Important Events During the Renaissance

Bubonic Plague begins

Feb 28, 1347

The Bubonic plague devestated Europe's population during the dark ages. It created fear and panic amoung citizens and severely depleted the workforce.

The Renaissance Begins

Jan 1, 1350

The Renaissance was an intellectual and artistic movement. Hummanism was created and religion was beginning to lose it's foothold on society. The arts began to grow and expand and this time also saw the creation of science.

Brunelleschi creates Linear Perspective

Jan 1, 1413

Linear perspective revolutionized art. It allowed art to have depth and appear to be in 3D.

Joan of Arc and the Siege of Orleans

Jan 1, 1429

Joan of Arc's first military victory and was the turning point in the 100 years war between England and France.

Johann Gutenberg invents the printing press

Jan 1, 1439

Revolutionized the manufacturing of books, and also the studies of the arts and sciences.

Cosimo de Medici dies

Jan 1, 1464

Cosimo was considered the father of the nation by some. The Medici family ruled throughout the Renaissance, their actions made Florence one of the wealthiest cities in the world.

The Spainish Inquistion begins

Jan 1, 1478

One of the most deadly inquistions in history, it was designed to root out all non Catholics i.e Jews and Muslims.

Sandro Botticelli paints Birth of Venus

Jan 1, 1486

Painted as a result of the Platonic Academy, one of the famous pieces of art during the Renaissance. The sexual nature of the painting was pushing the boundries of what was tollerated during that time.

Columbus discovers the America's

Jan 1, 1492

The discovery of the America's would lead to colonization of them a hundred years later. This colonization would lead to the western world as we know it.

da Vinci paints The Last Supper

Jan 1, 1495

Raphael paints The School of Athens

Jan 1, 1510

Many consider this to be Raphael's masterpiece because it captures the classical spirit of the Renaissance. Many famous artists and philosophers are put in the painting.

Michelangelo paints the Sistine Chapel

Jan 1, 1512

Forced into painting by the Pope, Michelangelo painted 9 scenes from the old testament onto the ceiling and walls of the Sistine Chapel.

Machiavelli writes the Prince

Jan 1, 1514

The Prince is considered to be the earliest works of modern philosophy. Published after Machiavelli's death for fear of contraversey.

Thomas More Utopia

Jan 1, 1514

Thomas More used the word Utopia to describe an ideal imaginary Island nation. He opposed England's seperation from the Catholic church and refused to accept the King as the head of the church, he was later tried for treason and beheaded.

Martin Luther 95 Theses

Jan 1, 1517

Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Catholic church. He listed all his problems with the church, he was later excommunicated from the Catholic church. He created the form of christianity what we know today as Protestantism.

Start of the European Wars of religion

Jan 1, 1524

The religious wars were cause by the Protestant Reformation in western and northern Europe. The wars were fought between Catholics and Protestants.

Henry the 8th of England excommunicated

Jan 1, 1533

Henry was excommunicated from the Catholic Church because he anulled his first marriage and married again without the permission of the church

Ivan the Terrible is born

Jan 1, 1533

Ivan conquered large amounts of territory transforming Russia into a multienthnic country. He became the first Tsar of Russia.

Desiderius Erasumus Dies

Jan 1, 1536

Erasumus was a Dutch Renaissance hummanist and Catholic priest, he was critical of the Catholic church and was an early proponent of religious toleration. He also translated the old testament from Greek to Latin and corrected many of the written mistakes.

Jesuit Order founded by Ignatius Loyola

Jan 1, 1543

Ignatius was a religious leader during counter reformation, he was extremely loyal to the Catholic Church authority and heirarchy. His creation of the Society of Jesus was used to spread the word of god, the members of the Society of Jesus were known as Jesuits and were considered the soldiers of god.

Scientific Revolution / Copernicus

Jan 1, 1543

The scientific revoultion was an era in which new ideas like physics, chemistry, medicine and biology formed and paved the way for modern science.

Spain declares bankruptcy for the 1st time

Jan 1, 1557

Spain's bankruptcy was caused by Kings defaulting on their loans and a depedance on precious metals and jewels for income.

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 1

Jan 1, 1559

Queen Elizabeth was the 5th and last monarch in the Tudor dynasty. Her father was King Henry the VIII, she is remembered for establishing the English Protestant church and the defeat of the Spainish Armada.

Saint Bartholomew 's Massacre

Jan 1, 1572

Mobs of French Catholics killed Protestants during the French Religious Wars. It is presumed that the Massacre started because of King Charles the IX's sister Margret married the Protestant King Henry the IV (the future king of France).

Edict of Nantes

Jan 1, 1598

Issued by King Henry the IV of France, it gave non catholics in France civil rights. This marked the end of the religious wars in France during the second half of the 16th century