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Period: 1400 to
The Renaissance
The renaissance was a rebirth of Europe, that started in Italy. There was a new emphasis on the power of human reasoning and there were many advances in the arts and sciences. -
Period: 1400 to
European Exploration
European exploration started because countries wanted to spread Christianity, they wanted to be the biggest and richest country, and they wanted gold. -
1440
Johannes Gutenberg invents the Printing Press
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1478
The Spanish Inquisition starts
The Inquisition was a papal judicial institution that fought against heresy, witchcraft, and sorcery. -
1492
The Columbian Exchange starts
The Columbian Exchange was a massive exchange that took place between the "New World" and Europe. -
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus discovered San Salvador
Christopher Columbus set sail in hopes of finding a new route to India, but instead found San Salvador, or present day Bahamas. He claimed San Salvador for Spain. -
Jul 8, 1497
Vasco da Gama sets sail for India
Vasco da Gama was the first to open a direct sea route to Asia and he was the first to reach Asia India by sea. -
1503
Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is one of the best known paintings from the Renaissance period. -
1509
Desiderius Erasmus writes "The Praise of Folly"
"The Praise of Folly" is an essay written by Desiderius Erasmus in Latin. -
1512
Michelangelo paints the Sistine Chapel Ceiling
Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling using gold and plaster. -
1517
Martin Luther nails "95 Theses" on a church door
Martin Luther nailed the "95 Theses" or his ideas on a church door. This was the beginning of the Reformation. Martin Luther was later excommunicated from the church by the Pope. -
Period: 1517 to
The Reformation
More specifically known as the Protestant Reformation. A protestant was someone who protested the catholic, and people wanted changes in the church, or reforms. -
1518
Hernando Cortes sets sail to explore Mexico
Hernando Cortes set sail at only 19 and claimed Mexico for Spain. -
Period: 1519 to 1522
Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigates of the Earth
Ferdinand Magellan set sail in 1519 to be the first circumnavigate the Earth. Although he died before he could finish the circumnavigation, he is credited with being the first since his crew finished the circumnavigation. -
1521
Hernando Cortez conquered the Aztec Empire
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Feb 11, 1531
Henry VIII demands members of the Church of England recognize him as supreme head of the Church of England
Henry VIII was the king of England who resented the Pope claiming power over him. He was married to Catherine of Aragon, but wanted a divorce. The Church would not give him one, so he started his own church, the Anglican Church. -
1532
Francisco Pizarro conquers the Inca Empire
Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador that led an exploration to conquer the Inca Empire. -
1534
The Jesuits are founded by St. Ignatius de Loyola
The Jesuits, also known as the Society of Jesus, was a Roman Catholic order of religious men known for their missionary works. They were later recognized by Pope Paul III. -
1534
Jacques Cartier finds the St. Lawrence river
Jacques Cartier discovered Canada and the St. Lawrence and claimed them for France. -
1536
John Calvin publishes "Institutes of the Christian Religion"
John Calvin was from Switzerland, he lived during Martin Luther's time, and he believed in predestination. His ideas helped start a theocracy in Switzerland. -
1543
Nicolaus Copernicus develops the heliocentric model of the Solar System
Nicolaus Copernicus is most famously known for developing the theory that the sun is the center of our Solar System. -
Period: 1543 to
The Scientific Revolution
During the scientific revolution people became curious and the began to question ancient beliefs. Many new tools were also invented and people conduction new experiments. -
Period: 1545 to 1563
The Council of Trent
Church leaders met in Trent three times to clearly define doctrines. -
1559
Elizabeth I is crowned the Queen of England
Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII. She made the Anglican Church the official church of England. -
1562
Huguenots are attacked in civil wars
Huguenots were French Protestants who were attacked in civil wars. Years later King Henry IV gave Huguenots religious freedom. -
Period: 1577 to 1580
Francis Drake circumnavigates the Earth
Francis Drake becomes the second person to complete a circumnavigation of the Earth. -
William Shakespeare writes "Hamlet"
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Johannes Kepler publishes his first two laws of planetary motion
Johannes Kepler's first law of planetary motion is that all planets move in elliptical orbits, with the sun at one focus. The second is that a line that connects a planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times. -
Galileo Galilei makes his first telescope
Galileo Galilei invented a new telescope to study moon and planets. -
Miguel de Cervantes publishes "Don Quixote"
Miguel de Cervantes wrote "Don Quixote" in a new form of writing called the novel. -
Period: to
The Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years war happened due to the support of Lutheranism. Most countries were involved in the war except France, so while other countries got weak, France stayed strong. -
Johannes Kepler publishes his third law of planetary motion
Johannes Kepler third law of planetary motion is that the square of the period of any planet is proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis of its orbit. -
Charles I is crowned King of England
Charles I was the monarch of the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. -
Period: to
English Civil War
The English Civil War consisted of the Kings and Nobles fighting against Parliament and Puritans. Parliament was led by Oliver Cromwell, and parliament won. -
Period: to
Louis XIV ruled France
Louis XIV wanted to make the King's power absolute because he lived through the France rebellions, when French nobles and peasants had attacked the central royal government. -
Trial and execution of Charles I
After parliament won, Charles I was tried and found guilty and then executed. -
Thomas Hobbes writes the "Leviathan"
Hobbes believed that all humans were wicked and that governments were created to protect people from themselves. He though an absolute monarchy was the best form of government. -
Oliver Cromwell begins ruling
After Charles I is executed, parliament can not decide on a new government so Cromwell takes over and becomes dictator. Most people do not like his strict rule. -
Charles II begins ruling
After Oliver Cromwell dies, Charles II becomes kings. This is known as the restoration. -
Robert Boyle discovers "Boyle's Law"
Boyle's Law says that temperature and pressure affects the space that a gas occupies. -
Isaac Newton developed the Laws of Motion
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Louis XIV moves his court to Versailles
Louis XIV had Versailles rebuilt which strained France's economy since it was very expensive. -
Period: to
The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was the overthrow of James II by a union of English Parliamentarians and William III. -
William III and Mary II begin ruling together as king and queen
After James II was over thrown, William III and Mary II were asked by parliament to rule together. -
Period: to
Peter the Great ruled Russia
Peter the Great is credited with dragging Russia out of its medieval times. He wanted a modern army so military officers had to be educated. -
John Locke publishes "Two Treatises of Government"
Locke believed that people had the right to life, liberty, and property. -
Period: to
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that was influenced by the rise of modern science and religious conflict coming from the Reformation. Self-expression and human fulfillment was emphasized. Educational ventures were also promoted. -
Period: to
Frederick the Great rules Prussia
Frederick the Great earned a good reputation as a military commander. He increased the land of Prussia. -
Baron de Montesquieu write "The Spirit of Laws"
Montesquieu believed that the best form of government had separation of power. He also thought that you need powers to check each other and maintain balance. -
Voltaire publishes "Candide"
Voltaire believed in the separation of church and state. He wrote against prejudice, superstition, and intolerance. -
Jean Jacques Rousseau writes "the Social Contract"
Rousseau believed that the government was a contract between the rulers and the people. -
Louis XVI calls for an estates general
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The Third Estate takes the Tennis Court Oath
When the Third Estate is locked out, they go to a tennis court and take what is now known as the Tennis Court Oath. -
The Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a prison that people stormed because it was a symbol of royal oppression and for its weapons. -
Period: to
The French Revolution
In the old order everyone was part of the Three Estates. The Third Estate resented the privileges of the first two estates. They were treated unfairly, and most people were part of the Third Estate. That started the French Revolution which was a political and social revolution. -
The National Assembly issues The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizens
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizens was a document dealt with human rights and political powers. It granted freedom of speech, press, and religion. It also said that everyone and anyone had the right to hold office and everyone had the right to a fair trial. -
Louis XVI tried to sneak out of Paris
Louis XVI tried to leave Paris, but failed to do so. -
Radicals take over the government
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Robespierre starts the Reign of Terror
During the Reign of Terror, anyone who did not remain true to the ideals of the Revolution was executed. Calendars no longer had Sundays because radicals considered religion old-fashioned and dangerous. -
The Reign of Terror ends
The Reign of Terror ended when Robespierre and his followers were taken into custody and executed. -
Moderates regain control
Moderates were able to regain control from radicals and they wrote the Constitution of 1795. -
Napoleon defeats the British
Napoleon defeats the British which makes him well respected among the French. -
Napoleon becomes dictator
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Napoleon becomes emperor
Napoleon is elected as emperor of the French Empire by a plebiscite that asked all voters if they wanted to be an empire. During the crowning ceremony he crowns himself. -
Napoleon invades Russia
Napoleon invaded Russia and lost 400,000 men due to Russia's harsh winters. -
Napoleon is exiled from France
Napoleon was exiled from France to Elba, but he soon returned and raised another army. -
Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon goes to war with his army against Britain and Prussia. This battle marked Napoleons final defeat and he was exiled once again to Saint Helena. -
Eugene Delacroix paints "Liberty Leading the People"
