Modern World History - DW

  • Italian Wars
    1492

    Italian Wars

    Spain and France fought over control of Italien peninsula. Series of wars. Spain won and took control of most of Italy
  • Martin Luther writes 95 theses
    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.
  • Peasants War
    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.
  • Act of Supremacy in England
    1534

    Act of Supremacy in England

    Defined the right of Henry VIII to be supreme head of the Church of England.
  • John Calvin's Institute of the Christian religion
    1536

    John Calvin's Institute of the Christian religion

    A book that John Calvin wrote God, salvation, and human nature.
  • Jesuit order founded
    Sep 27, 1540

    Jesuit order founded

    The Jesuit movement was founded by Ignatius de Loyola, who sent out missionaries to convert people to Christianity.
  • Nicolaus Copernicus publishes On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies
    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.
  • Start of Roman Inquisition
    Jul 21, 1542

    Start of Roman Inquisition

    Catholic church established a court to fight Protestantism and impose religious uniformity.
  • Council of Trent
    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.
  • Peace of Augsburg
    1555

    Peace of Augsburg

    German princes met the Protestants and each ruler declared the religion of their own state.
  • Reign of Elizabeth I
    1558

    Reign of Elizabeth I

    Elizabeth I restored England to Protestantism.
  • Scotland becomes Calvinist
    1560

    Scotland becomes Calvinist

    John Knox became the leader of the Scottish reformation and reformed the church to Calvanism.
  • St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
    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.
  • Voltaire publishes Candide
    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 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

    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 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 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 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 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 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 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.