The Renaissance

By Kenyon Lipson
  • Dec 2, 1202

    Transmission of Greek Text during 4th Crusade

    Opens the door to learning and discovery
  • 1449

    Birth of Lorenzo de’ Medici

    the most powerful and enthusiastic patron of Renaissance culture in Italy.
  • 1455

    Gutenberg prints the first Bible

    produced what is considered to be the first book ever printed: a Latin language Bible, printed in Mainz, Germany.
  • 1473

    Copernicus publishes On the Revolution of the Celestial Spheres

    Copernicus publishes On the Revolution of the Celestial Spheres
    written by Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543) and published just before his death, placed the sun at the center of the universe and argued that the Earth moved across the heavens as one of the planets.
  • 1516

    Thomas More writes Utopia

    Thomas More writes Utopia
    is a work of fiction and socio-political satire by Thomas More (1478–1535) published in 1516 in Latin.
  • 1517

    Martin Luther posts 95 Theses on the door of Castle Church

    Martin Luther posts 95 Theses on the door of Castle Church
    Martin Luther approaches the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and nails a piece of paper to it containing the 95 revolutionary opinions that would begin the Protestant Reformation
  • 1534

    ,King Henry VIII begins Protestant Anglican church

    ,King Henry VIII begins Protestant Anglican church
    Under King Henry VIII in the 16th century, the Church of England broke with Rome, largely because Pope Clement VII refused to grant Henry an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. ... Upon Henry's death, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer began changes that allied the Church of England with the Reformation.
  • 1564

    William Shakespeare is born

    William Shakespeare is born
    William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".

  • Galileo invents a thermometer

    Galileo invents a thermometer
    the thermometer described in this article was not invented by him. Galileo did invent a thermometer, called Galileo's air thermometer (more accurately termed a thermoscope), in or before 1603.

  • Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa

    Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa
    The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci that has been described as "the best known,