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Apr 6, 1341
A - Francesco Petrarch is Crowned Poet Laureate
Many historians cite this date as the beginning of the Renaissance. -
Apr 5, 1420
A - The Papacy Returns to Rome
The Papacy, having been located in Avignon since 1305, returns to Rome, bringing with it the prestige and wealth necessary to rebuild the city. -
Apr 5, 1429
A - Cosimo de Medici Takes Over his Father's Business
Cosimo de Medici becomes head of the bank after his father dies, using his economic power to consolidate political power. Within five years he runs the city without question. -
Apr 5, 1447
A - Pope Nicholas V Ascends to the Throne
Pope Nicholas V takes the first steps toward turning Rome into a Renaissance city, undertaking many construction projects and strongly encouraging the arts. -
Apr 5, 1464
A - Lorenzo de Medici Ascends to Power in Florence
After Cosimo's death in 1464, his son Piero rules until his death in 1469, when power falls into the hands of Lorenzo, who rules until 1491, raising Florence to its greatest heights of the Renaissance. -
Apr 5, 1486
A - Pico Publishes His Collection of 900 Treatises
Pico's philosophy often conflicts with that of the Catholic Church and he is declared a heretic. He is saved from demise by the intervention of Lorenzo de Medici. -
Apr 7, 1492
C - Christopher Columbus
Spanish monarchs fund Christopher Columbus’s voyage; aims to find spices and gold in Asia, but actually lands in Caribbean -
Apr 7, 1493
C - Divided New World
Pope divides New World between Spain, Portugal -
Apr 7, 1498
C - Eastern Spice Trade
Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama reaches India by going around Africa; spice trade to the East by sea begins -
Apr 7, 1517
B - 95 Theses
Luther posts his ninety-five theses (complaints about church’s sale of indulgences) on door of church at Wittenberg -
Apr 7, 1519
C - Circumnavigates World
Ferdinand Magellan (Portugal) circumnavigates world -
Apr 7, 1530
B - Augsburg Confession
Augsburg Confession makes Luther’s break with church permanent, founds Lutheran Church -
Apr 7, 1531
C - Inca Conquered
Francisco Pizarro (Spain) conquers Inca in Peru -
Apr 7, 1540
B - Society of Jesus
Ignatius of Loyola founds Society of Jesus (Jesuits), who preach and teach worldwide to promote Catholicism -
Apr 7, 1555
B - Peace of Augsburg
Peace of Augsburg lets German princes decide on religion of their states; Holy Roman Empire thus divides between Lutherans, Catholics; Calvinists, Anabaptists not recognized -
D - Revolt
Nobles revolt against royal authority in conflict called the Fronde -
D - Peter I
Peter I “the Great” expands Russia; struggles against nobles (boyars); controls Orthodox Church; encourages service to state with Table of Ranks; builds new capital, St. Petersburg; introduces Western ideas, dress, culture -
D - Ottoman Empire
King John III Sobieski of Poland prevents Ottoman Empire from capturing Habsburg capital, Vienna -
E - God is a divine watchmaker
John Toland (English, 1670–1722) sets forth deist outlook of God as divine watchmaker -
D - Sweden
Protestant monarchy plays important role in Thirty Years’ War, fights Great Northern War against Russia under leadership of Charles XII -
D - Louis XV
Louis XV ineffective, less popular; monarchy no longer considered sacred -
E - First Encyclopedia
First volume of The Encyclopedia by Denis Diderot and others shares knowledge of science, crafts, ideas -
E - Candide
Voltaire (French, 1694–1778) criticizes Catholicism in Candide -
E - Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Swiss-French, 1712–1778) promotes democracy, personal freedom under the law in The Social Contract -
E - Catherine the Great
Catherine II “the Great” (r. 1762–1796) establishes schools for nobles, printing presses, clarifies nobility’s rights; but also imprisons opponents, maintains censorship and serfdom -
E - Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft (English, 1759–1797) argues for women’s rights in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
