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1440
Creation of the Printing Press
Johanne Gutenberg invented the first printing press around 1440. This was a major technological advancement that allowed Bibles to be mass-printed. This allowed people to have the Bible in their hands; they could study it independently rather than hearing it transcribed from the Church. The printing press also opened up the printing of the Bible in other languages. -
Mar 12, 1488
End of Africa is Found
Portuguese sailor Bartolomeu Dias became the first person to find the end of Africa. He rounded the tip of Africa and named it the Cape of Good Hope. This opened up the first water route from Europe to Asia, starting the race for spice trade and profit. -
1492
The Columbus Voyage Takes Off
Christopher Columbus, an Italian who sailed for the Spanish, set off with his crew for a 2-month voyage. His voyage brought many new animals, foods, plants, and diseases. The Columbus voyage landed west and started the colonization of the New World. -
Jun 7, 1494
Creation of the Treaty of Tordesillas and the Line of Demarcation
With the imbalance in wealth and power came conflict between Portugal and Spain, both big Catholic countries. Pope Alexander VI didn't want two big Catholic countries at war; he created the Treaty of Tordesillas. With this came the Line of Demarcation, splitting the Earth down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. West of the line was Spain's territory, and east was Portugal's. Ferdinand Magellan's expedition proved this incorrect when they traveled all the way west of the line. -
May 20, 1498
First European to Sail to India
Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama became the first European to successfully sail to India. Using the route around Africa created by Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama was able to sail to India. He brought back millions in spices for Portugal. This gave Portugal an imbalance in power, angering surrounding European countries. -
1501
Creation of David
David was created by Michelangelo in the early 1500s. This sculpture is known for its realism of the realistic human features, idealism for the ideal form of the human body, and humanism in the "S curve" relating to Greek statues. David was an impressive sculpture at 17 feet tall with extremely realistic features. -
1503
Creation of the Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world by the famous Leonardo DaVinci. This painting was one of the first to show realism through light shading and being secular. -
1513
Pacific Ocean is Discovered
Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. Balboa landed in Panama, being able to see the Pacific. He opened up new land and discovered a new ocean for Spain. -
Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses
Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation when he posted his 95 theses on the evils of indulgences to the Wittenburg church doors. Luther disagreed that your actions towards the Church should not help you get into heaven, but rather your faith. This angered the Holy Roman emperor Charles V, leading to the Diet of Worms. -
Period: 1519 to 1556
Reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
Holy Roman Emperor Charles V had colonized most of the world under his rule. He was the King of Spain and had a large influence in the New World. Charles was struggling to protect the Holy Roman Empire and provide for the Pope. He stepped down and broke apart the Holy Roman Empire. -
Sep 20, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan's Expedition to Sail Around the World
Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan, who sailed for the Spanish, had the first expedition to sail around the globe. He passed during his expedition, but it was continued by his crew. Magellan's voyage proved the Line of Demarcation wrong, showing that you could go all the way west of the line. -
Apr 16, 1521
Diet of Worms Begins
The Diet of Worms was a meeting in the city of Worms to debate the heretic acts of Martin Luther and his 95 theses. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V debated for the Pope, who wanted Luther arrested. Luther wins and starts his own religion, Lutherism. -
Aug 13, 1521
The Fall of the Aztec Empire
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés had taken down the Aztec Empire and conquered Mexico. The Aztecs had welcomed the Spanish, just for the Spanish to massacre the Aztec people. The Aztecs had become enraged at Montezuma, the Aztec leader, who had done nothing to protect them. The Aztec people killed Montezuma, and without a leader, the empire fell when the Spanish attacked a second time. This gave Spain the land of Mexico and a strong influence in the New World. -
Nov 16, 1532
The Fall of the Inca Empire
Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro had invaded and taken down the Incan Empire. He captured and killed Incan leader Atahualpa, gaining a big and rich empire for Spain. This put Spain ahead in the colonization of the New World. -
1534
Creation of Anglicanism
After the Pope denied Henry VIII's marriage annulment, he broke away from the Catholic Church. To remarry, Henry and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, created Anglicanism, or the Church of England. Anglicanism had the same structure as Catholicism, except for the Pope. -
1536
The Beginning of Calvinism
John Calvin first introduced Calvinism in Geneva in 1536. Calvinism shares the idea of predestination and that all actions are predetermined before you are born, including whether you go to heaven or hell. -
Mar 21, 1556
Execution of Thomas Cranmer
After Henry VIII's son, Edward VI, passed, the next reign, his first daughter, Mary I. Mary, was born from a catholic marriage before England had converted to Anglicanism. Mary converts all of England back to Catholicism. She is angry at Thomas Cranmer for creating Anglicanism and causing the annulment of her parents. Mary tortures Cranmer, making him confess to "making up" Anglicanism. Cranmer writes a fake confession and ends up getting burned alive. -
Period: Jan 15, 1558 to
Reign of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I came to reign at the age of 25, after the death of her sister Mary I. Being born from an Anglican marriage, Elizabeth converts England back to Anglicanism with the exception of the Elizabethan Compromise. She is known for having an extremely successful reign, protecting and stabilizing England. -
1559
Creation of the Elizabethan Compromise
After Mary I's passing, Elizabeth I took the throne, converting England back to Anglicanism. She implemented an act of religious tolerance, the Elizabethan Compromise. This made the state religion and only convertible religion Anglicanism but allowed all Catholics to stay. This settlement created peace between the Catholics and Protestants in England. -
Aug 23, 1572
Bartholomew's Day Massacre
The conflict between the Huguenots and Catholics in France had caused seven civil wars. A marriage between Catholic Margaret de Medici and Calvinist Henry of Navarre was supposed to bring peace between the religions. Instead, the Catholics turned on the Huguenots in a massacre, killing 15,000 Huguenots. This was an act of religious intolerance, setting back France from peace. -
Dec 15, 1577
Francis Drake's Expedition Around the World
English privateer Francis Drake went around the world pirating or stealing from other ships. He had been commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I and often plundered Spanish ships. By the end of Drake's expedition, he had made it around the globe. He brought wealth back to England. -
The Spanish Armada
Spain had been conflicting with England for their protestant views, Francis Drake pirating the Spanish gold, Elizabeth I declining Phillip II's marriage proposal, and England supporting the Dutch in their rebellion against Spain. Spain sent a fleet of warships to pick up soldiers from the Netherlands and take them to fight England. In both armada attempts, Francis Drake sunk or sent away the Spanish ships. In power, this brought Spain and the Catholics to the bottom and England to the top. -
Period: to
Edict of Nantes
After Bartholomew's Day Massacre, Henry of Navarre converted to Catholicism and became Henry IV, King of France. He created the Edict of Nantes, a religious tolerance act to bring peace between the Catholics and Huguenots. The Edict of Nantes gave Huguenots the right to freely practice religion and have equal opportunities in France. Although revoked by Louis XIV, The Edict of Nante brought civilized peace to France for 87 years. -
Stuarts Started Rule in England
The Stuart Family took their reign in France after Elizabeth I passed, starting with James I. They were strong believers in the Divine Rights of Kings, or that all kings are chosen by God and should rule in an absolute monarchy. The Stuarts often caused conflict with the Parliament, leading to a civil war in England. -
Period: to
30 Years War
The 30 Years War was a series of wars between the Holy Roman Empire for religious and territorial conflicts. The wars ended with the Treaty of Westphalia, changing the territories but ultimately finding peace in Europe. -
Construction of the Palace of Versailles
Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles, where he brought all the lords of France. Louis had the lords compete for power surrounding him. By bringing all the lords to Versailles, Louis created a more centralized France under one rule. -
Period: to
Reign of Louis XIV
Louis XIV became the King of France at the young age of 4. He became known as the "Sun King" everything revolved around him. Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes and made France fully Catholic. He created the Palace of Versailles, bringing all the lords there under his power. Louis had France at its most civilized but left it in economic distress. -
Execution of Charles I
Charles I had often wanted to go to war against various countries. When Parliament advises against this, he gets angry and attacks. The English Civil War between Parliament and Charles I is a fight between government versus divine rights. Charles loses the war and, as a result, is executed. The English people had a mix of emotions, some understanding, others disappointed. -
Commonwealth Takeover in England
After the execution of King Charles I, Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell created the Commonwealth. This Calvinist republic government system was very strict and not liked by the English people. -
Restoration in England
The return of the Monarchy is known as the Restoration; the Parliament invited back Charle I's son to take the reign in England. Charles II brought back Anglicanism and a monarchial government, working alongside the Parliament. -
The Dutch East India Company Takes Over the Spice Islands
The Calvinist Dutch immediately made an impression on the spice traders as they weren't trying to convert them to any religion. They created the Dutch East India Company, which took over the Spice Islands and ran its government separately from the Netherlands. They started the economic policy of mercantilism, creating all their spices and selling them for more than the production price. -
Revolution in England
After Charles II passed, his son, James II, came to reign. James II was Catholic; Parliament did not want more religious conflict and couldn't have a Catholic king. Parliament decided to invite Calvinist William and Mary from the Netherlands to take over England. This was known as The Glorious Revolution, where there was not a shot fired. William and Mary stabilized the government in England with the Bill of Rights. -
English Bill of Rights Signed
Calvinist William and Mary brought equality to England with the Bill of Rights. This makes Parliament elected by the people and gives them more power to assemble and dissolve themselves. The Bill of Rights also brings religious tolerance; the Toleration Act allows all religions besides Catholicism. The new Bill of Rights brought peace and civilization to England.