the renaissance

competition for the doors of the Baptistery of Florence

1401

Many artists attended the contest, but seven made it to the final. Among them, Brunelleschi and Ghiberti, who was the winner. Florence gained an artist and Rome an architect, since Brunelleschi did not sculpt again.

invention of the printing press

1450

Gutenberg began his experiments with printing around the 1440s and managed to establish his printing company in Mainz in 1450. Gutenberg's printing press used Gothic calligraphy. Each letter was made from a metal block, engraved in a copper mold that was then filled with molten metal.

beginning of Protestantism

1518

According to tradition, on October 31, 1517, Luther nailed the ninety-five theses to the portal of the Wittenberg castle church, opposing the sale of indulgences. This date conventionally marks the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.