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1564
The word "Puritan" appears for the first time.
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1569
Thomas Cartwright of Cambridge outlines the Puritan program.
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1575
The "Geneva Bible" is published.
Shakespeare quotes this version -
1581
Robert Browne's "Treatise of Reformation without Tarrying for Any"
Manifesto of the Puritans who found the Massachusetts Bay colony. -
1581
Richard Hooker ordained priest
His anti-Puritan book "Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity" reflects natural-law and rationalist ideas then popular. -
William Shakespeare ridicules Puritans
He does so in his characterizations of Falstaff, Malvolio, Flavius, and others. -
Puritan assemblies and activities outlawed
A few Separatists are hanged. -
Elizabeth I succeeded by James I.
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"Gunpowder plot" by Roman Catholic fanatics
They were seeking to blow up Parliament. -
Galileo Determines Planets Rotate Around Sun
Galileo determines through his invention of the telescope that the planets revolve around the sun, opposed to the earlier viewpoint that they, including the sun, revolve around earth. Galileo's work was considered anti-church, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. The Church admitted the sentencing was a mistake in 1992. -
30 Years War
Violence breaks out between Catholic nations and Protestant ones. The Catholics were mainly represented by the Holy Roman Empire. The war spread across Europe, except for Britain. The war ended in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia, which split the Holy Roman Empire in two. They lost much of their German territory. -
John Donne becomes Dean of St. Paul's cathedral
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James I is succeeded by Charles I
His colorful court fills with refugees, including Roman Catholic counter-reformation types. -
George Herbert's poems published as "The Temple".
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Charles I calls Parliament to approve funds for the war with Scotland
Parliament instead raises an army against the king. In the civil wars that follow, Oliver Cromwell leads the "New Model Army" rebels and becomes Lord Protector; John Milton is his Latin Secretary. Puritan morality becomes the law. -
Louis XIV Takes Rule of France
Louis the XIV took over the rule of France at the death of his mentor, Mazarin. He established an image of being a Sun God, meaning all light in France came from him. He constructed the Palace at Versailles. He also attempted to remove nobles from power and worked against Protestants. -
William Laud is beheaded by the Puritans.
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Charles I Overthrown
The English Parliament worked together to overthrow King Charles I after they grew discontent with his rule. He was defeated in the Second Civil War in England. Those who supported the king were kicked out of Parliament and Charles I was tried. He was found guilty and executed a month later. He was convicted of provoking the Second Civil War. -
Cromwell and his government behead ("martyr") King Charles I.
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Restoration
After Oliver Cromwell died, Charles II became king of England. Before the government was a military dictatorship, run by Cromwell. The people decided they wanted to become a monarchy again and named Charles II became king. He restored Parliament, which Cromwell dismissed indefinitely -
Thomas Hobbes Publishes "Leviathan"
The idea of a social contract was documented in its earliest stage in Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan." He stated that a person with absolute authority should rule a nation, and he should be responsible for ensuring the protection and prospering of his people. He came up with his ideas out of fear of political turmoil engulfing England at the time. -
The Glorious Revolution
James II was king of England, and disliked Parliament. He was also Catholic. Parliament then asked James II's daughter to come and try to overthrow James II. They did come back and succeeded. Parliament made them king and queen, and they made the Crown and Parliament equal in power. -
Montesque Writes "Spirit of the Laws"
Montesque was a political writer. His primary book, "Spirit of the Laws," focused on separation of powers. He believed that no part of government should have too much power over the rest of the state. He also believed that small states should be ruled by republics, medium size states should be ruled by monarchies, and despots should rule large states. -
Diderot Writes "Encyclopedia"
In 27 years, Diderot wrote 28 volumes of his book, "Encyclopedia." It praised the ideas of the enlightenment. It was much like what we think an encyclopedia is. In the end, Diderot had to go into hiding to finish the last few volumes. Like many enlightenment thinkers, he was disliked by the powerful Catholic Church, and was in danger. It was also a large influence in the French Revolution. -
Voltaire Publishes "Candide"
Voltaire publishes is most famous work, "Candide." It has a sarcastic plot centered on a man who begins life optimistic, but suffers many misfortunes which shows his optimism was unwarranted. It was widely banned due to the fact it insulted religious and political institutions. -
Joseph II Comes Into Power
Joseph II of Austria became emperor in 1764. He was one of the most progressive emperors of his time. He got rid of executions and torture. He offered the poor food, and forced the nobility to pay them for their work. Joseph II even tolerated the Protestants and Jews in his nation. -
Adam Smith Publishes "The Wealth of Nations."
Adam Smith was one of the first men to advocate free market capitalism. He outlined this in his book, "The Wealth of Nations." This said that if markets were kept free from government regulation, the people participating in them would be richer, and to a further extent the government. He invented the term Laissez-faire. -
Revolutionaries Storm Bastille
The Bastille, which represented the French authority at the time, was stormed on this day. This was the first violence from the National Constitutional Assembly, marking the beginning of the French Revolution. The Batsille was a state prison that was infamous for holding the King's prisoners.
