Age of Enlightenment

Nicolaus Copernicus

Feb 19, 1473

Nicolaus Copernicus was born on Feb. 19, 1473 in Warmia, Poland, Mikolaj Kopernik. He traveled to Italy at the age of 18 to attend college where he studies the laws and regulations of the Catholic Church and return home to become a canon. He grew up to become a Renaissance-era mathematician and astronomer who formed a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe (the Heliocentric Theory).

Galileo Galilei

Feb 15, 1564

Galileo Galilei was born on Feb. 15, 1564 in Pisa Italy. He was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer, sometimes referred to as a polymath. Galileo has been and still is called the "father of observational astronomy", the "father of modern physics", the "father of the scientific method", and the "father of modern science". He invented the telescope and used it to discover the four moons that revolve around Jupiter, study Saturn, to observe the phases of Venus, and to study sunspots.

Johannes Kepler

Dec 27, 1571

Johannes Kepler was born on Dec. 27, 1571 in Weil der Stadt, Germany. He was a German astronomer, mathematician and astrologer who is known for his laws of planetary motion and his books Astronomia nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae.

William Harvey

Apr 1, 1578

William Harvey was born on April 1, 1578 in Folkestone, UK. He was an English physician who made seminal contributions in anatomy and physiology. He is known for being the first physician to explain fully in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped through the body, brain, and heart.

Miguel de Cervantes: Don Quixote

1605

Being one of the most important books of all time, Don Quixote was used by many historians and is often considered the first modern novel.

Reign of Louis XIV of France

Sep 5, 1638

Louis XIV was born on Sep. 5, 1638 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. The reign of Louis XIV (the Sun King) of France lasted from 1638-1718. While Louis XIV ruled over France he established the France as the dominant European power in several ways. He ushered in a golden age of art and literature, transformed the monarchy, presided over a dazzling royal court at Versailles, and annexed key territories.

Isaac Newton

Jan 4, 1643

Isaac Newton was born on Jan. 4, 1643 in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. He was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, theologian, and author who is seen as one of the most influencial scientists of all time. He is most famous for his law of gravitation.

Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan

1651

Leviathan was published by Thomas Hobbes' in 1651. He write Leviathan as an argument for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign. He also wrote Leviathan as a response to the fear that he felt during the political turmoil of the English Civil Wars.

Reign of Peter the Great of Russia

Jun 9, 1672

Peter the Great of Russia was born on June 9, 1672 in Moscow, Russia. The reign of Peter the Great lasted from 1682-1725. He ruled over Russia with his brother from 1682-1696 and until 1725 ruled by himself. He was determined to push Russia to become more like Europe, he is known for the Westernization of Russia, and building St. Petersburg.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Mar 31, 1685

Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 31, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. He was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period and was best known for his musical compositions such as: "Mass in B Minor", the "Brandenberg Concertos", and "The Well-Tempered Clavier.

Glorious Revolution (William & Mary)

1688

The Glorious Revolution lasted from 1688-1689 and involved the overthrowing of the Catholic king James II who was replaced by his protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch Husband, William of Orange. In 1688 seven of King James' peers wrote to William of Orange to pledge their allegiance to the prince if he invaded England. William already had plans to make military action against England. William and Mary then signed the Declaration of Rights that became known as the Bill of Rights.

John Locke's Two Treatises on Government

1689

John Locke's Two Treatises on Government was published in 1689. John Locke wrote Two Treatises on Government because he was present for these events and was so compelled, that he wrote this book. He also believed that a Government is supposed to protect and promote the public good, and protect life, liberty, and property of it's people.

English Bill of Rights of 1689

Dec 6, 1689

The Royal approval of The Bill of Rights (1689) occurred on Dec. 16, 1689 in the United Kingdom. The English Bill of Rights was a British Law passed by the parliament of Great Britain in 1689 that stated the rights and liberties of the people. The English Bill of Rights was signed by William of Orange and Mary II.

Voltaire

Nov 21, 1694

François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) was born on Nov. 21, 1694 in Paris, France. He was a French writer, historian, and philosopher who is known for his criticism of christianity and his promotion of the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state.

Montesquieu’s The Spirit of Laws

1748

Written in 1748, Montesquieu created a political french book based on political theories in the french government.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Jan 27, 1756

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on Jan. 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria. He was an influential composer of the classical era.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s The Social Contract

1762

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s The Social Contract was published in 1762. This story explains Rousseau's theory that laws are only binding when they are supported by the general will of the people. His famous quote in The Social Contract is, "man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains".

American Revolution

1765

This political fight occurred during 1765 and 1783 and was between Great Britain and the Americas do decide Americas freedom.

Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

This document was written to explain the Americas' departure from Great Britain.

Storming of the Bastille

Jul 17, 1789

In 1789, this political prison was destroyed by prisoners and townspeople which caused chaos all throughout Paris.

Execution of Louis XVI

Jan 21, 1793

King Louis XIV was executed on Jan. 21, 1793 because he was convicted of conspiring with foreign powers and was executed by means of the guillotine.

Reign of Terror

Sep 5, 1793

A time in history where many people were slaughtered right after the first french republic revolution was established.

Napoleon becomes Emperor

Dec 2, 1804

In November 1799, his ambitious ways and how the public liked the way he did things urged him to go further. So on Dec. 2, 1804, he became the first French emperor.

Congress of Vienna

1814

The Congress of Vienna was a meeting in september of 1814 where all ambassadors of the European states who chaired by Austrian statesman Klemens von Metternich.

Battle of Waterloo: End of Napoleon's Rule

Jun 18, 1815

With the Prussians invading Napoleon's army, they were soon defeated, which marked the end of Napoleon's rule.

Eugène Delacroix: Painted Liberty leading the people

1830

"Liberty leading the people" is a famous painting by the artist Eugène Delacroix that was painted in 1830.

Unsuccessful revolutions of 1848

1848

There were several extensive republican revolts against European Monarchies in 1848 as a result of bad harvests, economic depression, poor governance, and many other inconveniences.