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Period: Jan 1, 1300 to Dec 31, 1500
Renaissance / Age of Portuguese Exploration
Humanism and the arts flourish in Italy and Northern Europe.
Portugal begins sending explorers to Africa. -
Jan 2, 1450
Beginning of the High Renaissance
Art and sculpture reached full maturity, embracing natural world and human emotions. -
May 2, 1450
Invention of Gutenberg Press
Johann GUtenberg invents the printing press, which contributes to the spread of the Northern Renaissance. -
Aug 3, 1492
Columbus sails the ocean blue...
Christopher Columbus sets sail from Spain to the New World. -
Period: Dec 31, 1500 to
Spanish Exploration / Reformation & Religious Wars / The Tudors
Spain sends explorers to the New World.
Martin Luther becomes a catalyst to the Protestant Reformation.
Religious wars plague Europe with the rise of Protestant/Catholic tension.
The Tudor dynasty begins in England. -
May 2, 1507
Rousseau's Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts
Rousseau writes his first work as a critique of society, during the height of the Enlightenment. -
Oct 31, 1517
Luther's 95 Theses
Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenburg, beginning the Protestant Reformation. -
Sep 25, 1555
The Peace of Augsburg
The Peace of Augsburg is established throughout the Holy Roman Empire. A "cuius regio, eius religio" policy is established. Lutherans can reclaim lands taken before 1552, except for "ecclesiastical reservations" for bishops that converted to Lutheranism. Migrants can go to regions with their religion. Lutherans and Anabaptists were not included. -
The Spanish Armada
Queen Elizabeth I defeats King Philip II's Spanish Armada. -
Period: to
Dutch Prominence on High Seas / English Civil War / 30 Years' War
Civil war commences in England (Cavaliers vs. Roundheads).
A religious conflict turns into a political one, accumulating into the Thirty Years War. -
The Treaty of Westphalia
The French treaty that ends the Thirty Years' War. Re-establishes "cuius regio, eius religio" policy, except Calvinism is legally recognized. Swiss Confederacy and the Netherlands is recognized. -
Period: to
French Dominance
France emerges from the Thiry Years' War as the dominant Continental power. -
Glorious Revolution
At the invitation of Parliament, Mary and her husband William of Orange arrive in England to take the throne with little to no resistance from the English people. James II flees. -
The death of Louis XIV
After 70+ years of rule, Louis XIV dies. His 5-year-old son Louis XV succeeds, but the Duke of Orleans acts as his regent for two decades. -
Period: to
English Industrial Revolution/Leadership
England industrializes and emerges as the major economic power. -
Tennis Court Oath (French Revolution)
When locked out of their gathering place, the National Assembly moves to a tennis court and swears to continue to gather until they create France's constitution. -
Fall of Bastille
Parisians storm Bastille in order to obtain militia weapons, and thus, Bastille falls. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
The National Assembly issues this declaration, affirming that all men were born free/equal, the government protects natural rights (liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression), and civic equality and popular sovereignty are universal. -
The Hundred Days (of Napoleon)
Napoleon escapes from Elba and returns to France, compelling the powers of the Congress of Vienna to band together and defeat him. This unexpected escape forced Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria to briefly resolve their tensions and work together. -
Napoleon defeated
Under the commands of Wellington and von Bucher, Britain, Prussia, Russia, Austria, and France defeat Napoleon at Waterloo. -
February Revolution of 1848 (France)
Parisians erect barricades in the streets to demand reform and the ouster of Guizot and Louis Philippe. -
The Hungarian March Revolution
After Kossuth attacks Hungary, the Vienna Revolution occurs. To appease the revolutionaries, Ferdinand emancipates Habsburg serfs and accepts the March Revolution Laws. -
North Italian Rebellion
Four days after revolution occurs in Milan, Piedmont declares war against Austria. He'll be defeated in July. -
Frankfurt Parliament
The Frankfurt Parliament, in an effort to attempt German unification, prepare a constitution for Frederick William IV to approve. Frederick will reject and disperse Parliament a year later. -
The June Days (France)
Once again, barricades rise in Paris. National troops sent by Cavaignac fight the workers' insurrection. -
Period: to
German Leadership
Germany unifies and takes the lead in industrialization. -
German Empire
The German Empire is proclaimed in Versailles during the Franco-Prussian War. -
The Paris Commune
Parisians elect the Paris Commune, which soon tries to radically break away from the National Assembly and the state of France itself. (Because France always has issues.) -
Franco-Prussian War ends
The Treaty of Frankfurt is ratified, decisively ending the Franco-Prussian War in Germany's favor. -
Period: to
Wars & Troubled Democracies
The two World Wars shake the European continent and their democracies. -
Armistice Day
World War I ends as Germany signs an armistice between the Central Powers and the Allies. -
Paris Peace Conference
The Paris Peace Conference begins, bringing about an effort to secure Europe and prevent the disasters of World War I. This resulted in the Paris Settlement, or the Treaty of Versailles. -
Weimar Republic created
The Weimar Republic is created in Germany and compelled to sign the Treaty of Versailles. -
Great Depression Begins
Wall Street crashes the stock market, beginning the Great Depression not only in the U.S. but in Europe as well. -
Hitler becomes chancellor
In order to keep an eye on him, President Hindenburg appoints Hitler chancellor. -
Reichstag on fire!
The Reichstag is set on fire, allowing Hitler to declare a state of emergency and, in effect, become dictator. -
Germany withdraws from the League
Nine months into Hitler's chancellorship, Germany withdraws from the League of Nations. -
World War II Ends
After Japan surrenders and the Potsdam Agreement has been reached, World War II finally ends. -
Period: to
Cold War
Tensions between America and Russia accumulate into the Cold War. -
Khrushchev denounces Stalin
In a secret speech, Khrushchev denounces Stalin. -
The Polish Crisis
After the Polish prime minister dies, the Polish Communist Party declines the Moscow nominee. -
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
After a student uprising, Nagy and the Hungarian ministry demands autonomy. The Soviet Union puts this down in November. -
Suez Crisis
After Israel invades Egypt, Britain and France follow suit to prevent Egypt from nationalizing the Suez Canal. -
The Soviet Union invades Czechoslovakia
The Soviet troops, in the form of the Warsaw Pact army, invades Czechoslovakia. -
Period: to
End of Cold War (Revolutions)
A series of revolutions in Russia break out. -
Solidarity Poland
Solidarity members reemerge and win seats in the Polish government, triggering mostly peaceful Eastern European revolutions against the Soviet Union. -
Hungary breaches the Iron Curtain
In a breach of the Iron Curtain, Hungary opens its borders to Austria. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The East German government orders the Berlin Wall to be opened. -
Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia
The Velvet Revolution, a rather peaceful and nonviolent revolution, occurs in Czechoslovakia as a transition away from the Soviet Union. -
Romania Revolution
Violent revolution occurs after President Ceausecu shoots protesters. -
Brezhnev Doctrine renounced
*Note: No exact date could be found online. Will update when I find it in the book.
Gorbachev renounces the Brezhnev Doctrine in favor of his Glasnost and Perestroika reforms. This is the first event to begin the downfall of the Soviet Union. -
Period: to
Post Cold War / Modern Europe
Even more modernization!