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1492
Italian Wars
Spain and France fought over control of Italien peninsula. Series of wars. Spain won and took control of most of Italy -
Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther writes 95 theses
Martin Luther is upset that the church is selling "Indulgences", and writes 95 theses and puts them on the church door. -
1524
Peasants War
German peasants became angry because of high taxes and a lack of power. 10,000's of germans stormed castles and monasteries, and nobles harshly suppressed the revolt. The people thought that Martin Luther would support them, but he was against it. -
1534
Act of Supremacy in England
Defined the right of Henry VIII to be supreme head of the Church of England. -
1536
John Calvin's Institute of the Christian religion
A book that John Calvin wrote God, salvation, and human nature. -
Sep 27, 1540
Jesuit order founded
The Jesuit movement was founded by Ignatius de Loyola, who sent out missionaries to convert people to Christianity. -
1542
Nicolaus Copernicus publishes On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies
Nicolaus Copernicus believed in the Heliocentric theory; that the sun was the center of the universe. He also formulated the quantity theory of money. -
Jul 21, 1542
Start of Roman Inquisition
Catholic church established a court to fight Protestantism and impose religious uniformity. -
1545
Council of Trent
The council of chruch leaders called to Trent, Italy, where they decided on 4 doctrines relating to Christianity for the next pope, Paul IV to carry out. -
1555
Peace of Augsburg
German princes met the Protestants and each ruler declared the religion of their own state. -
1558
Reign of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I restored England to Protestantism. -
1560
Scotland becomes Calvinist
John Knox became the leader of the Scottish reformation and reformed the church to Calvanism. -
1572
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Violence between Calvin's followers (Huguenots) and Catholics. Catholic mobs hunting and murdering Huguenots, massacre spread to other cities, lasted 6 months. -
1579
Voltaire publishes Candide
Voltaire fought for tolerance, reason, religious freedom, and freedom of speech. He also made enemies with many powerful figures in England, and was sent to prison twice, and was exiled from England for over 2 years. -
Francis Bacon publishes Essays
Francis Bacon believed in the experimental method and urged scientists to use it. He also thought that people shouldn't rely on Aristotle's ideas and find new answers. -
Edict of Nantes
King Henry IV signed the edict as a result of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Granted religious tolerance and freedom of the Huguenots + Protestants. -
Galileo Galilei publishes Starry Messenger
Galileo Galilei observed the solar system through a telescope, and he confirmed the idea that the sun is the center of the universe. -
René Descartes publishes Discourse on Method
René Descartes developed analytical geometry and had the philosophy of mathematics and logic rather than experimentation. -
Thomas Hobbes publishes Leviathan
Thomas Hobbes thought that the best government was an absolute monarchy, and that the government should impose order and demand obedience. -
John Locke publishes an Essay Concerning Human Understanding
John Locke favored the idea of self-government and criticized absolute monarchy. He believed all people were born equal with 3 fundamental human rights; life, liberty, and property. -
Baron de Montesquieu publishes the Persian Letters
Baron de Montesquieu created the idea of checks and balances and thought that Britain was the best governed and politically balanced country. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes The Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau won recognition as a writer of essays. He also was included in the U.S Bill of Rights, and French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.