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Jan 1, 1400
The Renaissance
Originating in Florence, Italy, this event was a cultural movement as a rebirth of classical (Greek/Roman) ideas and concepts. Many reborn ideas were that of philosophy and art, with pioneers like Leonardo da Vinci and philosophical thoughts such as humanism -
Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Dec 31, 1500
The Time of the Renaissance
The time of rebirth of classical ideas -
Jan 1, 1449
Lorenzo de Medici's Rule
Lorenzo de Medici (Il Magnifico/Lorenzo the Magnificent) was a member of the wealthy Florentine banking family, de Medici. His grandfather, Cosimo the Elder, was the main builder of the Medici family's wealth. He was known to spend more than he banked and resided over Florence for 23 years. During which, his life was threatened by a rival banking family, the Pazzi (The Pazzi Conspiracy) -
Jan 1, 1450
The Printing Press
Johann Gutenberg had created a successful printing press in Mainz, Germany. His creation made printed movable type the vital method of spreading news and propaganda throughout Western culture as well as printing the Bible -
Apr 15, 1452
Leonardo da Vinci's Artwork
Born in 1452, Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was one of the greatest Renaissance artists and the world's most versatile genius. To name a few of his occupations during his life; painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, botanist and writer. Works include The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, the Vitruvian Man and many inventions such as parachutes, tanks, and even helicopters! -
May 3, 1469
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
One of the great philosophers and writers, Niccolo Machiavelli was a Florentine statesman who advocated for a strong central government. In his work, "The Prince" it advises that acquiring and exercising power may require unethical methods, making him one of the founders of modern political science -
Mar 6, 1475
Michelangelo Buonarroti's Artwork
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was considered one of the greatest artists in human history. An architect and sculptor, works of his include The Statue of David, The Pietà (St. Peter's), and The Sistine Chapel -
Jun 28, 1491
King Henry VIII
Son of Henry VII and King of England from 1509 to 1547; his divorce from Catherine of Aragon resulted in his break with the Catholic Church in 1534 and his excommunication 1538, leading to the start of the Reformation in England. As well as divorcing Catherine, Henry had married and divorced 5 other wives. -
Jan 1, 1500
The Reformation
The religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
The Reformation
The reform of Church ideas and religious beliefs -
Feb 24, 1500
Charles V
Charles V was King of Spain from 1516 - 1556, but quickly rose to the rank of Holy Roman Emperor in 1519. He had ruled the Old World and the newly discovered lands in the west, being the first king to rule over a united Spain. -
Sep 7, 1533
Queen Elizabeth I
Queen of England from 1558 to 1603; daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She succeeded Queen Mary I (Catholic) and restored Protestantism to England. Also during Queen Elizabeth's reign Mary Queen of Scots was executed and the Spanish Armada was defeated; her reign was marked by prosperity -
Feb 15, 1564
Galileo Galilei
Italian astronomer and mathematician who was the first to use a telescope to study the stars. He was a physicist, a philosopher, an astronomer, a mathematician, a scientist, in short he was a very busy person. Galileo demonstrated that different weights descend at the same rate, he perfected the refracting telescope that enabled him to make many discoveries. But most of all, he was a very big liar [more vulgar word], at least according to the Church of that time. And the modern one too. -
Apr 1, 1564
William Shakespeare
The great English playwright and poet, William Shakspeare had created various plays divided into categories of tragedy, romance, and comedy. It is known that only 36 or 38 of his plays were published after his death in 1616 and that the human laguage uses about 5,000 words and phrases he created.