History Timeline

  • Jan 1, 1438

    Caravel Invented

    Caravel Invented
    The caravel, a small but durable sailing ship, was one of the many inventions that helped usher in the Age of Exploration.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1490 to

    Age of Exploration

    The Age of Exploration was when Europeans started exploring the world. They explored places to find trade routes, wealth, and knowledge.
  • Oct 12, 1492

    Columbian Exchange Starts

    The Columbian exchange was the exchange of animals, plants, and ideas. It began when Christopher Columbus landed in the New World.
  • Oct 12, 1492

    Christopher Columbus "Discovers" America

    Christopher Columbus "Discovers" America
    Christopher Columbus was a European explorer who was known for “discovering” America. He was trying to find Asia but instead found America.
  • Jan 1, 1493

    Line of Demarcation

    Line of Demarcation
    The Line of Demarcation was revised in the Treaty of Tordesillas. It was one line drawn along the Atlantic Ocean which divided lands claimed by Portugal from Spain.
  • Jun 7, 1494

    Treaty of Tordesillas

    The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement between Spain and Portugal. The Line of Demarcation was part of it, giving land to the right of it to Portugal and land to the left of it to Spain.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1500 to

    The Renaissance

    The Renaissance was a period of history known as the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity.
  • Jan 1, 1504

    David Scultpure

    David Scultpure
    David was a statue that was made by Michelangelo. It's roughly the size of a two-story building.
  • Sep 26, 1514

    Vasco de Balboa Discovers the Pacific

    Vasco de Balboa Discovers the Pacific
    Vasco de Balboa found the Pacific Ocean. He found it by crossing the Isthmus of Panama.
  • Oct 31, 1517

    Martin Luther (95 theses)

    Martin Luther wrote 95 Theses about how indulgences have no impact on whether or not someone gets into heaven. He posted them on a church door in Wittenburg, Germany.
  • Sep 20, 1519

    Ferdinand Magellan Sets Sail Around the World

    Ferdinand Magellan was one of the first people to sail around the world, he sailed for Spain. He set sail to prove that everything west of the Line of Demarcation belonged to Spain.
  • Apr 16, 1521

    Diet of Worms

    Diet of Worms
    The Diet of Worms was an imperial diet called by Charles V. It banned Luther’s writings and declared him a heretic.
  • Jul 26, 1533

    Atalhualpa Dies

    Atahualpa was the last Inca emperor. He was captured by Spanish conquistadors and was killed by Francisco Pizzaro.
  • Sep 27, 1540

    Ignatius of Loyola (Jesuit order)

    Ignatius of Loyola (Jesuit order)
    Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuit order. He was also an influential figure in the counter-reformation movement.
  • Jan 1, 1543

    Council of Trent begins

    Council of Trent begins
    The Council of Trent was held in Italy. It was the Catholic reply to the Protestant Reformation. It lasted about 20 years.
  • Mar 1, 1549

    Book of Common Prayer

    Thomas Cranmer wrote the Book of Common Prayer. It's a service book for Anglican churches.
  • Sep 25, 1555

    Peace of Augsburg

    Peace of Augsburg
    The Peace of Augsburg was a treaty between the Holy Roman Empire, Charles v, and the Schmalkaldic League. it was an agreement to accept both Lutheranism and catholicism.
  • Feb 24, 1556

    Abdication of Charles V

    Abdication of Charles V
    Charles V stepped down due to pressure. He abdicated the throne in favor of his son.
  • Mar 21, 1556

    Thomas Cranmer's Death

    Thomas Cranmer's Death
    Thomas Cranmer was burnt to death by Mary Tudor. He died because he was declared a heretic.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1559 to Jan 1, 1571

    Elizabethan Compromise

    Elizabeth Tudor finalized the Elizabethan Compromise. It was a compromise between the protestants and Catholics that created a church of England that had practices from both religions.
  • Dec 13, 1567

    Francis Drake Sails Around the World

    Francis Drake Sails Around the World
    Francis Drake was the first to sail around the world after Magellan. Francis was also good at privateering and made several voyages to the West Indies.
  • Aug 23, 1572

    Bartholomew's Day Massacre

    Bartholomew's Day Massacre
    Bartholomew's Day massacre was the massacre of French Huguenots in Paris. It was planned by Catherine Medici.
  • Spanish Armada Set Sail

    Spanish Armada Set Sail
    The Spanish Armada was a Spanish fleet sent by Phillip II to England. There were four reasons for the armada; Elizabeth I rejected Phillip’s marriage proposal, England supported the Dutch Calvinists, England was protestant, and Francis Drake’s privateering.
  • Edict of Nantes

    Edict of Nantes
    The Edict of Nantes was made by Henry IV of France. It granted religious tolerance to the Huguenots and ended the French civil wars.
  • Period: to

    30 Years War

    The 30 years war was a religious conflict mainly fought in Europe. It’s known as one of the longest and most brutal wars in history.
  • Period: to

    English Civil War

    The English Civil War was between Charles I who was fighting for absolute monarchy and Oliver Cromwell who didn’t believe in the divine right of kings. The roundheads were fighting with Oliver Cromwell and the cavaliers were fighting for Charles I.
  • Period: to

    Commonwealth

    Commonwealth was the era after the English civil war where England was strictly Calvinist. It was led mainly by Oliver Cromwell.
  • Period: to

    Age of Absolutism

    The Age of Absolutism was a period where people believed in absolute monarchy. This era saw the rise of states and feudalism.
  • Restoration

    Restoration is when the Parliament called the Charles II to rule England. He converted England to Anglicanism.
  • Bill of Rights

    The Bill of Rights was an agreement between the king and parliament that declared that they ruled alongside each other. The Bill of Rights was an attempt to decentralize.