king of France
He builds Versailles and moves his court there. -
Period: to
English Civil War
The forces of Charles I fought against Parliament. Parliament wins with the leadership of Cromwell. -
Charles I is executed
After Parliament wins the civil war, he is accused of being a traitor and is executed. -
Hobbes publishes his book Leviathan
In Leviathan, he expresses his view that people are naturally evil and that there would need to be a strong ruler to govern the people. -
Cromwell becomes dictator of England
He became ruler after the English Civil War. He was unpopular with the people because he was strict. -
Charles II becomes king of England
After Cromwell dies, the English people elect Charles I's son, Charles II as king. -
Period: to
Louis XIV builds the Palace of Versailles
Louis decided to turn the old hunting lodge at Versailles into a magnificent palace in order to house his nobles. -
Peter the Great becomes tzar of Russia
He modernizes Russia, especially the education system and the military. -
Newton publishes his book explaining the laws of motion and gravity
His laws have greatly contributed the field of physics today. -
Locke publishes Two Treatises on Government.
In it, he expresses his view that everyone should have the basic rights of life, liberty, and property. -
Glorious Revolution
James II is overthrown because he is Catholic. William and Mary replace him as constitutional monarchs. -
Montesquieu publishes Spirit of Laws
It says his beliefs that checks and balances were needed to balance a government. -
Voltaire writes Candide
It is a satire against religious fanaticism. -
Rousseau publishes the Social Contract
It discusses his beliefs that government was a contract between the ruler and the people -
Storming of the Bastille
The people stormed the Bastille to get rid of the last royal stronghold in Paris. -
Period: to
Reign of Terror
A period of time when Robespierre and his followers executed anyone who disagreed with him. It ended with Robespierre's execution. -
Louis XVI is executed
After he tried to escape France and was caught, he was executed using the guillotine. -
Napoleon becomes emperor of France
He is elected emperor by the people of France. -
Napoleon loses the Battle of Waterloo
He loses to the British forces and is later exiled to an island in the South Atlantic. -
Delacroix paints Liberty Leading the People
It shows the French people carrying on through hardships and war.
