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Aug 22, 1485
Battle of Bosworth Field
Richard the Third is killed in this battle. The victor is Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, who becomes Henry VII. This is the grandfather of Elizabeth I. -
Oct 22, 1492
Christoper Columbus Stumbles into America
Leads to Spanish and eventually the rest of Europe wanting to colonize the Americas. Columbus thought he had reached China or the West Indies. -
Oct 22, 1503
Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa
Art. The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait of a woman by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, which has been acclaimed as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world." -
Oct 21, 1516
Sir Thomas More Publishes Utopia
Work of fiction written by Sir Thomas More on the fictional Island-Republic of Utopia, off of South America. It was his view of the perfect society. -
Oct 22, 1543
Supremacy Act passed through Parliament
This declares Henry VIII head of the Church of England. Creates resentment between England and Catholic Europe. He can get his annullment and marry other women! -
Dec 14, 1558
Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England
This is the date of the funeral of her sister, Mary I. Elizabeth is hailed as one of the greatest monarchs of English history. Literature and art flourished in her reign. -
Apr 26, 1564
William Shskespeares, the Bard of Avon, is born
English poet and dramatists. Viewed as one of the best writers of the English language. He (probably) wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets. -
Globe Theatre Built
Built by The Lord Chamberlains Men, of which Shakespeare was a member. Burned in 1613, rebuilt in 1614, closed in 1642. -
Period: to
Shakespeare writes King Lear and the Scottish Play
In King Lear the title character descends into madness after disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all; this is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological pre-Roman Celtic king; the play is known for its insight on human suffering and kinship. Macbeth is the classic tragedy. -
Jamestown Founded
First permanent English settlement in North America. Founded by a joint-stock company, the Virginia Company, to look for gold. -
Shakespeares Sonnets are Published
Consists of fourteen lines structured as three quatrains and a couplet. In Shakespeare's sonnets, however, the volta usually comes in the couplet, and usually summarizes the theme of the poem or introduces a fresh new look at the theme. The usual rhyme scheme is end-rhymed a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g. -
King James Bible is Published
English translation of the Bible authorized by King James for the Church of England. -
The Mayflower lands at Plymouth Rock
It is full of seperatists, who wish to create a more Protestant church away from England. The group had tried living in Holland but resented the Dutichification of their children. -
Newpapers are first published in London
Yeah, newpapers. Increased access to news and paper. Possible increase in literacy. -
John Milton begins Paradise Lost
The poem concerns the Biblical story of the Fall of Man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Milton's purpose, stated in Book I, is to "justify the ways of God to men" -
The Puritan Commonwealth ends with the Restorationof Charles II to the Throne
The Commonwealth was formed after the English Civil War and headed by Oliver Cromwell, until his death. Charles the First had his head lopped off, and after his son, Charles II, was restored to the throne he posthumously beheaded Cromwell and others who had helped kill his father.
