History Timeline Project - 1500-1800

  • 1440

    Printing Press Invented

    Printing Press Invented
    The Printing Press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg. It helped Martin Luther because books became cheaper which caused literacy rates to go up. This meant many people could now read the bible and check if Martin Luther's ideas were accurate or inaccurate. Overall, the printing press was important because it increased literacy rates, spread ideas faster and more efficient, and it standardized language.
  • 1488

    Bartolomeu Dias Finds Cape of Good Hope

    Bartolomeu Dias Finds Cape of Good Hope
    Bartolomeu Dias was a Portuguese explorer who found the Southern tip of Africa known as the Cape of Good Hope. He also found a path to the Eastern Spice Islands by water and began to explore the African Coast. This led to the opening of a route to the Spice Islands that people could use. Overall, his voyage proved that the Atlantic and Indian Ocean flowed into each other, which paved the way for Vasco Da Gama's voyage to India.
  • Oct 12, 1492

    Columbus Runs into Americas

    Columbus Runs into Americas
    Columbus established Spain's first colony in the New world. It was so significant because he also opened the way for many countries to colonize and exploit the lands and people of the the Americas. This also led to the Columbian Exchange, which exchanged food, diseases, technology and more.
  • Jun 7, 1494

    Treaty of Tordesillas Signed

    Treaty of Tordesillas Signed
    The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement between King Ferdinand II, Queen Isabella I of Castille, and King John II, establishing a Line of Demarcation. This meant that half of the world was for the Spanish and the other half was for the Portuguese. This was supposed to make sure that 2 Catholic countries weren't fighting and killing each other. This caused Ferdinand Magellan's voyage to happen. It was also very important because it stabilized the Balance of Power.
  • Jul 8, 1497

    Vasco da Gama Sets Sail for India

    Vasco da Gama Sets Sail for India
    Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who started to travel faster and made it to India. He found an abundance of spices and filled his ships with them, getting $66 million in return. This impacted the balance of power a lot because many people wanted to find the spice islands after him. This meant that one country could find them and get a lot of money, increasing their power. Overall, it was very important because he found the first sea route to India.
  • Period: 1500 to

    Mercantilism Being Practiced

    Mercantilism was a strict economic policy that involved importing something and exporting it for more than they bought it for. It helped increase and maximize wealth inside of a country. It was commonly used by France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. It caused colonies to be controlled, which led to smuggling and division. All in all, it was important because it increased prosperity and power in nations.
  • 1504

    David by Michelangelo Finished

    David by Michelangelo Finished
    David was an Italian Renaissance statue by Michelangelo. It demonstrated many themes of this time period such as Idealism and Humanism. It took Michelangelo roughly 3 years to finish. This statue was important, because it was meant to symbolize the independence of Florence.
  • 1512

    Sistine Chapel Paintings Finished

    Sistine Chapel Paintings Finished
    The Sistine Chapel had painting on the walls and ceiling made by Michelangelo. It took him about 4 years to make. It displayed themes of realism, idealism, some humanism, knowledge of human anatomy, and moment of highest tension. It was important because it represented an interpretation of the relationship between Human and God.
  • Sep 25, 1513

    Vasco Nunez de Balboa Discovers Pacific Ocean

    Vasco Nunez de Balboa Discovers Pacific Ocean
    Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer was the first person to discover the Pacific Ocean. He called it the South Sea at first. He claimed the islands and lands around it for Spain. This voyage was so important because it established the first European settlements in South America.
  • Oct 31, 1517

    95 Theses Posted

    95 Theses Posted
    To spread the ideas of Lutheranism and stop indulgences from happening, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the Wittenburg Church door. It was 95 arguments on why indulgences are bad. This made an incredible impression on Germany, and many people wondered if he was right or not. This event was one of the most important in history, because it sparked hate, the Edict of Worms, and people wanted to follow his beliefs.
  • Sep 20, 1519

    Ferdinand Starts his expedition around the world

    Ferdinand Starts his expedition around the world
    Ferdinand Magellan was Portuguese but sailed for the Spanish. He began an expedition around the world to prove the Pope was wrong and the world was round. He wanted to make sure that the Spanish could have everything west of the Line of Demarcation. Although Magellan died in the Philippines, his crew made it back to Spain while mapping trade routes on the way. This voyage was signifiant because it showed that ships could sail around the globe through a western sea route.
  • Apr 17, 1521

    Diet of Worms Begins

    Diet of Worms Begins
    The Diet of Worms was a debate between Martin Luther and Charles V. The Pope had told Charles V that he had to do something about Martin Luther before he got too powerful. They argued for a while but Martin Luther won by a landslide because Charles V couldn't actually find where Luther's ideas were wrong. This was significant because the Edict of Worms were passed quickly after this deeming Martin a heretic and banned anyone from spreading his ideas.
  • Aug 13, 1521

    Aztecs Conquered by Spanish

    Aztecs Conquered by Spanish
    The Aztec Empire was conquered by a Spanish conquistador named Hernan Cortes. Montezuma; the emperor of the Aztecs, was powerless against Cortes and was stoned by his own people. After this, Cortes rebuilt his army and pushed the Aztecs into a final surrender. This was important because it stated the beginning of the Spanish colonization overseas.
  • Nov 16, 1532

    Spanish seize control of Incan Empire

    Spanish seize control of Incan Empire
    The Incan Empire was conquered by Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro took the city of Atahualpa hostage and offered an enormous ransom. Later he panicked and ended up killing the Incan Emperor. This is important because it was an establishment of Spanish power in South America.
  • Nov 3, 1534

    England Becomes Anglican for the First Time

    The switch from Catholicism and Anglicanism was made by Henry VIII and the Pope. Henry VIII had wanted an annulment from his wife to be able to have a son. This caused him to get with an arch bishop named Thomas Cranmer, and switch England from Catholicism to Anglicanism. This was a critical moment in history because people weren't used to this at all. Everyone had to make a big change from Catholicism to Anglicanism.
  • 1541

    Calvinism Takes Over Geneva

    Calvinism Takes Over Geneva
    In 1541 Calvinism began to take over Geneva. It all started with a French Priest named John Calvin who disagreed with Martin Luther and the Catholic church. He began to spread his ideas on theocracy, absolute double predestination and elect vs. reprobate. This was significant because he began to slowly change the way of religion, faith and church government in Geneva.
  • Dec 13, 1545

    Council of Trent

    Council of Trent
    The Council of Trent was a meeting where all the big people in Catholicism got together and discussed what they needed to do. They decided to lessen corruption and abuses of power and finances, which meant banning indulgences. They also determined that the Church's interpretation of the Bible was the final word, but the Bible had the same authority as the Church. It was important because it helped reinvigorate the Catholic Church in the face of Protestant expansion.
  • 1553

    England Returns to Catholicism

    After being Anglican under Henry VIII and Edward VI, England made its switch back to Catholicism. This happened because Mary Tudor became queen of England. She made all of the Anglican Priests flee the country, convert or be killed. This was important because England had to make another big switch. It was the end of religious tolerance in England for a while.
  • 1556

    Abdication of Charles V

    Abdication of Charles V
    Charles V was the largest landowner on Earth and the time. He was the King of Spain and had territories in many different places. He was under a lot of stress to make Spain and his other territories the most Catholic places, and his health was failing as well. This led to him abdicating and splitting his crown to different rulers. Overall, this was important because it made suggestion of state-formation in Europe.
  • Mar 21, 1556

    Thomas Cranmer is burned

    Thomas Cranmer is burned
    Thomas Cranmer was an arch bishop who helped England turn to Anglicanism. He was deeply disliked by Queen Mary Tudor because she was Catholic and he broke her family apart. He was burned for promoting Protestantism and was convicted of heresy. This was significant because Mary had killed one of the leading figures in Protestantism.
  • Period: 1558 to

    Rule of Queen Elizabeth I

    Queen Elizabeth was an Anglican queen ruled England for about 45 years. She passed the Elizabethan Compromise, and was pretty religiously tolerant. She employed Francis Drake to be a privateer and send soldiers to help the Dutch and fight off the Spanish. Her rule was so significant because it helped establish Protestantism in England, and she helped fight off the Catholic countries such as Spain.
  • 1559

    Elizabethan Compromise put into place

    Elizabethan Compromise put into place
    The Elizabethan Compromise was an agreement between Catholics and Protestants. It made the Church of England have elements of both religions. The official religions was Anglican but you can be Catholic. You could convert to Anglicanism but you couldn't convert to Catholicism. This would eventually lead England to be mainly Protestant.
  • 1572

    Francis Drake gets Consent to Pirate Ships

    Francis Drake gets Consent to Pirate Ships
    Francis drake was an English sailer who got consent by Queen Elizabeth to be a privateer. He would plunge so many Spanish ships, that people thought he was magic. He was important because he disrupted Spanish wealth, and brought home goods for England.
  • Aug 23, 1572

    St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

    St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
    St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre was a three day mass murder event in France between the Catholics and Huguenots. It started when Royal Soldiers killed the leader of the Huguenots; Coligny at 3:00 am. This started a chain reaction and everyone started killing the Huguenots, leading to everyone killing everyone. About 15,000 Huguenots were killed. This was a huge turning point in French Religious Wars. It hindered the Huguenots because of the many losses of lives.
  • Spanish Armada Sails

    Spanish Armada Sails
    The Spanish Armada was sent by King Philip II. It was sent because England was protestant, Francis Drake was stealing Spanish gold, Elizabeth rejected Philip's marriage proposal, England supported the Dutch Calvinists, and England was sending soldiers to help fight the Spanish. The plan was to send it and meet up with the Spanish Netheralnds, who would escort them to England. It was sunken by England. It began a massive shift in power, and England had moved to #1 and the Spanish moved down.
  • Henry IV Becomes King of France

    Henry IV Becomes King of France
    Henry IV was originally the king of a kingdom called Navarre. He got invited to marry Margaret Medici because he was Protestant, and France thought this would fix the conflicts. He eventually marries Margaret and becomes the King of France. While doing so, he converts to Catholicism because he decided it wouldn't work any other way. He passes the Edict of Nantes and makes France more peaceful and centralized.
  • Edict of Nantes Signed

    Edict of Nantes Signed
    The Edict of Nantes was signed by Henry IV. It said that Catholicism was the official religion of France, but Huguenots had the right to practice their religion and participate all political privileges. It led to a more centralized country and lasting peace.
  • Dutch East India Company Founded

    Dutch East India Company Founded
    The Dutch East India Company started pretty small but grew to a huge trading company. It was very far away so they had their own government and army. It assisted in helping the Dutch gain independence from Spain, and protected the Netherlands' trade in the Indian Ocean. This company was pretty peaceful but it gained money fast.
  • Period: to

    30 Years War

    The 30 Years War was a religious conflict fought mainly in Europe. It was one of the most brutal wars, causing 8 million casualties. It was mainly fought over Emperor Ferdinand II forcing the Protestants into Catholicism. It was ended by the Peace of Westphalia. It granted each prince inside the Holy Roman Empire to be able to choose their religion, and no one was allowed to start religious wars. This was important because the influence of the church greatly declined after it.
  • Root and Branch Agreement

    Root and Branch Agreement
    The 1640 Root and Branch Agreement was an agreement between Charles I and Parliament. It said that parliament could dissolve and assemble itself, parliament was in charge of taxes, and the King had to stop doing prerogative courts. This sort of led to the English Civil War because Charles I believed strongly in Divine Right of Kings and thought he should be in control of everything.
  • English Civil War begins

    English Civil War begins
    The English Civil War was a war between the Calvinist Roundheads and the Anglican Cavaliers. It happened because Charles was getting angry with his Parliament, because he couldn't do what he wanted to. He then tried to kill them which started the war on the idea of Divine Right. This is significant because the Roundheads ended up winning by a lot making England Calvinist, and turning into the Age of Commonwealth.
  • Period: to

    Rule of Louis XIV

    The rule of Louis XIV was 72 years long. He was an absolute ruler and was in charge of basically everything. He turned a hunting lodge into a palace called Versailles. He would invite nobles to Versailles and control them with his petty and strict etiquette. He was slowly starting to control the nobles' territories while they were at here. He unified France by revoking the Edict of Nantes and making France Catholic again. He ended up putting France in debt.
  • Period: to

    Age of Commonwealth

    The Age of Commonwealth was a big change for England. They had no king and the government was now fully Calvinist. They decided the government would be republic which meant that the entire country was run by a group of senators or representatives. This whole thing was run by the leader of the Roundheads; Oliver Cromwell. They banned all fun games or activities like gambling and drinking. This age wasn't entirely successful because people wanted to go back to how England was.
  • The Glorious Revolution

    The Glorious Revolution
    The Glorious Revolution happened because parliament invited Netherlands to come invade England to stop them from having a Catholic king. When they came, King James II ran away, and William and Mary took over. Not a single shot was fired. This was crucial because it led to a Protestant country and the passing of the Bill of Rights.
  • Bill of Rights Put into Action

    Bill of Rights Put into Action
    The English Bill of Rights was passed by Mary and William of the Netherlands. It stated that England was now a constitutional monarchy, which meant it has a king while also having a government elected by the people. It also decided you can be any religion besides Catholicism. This was important because it basically ended Catholicism in England for good.