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1100
Sale of Indulgences
Indulgences were bought to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins. Martin Luther didn't agree with the sale of indulgences and thought that salvation was free and one doesn't have to do anything to obtain it. All forms of Protestantism would reject indulgences. -
Jul 20, 1304
Petrarch
Petrarch was an Italian scholar, poet, and humanist in Renaissance Italy. He wrote odes to Laura, his idealized true love. Also, his writings were used to shape the modern Italian language. He was known as the greatest scholar of his age. -
1400
Humanism
Humanism is a stance that emphasizes the value of human beings and the uniqueness of the individual. Humanistic studies look at the human behavior of a person. It can be determined how individuals perceive and interpret events based on their brain. -
1405
Perspective
Perspective is an approximate representation of an image seen by the eye on a flat surface. The objects are smaller as their distance from the observer increases. Objects in perspective are scaled to the viewer. The most important figures are shown higher in a composition. -
Jan 1, 1449
Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici was a Florentine statesman, ruler, and patron of arts and letters. He ruled Florence with his younger brother, and became the sole ruler after the latter died. Lorenzo is well-known for his contribution to the art world by sponsoring artists like Botticelli and Michelangelo. -
1450
Printing Revolution
The printing revolution was one of the most significant times in the Renaissance period. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press which made it much easier to spread new ideas. The Bible was mass-produced by using this machine. Also, the literacy rate went up because books were so much cheaper to buy at the time. -
Apr 15, 1452
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci is important because he created some of the most famous paintings in art history during the Renaissance. These included the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. Also, he was the ideal Renaissance man because he was talented in many areas. Some included painting, advising the kings, engineering, botany, and physiology. -
Oct 27, 1466
Erasmus
Erasmus was one of the major religious scholars during the Renaissance. He wrote texts on many subjects, including the Greek edition of the Bible. His views on the Reformation tempered its radical elements. Also, he defined the humanist movement in Northern Europe. -
Feb 29, 1468
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III was an important figure during the Protestant Reformation who attracted a popular following. He convened the Council of Trent and was a significant patron of the arts. -
May 3, 1469
Machiavelli
Machiavelli was an Italian Renaissance political philosopher and statesman. He has been noted as the father of modern science and has responsibilities in diplomatic and military affairs. He concluded that only a strong man could impose order. -
May 21, 1471
Albrecht Durer
Albrecht Durer was a figure in the German Renaissance who was in communication with the major artists of his time. His work applied Renaissance techniques to his engravings. His pieces portrayed religious upheaval and were quite realistic. -
Feb 19, 1473
Copernicus
Copernicus was a Polish astronomer who challenged the view of the Church doctrine. He proposed a heliocentric model of the sun. His theory was rejected, but observations by other scholars supported Copernicus. -
Mar 6, 1475
Michelangelo
Michelangelo was a famous sculptor at the time of the Renaissance. He created an 18-foot sculpture of David. In the Sistine Chapel, he painted 343 figures on the ceiling in 10,000 square feet on the. It took him 4 years to complete. Also, he studied in the sculpture gardens of the Medici family. -
Feb 7, 1478
Thomas More
Thomas More was an English lawyer, philosopher, author, statesman, and Renaissance humanist who pushed for social reforms. He opposed the Protestant Reformation and King Henry's separation from the Catholic Church. More described an ideal society where education and justice is for all. -
Apr 6, 1483
Raphael
Raphael was an important figure in the Renaissance because he was a well-known painter and sculptor. The School of Athens is his most famous painting. Also, he created the large Vatican fresco. Raphael knew basic painting techniques and the principles of humanistic philosophy. -
Nov 10, 1483
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk, and an important figure in the Protestant Reformation. He rejected many teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther strongly disagreed with the Catholic view on indulgences. His translation of the Bible into the German vernacular made it more accessible to the laity. -
Jul 2, 1489
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Henry VIII. He helped with Henry's case about an annulment, which cause separation of the English Church. Cranmer made many Catholics into Protestants. -
Jun 28, 1491
Henry VIII
Henry VIII is mainly known for having six wives at the time when he ruled England. He wanted one of his wives to bear him a male heir. When the pope refused to annul his marriage, he took over the English Church. Henry had a lot of major health problems during his time as king. -
Jul 10, 1509
John Calvin
John Calvin was a French-born priest and lawyer who was influenced by the Reformation ideas. He accepted Lutheran beliefs, but added his own belief in predestination. Calvinists attempted to live saintly lives in order to gain eternal salvation. Calvinism eventually spread throughout northern Europe. Groups of Calvinists sailed for America to escape persecution. -
Sep 7, 1533
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII, and became the Queen of England when Henry died. The Elizabethan era united England and avoided future religious conflicts. She compromised between Catholics and Protestants. Elizabeth did not allow herself to be put at the head of the Anglican Church. -
1542
Inquisition
The Inquisition was a group of institutions within the government of the Catholic Church who wanted to combat heresy. It significantly expanded during early Renaissance in response to the Protestant Reformation. -
1543
Heliocentric Theory
The heliocentric theory is the theory that the earth revolves around the sun. It was developed in parts by different astronomers. European culture was given a large boost of wealth which led to an increase in science, math, and technology. Copernicus was one of the men that developed a model to describe this theory. -
Feb 15, 1564
Galileo
Galileo was a central figure in the transition from natural philosophy to modern science.He studied different techniques that applied to science and technology. Galileo has made many telescopic discoveries in the study of astronomy. -
Apr 26, 1564
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was a towering figure of the northern Renaissance because he wrote 37 plays within 23 years. He explored Renaissance ideals such as the complexity of an individual. Also, he added 1,700 words to the dictionary. -
Issac Newton
Issac Newton was an English mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. He is a key figure in the Scientific Revolution because he developed the principles of modern physics, including the laws of motion and gravitation. Newton's first major achievement was designing and constructing a reflecting telescope.
