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1485
Richard lll is killed in battle
Died at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He is the protagonist of Richard III, one of William Shakespeare's history plays. -
1492
Christopher Columbus reaches America
While what he thought he had discovered was a route to the Far East, he is credited with the opening of the Americas for conquest and settlement by Europeans. -
1503
Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa
The painting is thought to be a portrait of Lisa Gherardini.It had been believed to have been painted between 1503 and 1506; however, Leonardo may have continued working on it as late as 1517. -
1516
Thomas More's Utopia is published
Utopia is a work of fiction and socio-political satire by Thomas More (1478–1535) published in Latin. The book is a frame narrative primarily depicting a fictional island society and its religious, social and political customs. Many aspects of More's description of Utopia are reminiscent of life in monasteries. -
1543
With the Supremacy Act, Henry Vll proclaims himself head of Church of England
Henry is best known for his six marriages.His disagreement with the Pope on the question of such an annulment led Henry to initiate the English Reformation, separating the Church of England from papal authority. -
1558
Elizabeth l becomes queen of England
Elizabeth was the last of the five monarchs of the House of Tudor. Her reign became known as the Elizabethan era. The period is famous for the flourishing of English drama. -
1564
William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, is born
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. -
Globe Theatre is built in London
It was built by Shakespeare's playing company and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613. A second Globe Theatre was built on the same site by June 1614. -
Period: to
Shakespeare writes King Lear and Macbeth
King Lear is a tragedy depicting the gradual descent into madness of the title character, after he disposes of his kingdom by giving bequests to two of his three daughters egged on by their continual flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. Macbeth is a tragedy dramatizing the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power for its own sake. -
First permanent English settlement in North America is established at Jamestown, Virginia
It is where the British Empire began. It was established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 4, 1607. It was named after their King, James I. -
Shakespeare's sonnets are published
His sonnets observe the stylistic form of the English sonnet — the rhyme scheme, the 14 lines, and the meter. -
King James Bible is published
An English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England that began in 1604. Includes the 39 books of the Old Testament, an intertestamental section containing 14 books of the Apocrypha, and the 27 books of the New Testament. -
The Mayflower lands at PLymouth Rock, Massachusetts
It transported the first English Puritans, known today as the Pilgrims. They signed the Mayflower Compact prior to leaving the ship. -
Newspapers are first published in London
During the 17th century there were many kinds of news publications and told both the news and rumors.Johann Carolus' Relation published is usually regarded as the first news periodical. -
John Milton begins Paradise Lost
An epic poem in blank verse consisting of ten books with over ten thousand lines of verse. The purpose is to "justify the ways of God to men". -
Puritan Commonwealth ends; monarchy is restored with Charles ll
During the commonwealth period, fighting continued. Charles ll was king of England, Scotland and Ireland from the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 until his death.
