-
The Renaissance was a time when people in Europe started thinking about art, science, and their place in the world in new ways. It began in Italy and spread across Europe, changing the way people thought about life and learning.
-
During this time, European nations sent explorers around the world to find new trade routes and territories. It was a time of great change, as the world started to become more connected.
-
Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press, which made it easier to share books and ideas. This helped spread the ideas of the Renaissance and Reformation to more people. -
The Ottoman Empire captured the city of Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire and changing the balance of power in Europe and the Middle East. -
Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic and reached the Americas. His journey opened the door for European countries to colonize the New World. -
The Columbian Exchange was a massive trade of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds. This exchange had a huge impact on societies across the globe.
-
Spain and Portugal agreed to divide the world between them to avoid fighting over newly discovered lands. This shaped how Europe controlled much of the world.
-
Vasco da Gama sailed around Africa to reach India, opening up a sea route that brought huge wealth and power to Portugal. -
Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, one of the most famous paintings ever. It showed the focus on realistic art that became a key part of the Renaissance. -
Michelangelo’s work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling in Vatican City is one of the most famous artworks of the Renaissance, showing the church’s importance and the skill of Renaissance artists. -
Ponce de León was one of the first Europeans to explore what is now Florida, searching for the Fountain of Youth and claiming land for Spain.
-
Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on a church door, challenging the Catholic Church’s practices. This sparked the Protestant Reformation and led to huge changes in Christianity. -
Magellan’s expedition was the first to sail all the way around the world, proving that the Earth was much bigger than anyone had thought. -
Hernán Cortés led the Spanish forces that defeated the Aztec Empire, opening up Mexico to Spanish colonization. -
Nicolaus Copernicus changed how people viewed the universe by claiming that the Earth revolved around the Sun, not the other way around. This idea shook up science and religion.
-
The Catholic Church held the Council of Trent to address the issues raised by the Reformation. They clarified their teachings and tried to bring people back to Catholicism.
-
Spain sent a huge fleet to invade England, but it was defeated. This marked the end of Spain’s dominance at sea and helped England rise as a global power. -
A time when the world saw the emergence of the “Absolute Monarch”, which is a king or queen who has complete control over a country. This time period was preceded by the Age of Exploration and will fade with the Enlightenment, ending with the Age of Revolutions.
-
William Shakespeare began writing his famous plays, changing English literature forever. His works explored human nature and were a big part of the Renaissance’s focus on individualism. -
The Edict of Nantes allowed French Protestants to practice their religion without fear of being persecuted. This helped end religious violence in France for a time.
-
New ideas in science, like the theories of Galileo and Newton, changed how people thought about the universe and the natural world.
-
The English founded Jamestown, their first permanent settlement in North America. This marked the beginning of English colonization in the Americas.
-
This war started as a religious conflict but turned into a struggle for political control in Europe. It caused massive destruction and changed the map of Europe.
-
King Charles I and Parliament fought for control of England, leading to the king’s execution and the temporary end of the monarchy.
-
The Fronde were a series of uprisings in France against the monarchy. These events influenced Louis XIV’s belief in strong, absolute rule.
-
Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles as a symbol of his absolute power, making it the center of French political life.
-
The Glorious Revolution led to the overthrow of King James II of England and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy under William and Mary. -
Louis XIV, the "Sun King," ruled France for over 70 years, making France the most powerful country in Europe. His reign is a key example of absolute monarchy. -
Peter the Great worked to modernize Russia, bringing in new technologies, ideas, and styles from Europe to strengthen the country.