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1303
The Kidnapping of Pope Boniface
In 1303, Pope Boniface was kidnapped by mercenaries sent by King Philip IV of France. This was retribution for Boniface excommunicating the king. After being held captive for three days under ill conditions, the Pope was rescued by local people and sent home. He survived the attack just to die a month later in Rome. -
1347
The Black Death Comes To Europe
The Black Death was a disease that originated in Asia, most likely China. It spread through trading routes to Constantinople where it passed on to the rest of Europe. It was a major pandemic until 1351 and killed about 25 million people, which was about a third of Europe’s whole population. It was called the Black Death due to the high mortality rate and the fact that tissue would often turn black from gangrene. -
May 28, 1358
Jacquerie Uprising
It was a peasant revolt around Paris. The enraged people killed nobles and destroyed castles. It got its name from one of the infamous leaders named Jacques Bonhommes (Jack Goodmen). -
1380
The 1380 Poll Tax
The Poll Tax was put in place by King Richard II of England due to the long war with France. It required everyone on the register to pay about 12 pence (about 16 cents). It had been used three times in the span of four years and the peasants had had enough. This led to the Peasants Revolt of 1381. -
1381
The Peasants' revolt of 1381
One of the causes of the Peasants’ Revolt or Wat Tyler’s Rebellion was the unpopular Poll Tax issued by Richard II of England. The idea that the peasants could lose some of the freedom they had recently gained also threw them into a frenzy. After the death of a few people, King Richard II, who was only 14, managed to disperse the peasants. The rebellion finally ended in June after the King’s forces put down the rebel uprising. -
Oct 5, 1415
The Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt, which was a landmark battle of the Hundred Years’ War between England and France, was won by the British. It was fought in France and allowed the English to get close enough so that they could conquer Normandy. The conquering of Normandy led to the Treaty of Troyes. -
1417
The Election of Pope Marvin V
The election of Pope Marvin V ended the Great Schism also known as the Western Schism. The Great Schism was a disastrous time for the Church. The election of two, and even at one time, three Popes really undermined the credibility of the Church. The combined cardinals electing a singular Pope ended the conflict but did not restore the Church’s reputation. -
May 21, 1420
1420 Treaty of Troyes
The 1420 Treaty of Troyes was a pact between King Henry V of England and Charles VI of France. It was signed in the French city of Troyes. It said that Henry and his heirs would rule the French throne by marrying Catherine, Charles’ daughter, after Charles ruled. It was supposed to end the war. -
May 30, 1431
Joan of Arc Burned at the Stake
Joan of Arc was a 19 year old French peasant girl at the time of her death. After claiming to hear voices from God, she rallied the French forces dressed as a man. She won many battles against the British. Joan was captured by the English and put on trial for a year. While cross-dressing and witchcraft were both charges she faced, she was ultimately burned at the stake for heresy. -
1436
The Invention Of The Printing Press
While there were printing presses in China before the time of Johannes Gutenberg, he updated it in a way that forever changed the world. He exchanged the wood for metal and added printing blocks with each letter. The ability to make words on paper faster helped spread many ideas from the Reformation to the Enlightenment. -
Jan 22, 1440
The Birth of Ivan III
Ivan III was born January 22, 1440. His most important legacy was bringing Great Russia together and out of the hands of the Tatars and Poland-Lithuania. -
May 29, 1453
The Death of Emperor Constantine XI
The death of Emperor Constantine XI Palaeologus really marked the fall of Constantinople. He was the last Byzantine emperor and he led his people in the last defense against the Turks. He did not survive the fight and Constantinople fell. The people were savagely treated and the artifacts were looted. -
Oct 19, 1469
The Marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella
Before this marriage, Spain was divided into two kingdoms: the Kingdom of Aragon and the Kingdom of Castile. When Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabella of Castile, the two kingdoms were joined into a devout Catholic country. They were also the rulers that allowed Christopher Columbus to set sail. -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus Finds the New World
While Columbus did not discover the Americas, the fact that that part of the world existed was not common knowledge to many Europeans. In October 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on a Bahamian island, most likely San Salvador, and changed the fate of those continents forever. -
1503
Da Vinci Starts Work on the Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is perhaps the most famous painting in the world. It was believed to be a portrait of Lisa Gherardini. It was an important Renaissance painting and is now one of the icons of the time period. -
Apr 18, 1506
The Work on St. Peter's Basilica Begins
It was started in 1506 under Pope Julius II and finished in 1615 Paul V. An elaborate building, it covers the shrine of St. Peter the Apostle. It is one of the most loved Renaissance buildings. -
Jun 24, 1509
Henry VIII was Coronated
King Henry VIII was crowned on June 24th 1509. King Henry was influential because of him breaking ties with the Catholic Church. He became the head of the Church of England, which significantly impacted the religious tensions to come. -
Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther Supposedly Posts the 95 Theses
Martin Luther was a monk and scholar. Deciding he disagreed with the Catholic Church, he supposedly posted a paper of opinions that said everything that was wrong with the Church. This paper criticized the corruption and specifically the selling of indulgences. His words started the movement known as the Protestant Revolution. -
1521
The Diet of Worms
The reason it is called the Diet of Worms is because it was a diet or assembly in the Holy Roman city of Worms, Germany. It is famous due to the appearance of Martin Luther. He refused to recant his works against Catholicism which through the council for quite a loop. -
1532
Niccolo Machiavelli Wrote "The Prince"
During this time, people were beginning to have thoughts on their leadership. Machiavelli wrote this influential book about how he believed governments should behave. -
1543
Nicholas Copernicus Published "On The Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres"
Nicholas Copernicus was a Polish church official who was very interested in the studies of the heavens. His most famous work, “On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres” was published in 1543. However, he had written the outline for it in 1514 where he presented the fundamental idea that Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours and that the universe is heliocentric. -
1545
Council of Trent Begins
The Council of Trent was a key part of the Cathollic Counter-Reformation. It was a gathering of Catholic leaders and it accomplished things like reforms in the church and clarifying why the Protestants had no idea what they were talking about. It lasted from 1545-1563. -
Sep 25, 1555
The Peace of Augsburg
The Peace of Augsburg was an agreement to end fighting between different Christian sects. It let the princes pick either Lutheranism or Catholicism as the religion of the area and allow those that dissented to leave. -
Feb 15, 1564
The Birth of Galileo Galilei
Galileo is known as the father of modern science due to his many accomplishments. He invented things like an early thermometer, an improved military compass, and the Galilean telescope. He was one of the great thinkers and inventors of the Scientific Revolution. -
Apr 23, 1564
The Birth of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is one of the most well known playwrights of the Western World. Throughout his short life, he wrote 154 sonnets, 2 narratives, and 38 plays. He made plays that were relatable to people whether they were queen or peasant. His plays even relate to modern day people and that’s why they continued to be studied and performed. -
Aug 24, 1572
St Bartholomew's Day Massacre
The St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre resulted in the death of at least 3,000 Huguenots in Paris alone. It was government sanctioned persecution as it was ordered by Catherine of Medici, who was at the time, the King’s mother. It lasted a day and it renewed hatred between the Protestant and Catholic groups. -
The Death of Mary, Queen of Scots
She was imprisoned for 19 years before her trial. Before that, she enraged the nobles, fought them, and was forced to abdicate the throne of Scotland. She was beheaded for treason against Queen Elizabeth. -
The Defeat of the Spanish Armada
At this time, Spain’s army was thought to be unbeatable. After 8 hours of fighting off the coast of France, the English navy won. The damage was devastating to the Spanish and less than half of the ships they sent out made it back home safely. -
North Berwick Scotland Witch Trial
After a storm made King James VI of Scotland suspect witches in the area, the trials began and lasted until 1592. Anywhere from 70-200 people were tried, tortured, and executed in North Berwick alone . Overall, in Scotland, about 4,000 people were burned at the stake for witchcraft, many of which were women. -
The Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes was signed on April 13, 1598. It granted rights to France’s Huguenots or Calvinists. It was revoked in 1685 by Louis XIV. -
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was established in 1602 and lasted until 1800. It was the main tool used by the Dutch government for trade, exploration, and colonization. It is considered the first, most successful international corporation. -
Assassination of Henri IV of France
In 1610, King Henri’s carriage stopped on a Parisian street. A zealous Catholic named Francois Ravaillac stabbed him to death while they were stopped. Henri was the first king of the doomed Bourbon line. -
The Publication of the King James Bible
The King James Version, also known as the Authorized Version, was commissioned by King James I of England. The translation was made by 47 scholars who were members of the Church of England and published in 1611. It is one of the most well known and well respected Protestant version of the Bible. -
The Birth of The French Academy
The French Academy is a group of 40 individuals. It exists to maintain literary standards in the French language. It was founded in 1634 and continued ever since, except for a period of time in the French Revolution. It has maintained the highest prestige over the longest time. -
The Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia brought an end to the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch and the German Thirty Years’ War. It consists of two treaties; the Spanish-Dutch treaty being signed on January 30, 1648 and the other was for the Holy Roman Empire, German princes, France, and Sweden on October 24, 1648. -
Hobbes Published "Leviathan"
Thomas Hobbes was a philosopher and royalist. In 1651, he wrote the controversial book the Leviathan. He believed the basic nature of humans was for the strong to dominate the weak but he also believed in the idea of a social contract. This idea heavily influenced those in the French revolution who were displeased with their government. -
The English Civil Wars End
The English Civil Wars, which are also called the Great Rebellion, were fights between supporters of Charles I and supporters of Parliament. It ended on September 3, 1651, with a victory of Oliver Cromwell at Worcester while Charles II fled to France -
The Restoration of the English Monarchy
It brought back a monarchy after Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth. Charles II was king and bishops were brought back to be part of Parliament. It is also known as the Stuart Restoration. -
Girl With A Pearl Earring Was Painted by Johannes Vermeer
It was painted during the Dutch Golden Age. The Dutch Golden Age was a period in which Dutch art, science, and trade flourished compared to the rest of Europe. This painting’s popularity has dubbed it the nickname “The Mona Lisa of the North”. -
Versailles Becomes Headquarters of Government
While it was a small hunting lodge, Louis XIV decided he wanted to turn it into something more than a hunting lodge. He made it grander, more elegant, and more worthy of the Sun King. Then he moved the capital from Paris to the Versailles chateau. -
The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution or the Bloodless Revolution lasted from 1688-1689. The Catholic King was not popular among his mostly Protestant subjects. When tensions became higher with the idea of heirs, James fled the advancing coalition. This was seen as an abdication and William and Mary were given the crown under the condition that they follow a Declaration of Rights. -
The English Bill of Rights
These were the new rules that William and Mary were required to follow in order to become king and queen. It was given Royal Assent on December 16. This put a conclusive end to the Glorious Revolution. -
Peter The Great Founded St. Petersburg
After visiting Western Europe, Peter was inspired to build a great Russian city. It was chosen for its great positioning on the Baltic Sea. However as it was a swamp, it took the hard labor of many people to make it a livable, majestic area. Over 30,000 people died laying the initial foundation which is why it is called “the city built on bones”. -
Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War also known as the Seven Years’ War that was between France and England. It dictated that all of France’s North American territory would go to British control. The treaty went into effect on February 10, 1763. -
Louis XVI Married Marie Antoinette
France and Austria became allies and arranged a marriage to bring the two monarchies together. Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette of Austria and celebrated lavishly. Unfortunately some of the wedding fireworks killed over 100 hundred people, which somewhat foreshadow the tragedy that would come of their rule. -
Tennis Court Oath
Due to financial troubles, Louis XVI was forced to summon the Estates-General. The reforms that needed to be made were denied by the First and Second Estate because it benefited them. The Third Estate, realizing their one vote would never outweigh the other two, created a National Assembly to better represent the people in a nearby tennis court. They swore that they would not disassemble until “the constitution of the kingdom is established”. -
Storming of the Bastille
Shortly after the Tennis Court Oath, the French people stormed the Bastille fortress, which held 7 prisoners and weapons. This was the start of the French Revolution. -
The Concordat of 1801
The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon and leaders of the Catholic Church. It stated the status of the Catholic Church of France and ended the division caused by the French Revolution. -
Napoleon Becomes Emperor
Napoleon was born to a poorer, Corsican family. As a young man, he rose through military ranks, which would not have been possible before the French Revolution. During a coup d’etat in 1799, Napoleon seized power. He ruled as the First Consul until he became emperor in May although the coronation ceremony wasn’t until December 2. -
Napoleon Tries to Invade Russia
On June 24, 1812, Napoleon led the Grand Armee across the Neman River and into Russia. It was a disaster for the French due to Russia’s scorched earth policy and the lack of confrontation. He started with anywhere from 450,00-650,000 men and he ended with fewer than 100,000 men. This failure led to the downfall of Napoleon.