Chapter 1-2

The Renaissance begins in Italy

Jan 1, 1300

In the 1300's the Renaissance begins in some Italian city states such as Flourence, Milan, and Mantua. It was an explosion of creativity in art, writing, and thought. Many advances were made in the time period of the renaissance that set the foundation for today's world.

Osman founds Ottoman state

Sep 9, 1300

The most successful ghazi (warrior for islam) was Osman. He built a small Muslim state in Anatolia between 1300 and 1326. His followers were called "Ottomans". His succesors expanded the state more and more turning it into a vast empire. Their military success was mostly based on the use of gunpowder.

Timur the Lame destroys Delhi

Sep 21, 1398

Permanently injured by an arrow in the leg, he was called Timur the Lame. He halted the expansion of the Ottoman empire by burning the powerful city of Baghdad to the ground. He was a rebellious warrior and conquerer from Samarkand in Central Asia.

Development of Humanism

Sep 9, 1400

Humanism developed from the study of classical texts. It focused on human potential and achievements. Humanists influenced artists and achitects to carry on classical traditions. They also popularized the study of subjects common to classical education, such as history, literature, and philosophy.

Printing Press invented

Jan 1, 1452

A craftsman named Johann Gutenberg from Mainz, Germany developed a printing press. The new process made it possible to produce books quickly and cheaply. It enabled a printer to produce hundresds of copies of a single work. In the same amount of time that a copyist could produce a single book, one man and a printing press could produce five hundred books.

Ottomans take over Constantinople

Sep 21, 1453

Mehmed II achieved the most dramatic feat in Ottoman history. In 1453 he launched his attack on Constantinople. The city held out for seven weeks while being attacked from two sides. Finally the Turks found a break in the wall and entered the city. Now called Mehmed the Conquerer, he opened the city to new citizens of many religions and renamed the city Instanbul.

Safavids conquer Persia

Sep 21, 1501

In 1499 a twelve year old named Isma'il began to seize most of what is now Iran. He completed the task two years later. He took the title of Shah (king) and established Shi'a Islam as the state religion.

Henry VIII becomes King

Sep 21, 1509

Henry VIII was a devout Catholic and wrote a stinging attack on Luther's ideas. The Pope then gave him the title "Defender of the Faith". He married his older brother Arthur's widow, Catherine of Aragon. He was in desperate need of a male heir, so he had many wives.

Martin Luther leads the Reformation

Sep 9, 1517

Martin Luther decided to take a public stand against the actions of a friar named Johann Tetzel. He was selling indulgences to raise money to rebuild St. Peter's Catherdral in Rome. He gave people the impression that by buying indulgences they could buy their way into heaven. In response Luther wrote 95 theses attacking the "pardon-merchants". His actions began the reformation.

Babur founds Mughal Empire

Sep 21, 1526

Babur built up an army, swept down into India and laid down the foundation for the vast Mughal Empire. He was a brilliant military general and had led 12,000 troops to victory against an army of 100,000. After his death, his son took over and lost most of the territory that his father had worked so hard to gain.

Protestantism develops

Sep 9, 1529

Protestantism is a branch of Christianity. It developed out of the Reformation. The term "protestant" was applied to Christians who belonged to non-Catholic churches. There were only three distinct branches of protestantism at first, Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism.

King Henry VIII starts the church of England

Sep 9, 1534

In 1534 Parliament voted to aprove the Act of Supremacy. This called on people to take an oath recognizing the divorce of Henry VIII and Catherine. It also accepted Henry, not the pope, as the official head of England's church.

Elizabeth I Restores Protestantism

Sep 20, 1559

Elizabeth I was determined to return her kingdom to Protestantism. In 1559 Parliament set up the Anglican church with Elizabeth as its head. Elizabeth decided to establish a state church that moderate Catholics and moderate Protestants might both accept.

Shah Abbas I rules Safavid Empire

Sep 21, 1587

Shah Abbas took the throne in 1587. He reformed aspects of both military and civilian life. He built a new capitol at Esfahan, which was considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. He brought hundreds of chinese artisans to Esfahan. This gave rise to artwork that blended Chinese and Persian ideas.

Taj Mahal built

Sep 14, 1631

Leader of Mughal Empire Shah Jahan had a passion for beautiful buildings and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. After her death in 1631, he ordered that a tomb be built "as beautiful as she was beautiful". Fine white marble and fabulous jewels were gathered from many parts of Asia. This memorial was known as the Taj Mahal. It has been called one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.