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Period: Jan 1, 1308 to Jan 1, 1321
Dante writes the Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy was Written by Dante Alighieri, written in the year 1310. It was one of the greatest works of world literature. It was Itailians vernacular materpiece. -
Period: Jan 1, 1390 to Jan 1, 1400
Chaucer writes The Canterbury Tails
Geoffrey Chaucer, known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages. He was born sometime in 1343 and Chaucer died October 25, 1400. -
Period: Jan 1, 1415 to Jan 1, 1417
Donatellao creates statue of St. George
Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi also known as Donatella. He was born sometime of the year 1386 and he died December 13, 1466. Donatello was an early Renaissance Italian artist and sculptor from Florence. -
Period: Jan 1, 1434 to Jan 1, 1440
Jan Van Eyck paints the Arnolfini portrait
Jan Van Erck was born sometime in the year 1395 and died July 9, 1441. was a Flemish painter active in Bruges and considered one of the best Northern European painters of the 15th century. -
Aug 13, 1447
Last Visconti ruler of Milan dies
Filippo Maria Visconti The last Visconti ruler was Filippo Maria Visconti. He was born September 23, 1392. He had become the ruler of Pavia in 1402, he later took his assasinated brother's place as Duke of Milan in 1412. -
Feb 22, 1494
Charles VIII of France invaded Naples
Charles VIII was born on June 30, 1473 and he died April 7, 1498. Charles was the King of France from 1483 until he died in 1498. Charles was a member of the House of Valois. -
Period: Jan 1, 1505 to Jan 1, 1519
Leonardo Di Vinci paints the Mona Lisa
Leonardo De Vinci Di Vinci was born April 15, 1452 and died May 2, 1519. He was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer. -
Jan 1, 1509
Erasmus writes his satire The Praise of Folly
The praise of Folly was written by Desiderius Erasmus. It was inspired by italian humanist, De Triumpho Stultitiae. -
Dec 13, 1513
Machiavelli writes The Prince
Nicolo Machiavelli was born in Florence on May 3,1469. For 18 years he held an official post in Florence which included diplomatic missions to many European courts. He died on June 22,1527. -
Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther presents the Ninety-five theses
The Ninety-Five Theses was written by Martin Luther in 1517 and is known as the primary catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. The main priority of the theses was questioning the validity of punishment for sins that have already been forgiven. -
Jan 3, 1521
The Church Excommunicates Luther.
Martin Luther was excommunicated because of his writings, including the 95 theses. He was excommunicated by Pope Leo X on January 3, 1521. -
May 6, 1527
Invading armies sack Rome
The Sack of Rome occured May 6, 1527. It was a military event with many troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in Rome, then some of the Papal States. -
Jan 1, 1528
Castiglione writes The Book of the Courtier
Baldassare Castiglione was born on December 6, 1478 and died Febuary 2, 1529. He was an Italian courtier, diplomat, soldier and a prominent Renaissance author. -
Period: Jan 1, 1531 to
War between the protestant and catholic states in Switzerland
The Protestant Reformation in Switzerland was promoted initially by Huldrych Zwingli, who gained the support of Mark Reust and the population of Zürich in the 1520s. It led to changes in civil life and state matters in Zürich and spread to several other parts of the Old Swiss Confederacy -
Period: Jan 1, 1534 to Jan 1, 1540
The Society of Jesus becomes a religious order
The society of Jesus is a catholic Male religious order. The members are called jesuits. Ignatius of Loyola founded the society. They follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. -
Nov 1, 1534
The act of Supremacy is passed in England
The Act of Supremacy Official text The first Act of Supremacy was a piece of legislation that granted King Henry VIII of England Royal Supremacy, which means that he was declared the supreme head of the Church of England. It is still the legal authority of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. -
Period: Jan 1, 1545 to Jan 1, 1563
The Council of Trent is formed
It marked a major turning point in the efforts of the Catholic church to respond to the challenge of the Protestant Reformation and formed a key part of the Counter-Reformation. -
Jul 1, 1553
Mary Tudor, "Bloody Mary", becomes Queen of England
Mary Tudor was born on February, 18 1516. She became Queen in July 1553 and ruled until she died in November 17, 1558. The reason she is called "Bloody Mary" is because she had 280 religious dissenters burned at the stake. -
Sep 25, 1555
The peace of Augsburg divides Germany
It ended the religious struggle between the two groups and made the division of Christendom permanent in the Holy Roman Empire.