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Period: 1300 to 1500
Patroning the Arts
Patrons of the arts became a normal thing is the late 14th century. Nobles and other people of wealth who were interested would patron artists they thought had potential. It was wildly popular and within nobles for centuries, though it eventually died out sometime around the early/mid-16th century. Many famous artists, like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael had noble patrons.
https://www.nga.gov/features/slideshows/patrons-and-artists-in-late-15th-century-florence.html -
1301
When the King tried to Tax the French Clergy
The king tried to tax the French clergy because many felt that the French kings controlled the church. The pope threatened to excommunicate the king but was arrested because of it. He was eventually released. Because of that, Clement V, the next Pope, moved the Church Headquarters to Avignon rather than keeping it in Rome.
Martin Luther Protestant Reformation Note Set -
Period: 1347 to 1350
The Bubonic Plague
The Bubonic Plague, or the Black Death, was a serious infection spread by fleas. It was probably brought to Europe through trade routes and killed nearly a third of the population. The Black Death was one of the main reasons Feudalism fell. Luckily, the Bubonic Plague isn't around much anymore, probably. -
1378
Papal Schism
Papal Schism was a time when there were two, later three, Popes who claimed to be the true Pope. It lasted from 1378 to 1473. It was all really confusing for Europe because once Pope Gregory died, there was a new Pope but the French Cardinals didn't like him so they elected their own. But apparently, the Church council didn't get the memo because they elected another Pope.
Martin Luther Protestant Reformation Note Set -
1419
The First Patron of the Arts
Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici was the first member of the family to become a patron of the arts. He commissioned Filippo Brunelleschi to reconstruct the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence, in 1419. There were many patrons of the arts in the Renaissance, but he was the first, which sparked others into doing the same.
https://www.nga.gov/features/slideshows/patrons-and-artists-in-late-15th-century-florence.html -
1440
The Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg is given the credit of inventing the printing press in 1440, although Chinese monks had the idea nearly 600 years before. Because of the printing press, books and literary works could be mass produced and spread throughout Europe. The printing press was a wooden contraption which transferred ink with pressure. The printing press was a very important invention in the Renaissance and even today.
https://historyplex.com/renaissance-inventions -
1450
Decline of the Manorial System
The Manorial System, or Manorialism/Feudalism, was a political, economic, and social system where peasants, knights, lords, and royalty all relied on each other. As long as everyone did their job, all would work well, but when the Black Death swept over Europe, Feudalism began to fail. Peasants and serfs were set free and the economy began to reassemble.
https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/manorial-system-47 -
1483
The Birth of Martin Luther
Martin Luther was born in Germany in 1483. After surviving a violent storm, he dropped out of school and became a monk. He questioned the church practices, like selling indulgences, and translated the Bible to German, which allowed people to read it themselves. He eventually wrote his Ninety-Five Theses, which he nailed to the Wittenburg Cathedral church for everyone to see. It was because of him the Protestant Reformation began, as well as Lutheran Christianity.
Martin Luther Notes Set -
1498
The Last Supper
The Last Supper was painted over the span of about 4 years, but it was officially finished in 1498. It was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci and is one of the most famous paintings from the Renaissance. It represents Jesus' last night before he died on the cross, when he had a dinner of bread and wine with his disciples.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Last-Supper-fresco-by-Leonardo-da-Vinci -
1500
The Invention of the Hurdy Gurdy
The hurdy gurdy was a popular instrument during the Renaissance. It was invented during the 16th century, and it was played by turning a wheel with one hand and playing a keyboard that changed the pitch with the other. Most nobles were taught how to play at least one instrument, the most common ones were the piano, hurdy gurdy, or lute. The violin is very similar to the hurdy gurdy, so it was probably inspiration.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-hurdy-gurdy-meaning-music-parts.html -
1503
The Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa was painted in Florence, Italy sometime in 1503 or early 1504. It was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci and it remains in the Louvre museum. The Mona Lisa is most commonly remembered by her smile. Her smile changes depending on where you look due to how Da Vinci painted it.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mona-Lisa-painting -
1504
The Statue of David
David, possibly Michelangelo's most popular sculpture, was finished in 1504 after years of work. David is a sculpture of a Biblical figure made from 1501 to 1504. He was made from a single block of white marble. He stands at 5.17 meters (about 17 feet) tall and weighs 5,660 kg (a little over 12,478 pounds). The statue remains on display in Florence, Italy.
http://www.accademia.org/explore-museum/artworks/michelangelos-david/facts-about-david/ -
1512
The Creation of Adam
Over the span of 4 years, from 1508 to 1512, the painter/sculptor Michelangelo painted The Creation of Adam on part of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. The Creation of Adam is a fresco painting that portrays the Biblical narrative of how the first man was created. There are many theories about a hidden meaning, or perhaps a jab at the Church, in the painting.
https://www.michelangelo.org/the-creation-of-adam.jsp -
1517
Ninety-Five Theses
The Ninety-Five Theses were propositions for the church concerning the selling of indulgences written by Martin Luther. He wrote it in Latin and nailed it to his local church's doors to catch their attention. Because of the printing press, the Ninety-Five Theses were soon known throughout Germany. This was considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, though many events lead up to it.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Ninety-five-Theses -
1517
Church Corruption
Before 1517, the Church made money by selling indulgences and selling church positions (simony). Indulgences were pieces of paper that one could buy in order to not go to Hell/escape Purgatory faster. Martin Luther did not like that the church was lying to poor people and making them spend money on nothing. The church stopped selling indulgences and church positions in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to their door.
http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his101%5Cweb%5C37luther.htm -
Period: 1517 to
The Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation started when Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses spread across Europe. Before that, the clergy pushed people to question and criticize the church. While/after the Reformation, Luther had many followers, including some German princes. His followers organized a new Christian denomination and eventually went to war with Catholics. The Treaty of Augsburg ended the first wars, but the fighting continued.
Martin Luther Protestant Reformation Note Set -
May 2, 1519
The Death of Da Vinci
On May 2, 1519, 67-year-old Leonardo Da Vinci, passed away of a stroke in Amboise, France. Da Vinci was responsible for painting many iconic Renaissance works such as the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Vitruvian Man, and many others revolving religion.
https://www.leonardodavinci.net/ -
1543
On the Fabric of the Human Body
Andreas Vesalius published On the Fabric of the Human Body in 1543. He based it on his own in-depth dissections of the human body. It is a series of books about human anatomy originally written in Latin. Because of these books, scientists have made many medical and anatomical discoveries they couldn't have without it.
https://www.academia.edu/11868575/scientific_discoveries_and_invention_from_renaissance_to_enlightenment -
The Flush Toilet
Sir John Harington, who was also the godson of Queen Elizabeth I, invented the first flush toilet in 1596 A.D. He named it Ajax. The toilet was originally a pan with a sort of opening at the bottom. The hole was sealed with a valve made of leather. A complicated system of pipes, levers, weights, and handles poured water in the pan and opened the valve at the bottom. Usually, they were emptied onto the street from an upper-floor window.
https://www.smore.com/7p8d1-the-flush-toilet -
The Faerie Queen
In 1596, the last 3 books of The Faerie Queen by Edmund Spencer, were published. It's a poem about Elizabeth I, but also emphasizing 24 different virtues. It was intended to be 24 books long, but it is incomplete. Only 6 books were published because Spencer died before it was finished. The virtues he covered are Holiness, Temperament, Chastity, Friendship, Justice, and Courtesy. The unfinished seventh book may have been Consistency.
http://www.online-literature.com/edmund-spenser/faerie-queene/ -
Hamlet's First Performance
Hamlet is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare from 1599 to 1602. It was published in 1603, and the first on-stage performance was in 1609. Though the actors are unknown, the play cast toured Germany and performed in front of James I in 1619 and Charles I in 1937.
https://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/hamlet-play/history/ -
Astronomy
In 1632, Galileo published a book stating that Earth was not the center of the solar system, which angered the Pope. He was put on trial by Rome's Inquisition, where he was found guilty of heresy. He was forced to say that all of his inquiries were wrong and he was thrown in jail. Later, he was released and confined to his house for the rest of his life.
http://solar-center.stanford.edu/galileo/ -
Paradise Lost
Written by John Milton, Paradise Lost is perhaps one of the greatest poems written. It is a 12-book-long biblical story about Adam and Eve; how they were created and how they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden. The characters are Adam, Eve, God, and Lucifer. Milton wrote Lucifer in a realistic and sympathetic way, and other romantic poets saw Lucifer as the hero of the story rather than the villain.
http://www.online-literature.com/milton/paradiselost/ -
Matches
Robert Boyle invented the self-igniting match in 1680. Before then, people had to strike flint and rub sticks together, but that was time-consuming and difficult. Robert Boyle discovered that rubbing phosphorus and sulfur together created fire. At first the matches were extremely dangerous, but eventually, the match was improved to what it is today.
https://www.bookunitsteacher.com/renaissance/inventions.htm -
The Discovery of Gravity
In 1687, Issac Newton discovered and established the Theory of Universal Gravity. He also demonstrated the Laws of Gravitation and how Kelper's Laws were connected. This discovery helped move science along for years after. Gravity is a basic concept that people know today, and it is a foundation of science today.
https://www.academia.edu/11868575/scientific_discoveries_and_invention_from_renaissance_to_enlightenment
