Leonardo Da Vinci

Birth

Apr 15, 1452

Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci. His mother was named Caterina and his father was Ser Piero da Vinci. They couldn't get married because Caterina was a peasant and his father was of a higher social class. Instead, he was raised by Dona Albiera, his stepmother. Leonardo's surname comes from the town that he was born in, Vinci. Also, he was baptized into the Christian religion. (The Leonardo)

Ottoman Turks conquer Constantinople

Apr 1, 1453

In 1451, Mehmet II took power of the Ottoman Empire while Constantinople had a dramatically lowerpopulation and control of the Bosporus Strait. Mehmet wanted to control traffic through the strait between Ottomans' territories in Asia and the Balkans. Mehmet launched the attack in April of 1453 (Beck 444). The Turks used Constantinople as their capital and renamed it Istanbul. This was the end of the Byzantine Empire (Wetterau 107).

Sunni Ali ruled the Songhai Empire

Dec 20, 1464

Mali was an empire in western Africa which declined in the 1400s. After this decline, the Songhai rose in the east. The Songhai Empire expanded territory, built an army and controlled important trade routes. In 1464, when Sunni Ali began ruling, he built a professional army nd was a skilled military commander and an aggressive leader. He used his skills to capture Timbuktu, an important part of the Mali empire (Wetterau 374).

Apprenticeship

Dec 20, 1466

Leonardo became apprenticed by Andrea del Verroccio after his father showed Verroccio one of Leonardo's drawings. In the shop Verroccio worked on many things like painting, sculpting, and casting bronze. Leonardo was specifically taught techniques in painting and sculpting. Leonardo lived in the workshop while his apprenticeship lasted for 6 years (The Leonardo).

Painters Guild

Dec 20, 1472

In 1472, Leonardo ended his apprenticeship and became a professional. This was shown when he entered the Painters Guild in Florence. Even though Leonardo wasn't an apprentice, he still worked and lived with his teacher Verroccio. Also, his name was written into the Register of Painters which proved his membership (The Leonardo).

"Baptism of Christ"

Dec 20, 1475

In 1475 Leonardo's teacher Verroccio painted the "Baptism of Christ" with help from Leonardo. He only painted the kneelig angel on the left, but Leonardo's work doesn't have hard lines which separates it from Verroccio's more linear figures of Christ and the Baptist (McLanathan 22). When painting the "Baptism of Christ", Leonardo led the use of oil paintingin Verroccio's workshop. Oil painting was originally used by Dutch artists (The Leonardo).

Work for Ludovico Sforza

Dec 20, 1482

Leonardo began working for Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan. His first job was work in the Duchess' bathroom and a central heating system, but during his 17 year service he did other works for Ludovico. Some works include interior walls of the Salsa delle Asse reception room, the portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, and "The Last Supper" (The Leonardo). Leonardo's service ended in 1499, but while in Milan he became interested in geometry (O'Connor).

Christians take back Granada

Jan 2, 1492

In 1492 the Christians took back the last Muslim stronghold in Spain, Granada (Wetterau 107). The attack was led by the catholic monarchs at the time, Isabella and Fernando. This event finished the Reconquista. The Reconquista was the reconquest of Spain by the Christians (Medley).

The Vitruvian Man

Dec 20, 1492

Leonardo created the Vitruvian Man, his drawing and expression of Vitruvius' ideas of the perfect human shape, in 1492 (The Leonardo). Leonardo shows the ideas that the body is symmetrical in a circle and a square, and that the body's measurements were divinely and perfectly created. Leonardo used his illustration and words to show his meaning of proportion and architecture (Leonardo).

Columbus discover New World

Dec 20, 1492

Columbus convinced Spain to finance his plan to find a route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic. Eventually the voyage opened way for European colonization of the Americas. However the voyage immediately increased tension between Spain and Portugal (Beck 466). On the voyage Columbus used 3 ships; the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria to reach Cuba, Hispaniola, Venezuela and other places (Wetterau 8)

"The Last Supper"

Dec 20, 1495

Leonardo painted "The Last Supper" in a monastery in Milan (Romei 62). He worked in the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie. He was creating this painting for Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, after his wife died (The Leonardo). When painting "The Last Supper" Leonardo showed the moment when Christ met with the disciples to announce one of them will betray him. He depicts the disciples trying to protest their innocence rather than revealing the traitor (Romei 42)

Portuguese reached India

Dec 20, 1498

The Portuguese under Vasco da Gama sailed to India in 1498. It began a seaborne trade route between Europe and India (Wetterau 81). When Vasco da Gama reached the port of Calicut on the Southwest coast of India, they were amazed by the spices, like pepper and cinnamon, the silks, and the gems (Beck 466).

Work for Cesare Borgia

Dec 20, 1502

In 1502, Leonardo worked as a military architect and engineer for Cesare Borgia. At this time Cesare was considered the most powerful man in Italy and very dangerous. Leonardo wanted to work with someone that would help him accomplish more. Cesare wanted someone to give him new military intelligence. This helped them to work well together (The Leonardo).

"Mona Lisa"

Dec 20, 1503

Leonardo painted "Mona Lisa" in Florence (Romei 62). Thsi is one of Leonardo's most famous paintings. During the Renaissance, portraits became popular because of the rise of a wealthy merchant class. This was important because people could actually afford the paintings. Now the "Mona Lisa" is in the Louvre, a museum in France (Leonardo's).

Martin Luther

Oct 31, 1517

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany (Wetterau 115). He was announcing the upcoming academic discussion that he was organizing. This announcement was distributed through Germany and made it to Rome. This event led to the Protestant Reformation (Martin).

Death

May 2, 1519

Leonardo da Vinci died in Cloux on May 2, 1519 (Romei 62). Before hid death, Leonardo sent for a priest to make confession. This was something of the Christian Orthodox religion which shows how he was deeply spiritual and took his faith very seriously (The Leonardo).