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Jul 20, 1304
Petarch
An Italian humanist who was considered the first modern writer and father of humanism. His works mainly focused on an Italian woman named Laura. Petarch's various pieces of poems and literature would help start the philopshy of Humanism, the basis of many other philiosphies including rationalism and skepticism. -
Jan 1, 1400
Humanism
An intellectual movement that commenced during the Renaissance. This philopshy contained the ideas of individualism, live life to the fulliest, and the power of humanity. Humanism would eventually serve as the basis of many other philopshies including rationalism and skepticism. It would also prompt the Reformation shortly after its creation. -
Jan 1, 1439
Printing Press
The Printing Press was created by Johann Gutenberg in 1439. This invention would prove to be one of the most critical in European history. The Printing Press facilated the process of spreading ideas, propaganda, and educational matierals. It greatly impacted virtually every political and social movement since it was created espically the Reformation. Without such an invention, Europe would have little to no since the Middle Ages. -
Nov 10, 1484
Martin Luther
Founder of the Protestant Reformation and Lutheranism. On October 31, 1517 Luther published the 95 Theses effectively starting the call for reform, which included the end of indulgences, salvation through faith alone, and simplicity in the church. The Reformation changed the face of Christianity and Europe indefinitely, it caused the thirty years war and religious division in Europe for centuries. -
Jan 1, 1500
Mercantilism
Economic Philopshy calling for close government regulation of the economy. Mercantilist theory emphasized building a strong, self-sufficent economy based on maximizing exports in order to amass wealth. This economic theory would drive the conquest of colonies and lead to many trade wars due its protectionist economic qualities. This policy would also drive Spain into hyperinflantion and economic downturn which still plagues the country today. -
Oct 31, 1517
The Reformation
Started when Martin Luther wrote and published the 95 Theses in 1517. This was a religous movement that created the Protestant religous subsects. Its main tenents were salvation through faith alone, condemnation of indulgences, and simplicty in the Church. It was sparked by the corruption of the Catholic Church and deviation from the Bible. This would start the Thirty Years War and religous division in Europe for decades however, Protestantism would help foster science and capitalism. -
Apr 24, 1533
Willam of Orange
Leader of the Dutch Revolt against the Spainish during the Eighty Years War. He started to revolt due to the ever so increasing religous persuction and centranlization of government. Because of his leadership he lead the Dutch to several victories against the Spainish, leading to their independence. -
Sep 7, 1533
Elizabeth I
The child of King Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn. Queen of England from 1558 to 1603. She secured England's position as a naval power due to the defeat of the Armada. Elizabeth I also established the 39 Articles, the procedure for how the Anglican Church is runned. This would infurate the Puritans because it failed to accomdate them and eventually lead to the Puritan Reveolution. -
Dec 13, 1545
The Counter Reformation
The Counter of Catholic Reformation was a self-reformation led by the Council of Trent in order to address the issues brought up due to the Protestant Reformation. Decrees were issued to cover every authority of the Catholic Church and to clarify church doctrines. Another reaction that came about was the formation of the Jesuits led by Igantius Loyola, essentially the militant arm of the Catholic Church. Their main goal was to supress and eradicate Protestantism and to spread Catholicism. -
Nov 13, 1553
Henry IV
King of France. He was leader of the Hugenouts and lead them to victory in the Wars' of Religon. In order to become King he revoked his protestant faith and converted to Catholicsm to please the French populace. However this did not change his public policy, he pursued religous toleration and freedom for the Hugenouts through the Edict of Nantes. He was assianated in 1610 -
Charles I
Stuart King of England. Charles acted in an absolutist matter throughout his rule, abolishing parliment multiple times. He attempted to force Scotland to accept a new prayer book causing Parliment to reconvine. However since Parliment did not comply with his agenda, he attempted to arest five MP's. This caused the English Civil War which lead to the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell and his beheading on Tower Hill. -
The Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years war was a conflict caused by deep religous tension between the Catholics and Protestants from 1618 to 1648. This war lead to the destruction of much German land and was the first continent wide war in Europe. The war ended with the Treaty of Westphaila which allowed European states to have Calvinism as a state religon, greatly influencing the spread of Protestantism. -
John Locke
English philosophe during the Enlightenment. Applied the concepts of Newtons natural laws to political theory. Believed in natural rights that were endowed to us by nature not from government. Among these rights were life, liberty, and property. He also believed in the right of resitance/revolt. His works would impact the American revolution and the progression of human rights. -
Louis XIV
Abosultist ruler of France. He evoked the Edict of Nantes effictevly reversing all progress made in religous toleration of the Hugenouts by repealing the Edict of Nantes. He also is known to have greatly reduced the power of the nobility and centeralized government, even as far to the point were he famously declared "The state is me". -
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a conflict promted by the absolusit policies undergone by King Charles I. There were two sides in this war, The Roundheads and the Cavailers, the Roundheads consisted of the Parliment and Puritans who were angry at Charles I for undermining their political power The Cavailers supported the Monarchy. The war ended with a Roundhead vicotry which lead to the establishment of the Commonwealth lead by Oliver Cromwell and the Glorious Revolution. -
The Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth started when Oliver Cromwell and his Rump Parliment abolished the Monarchy and formed one house of Parliment. The Commonwealth was rule by Oliver Cromwell and was charactrized by a strict puritan social policy and a interventionist foriegn policy. This period would end when Oliver's son, Richard failed to keep the Commonwealth together. -
The Enlightenment
A social movement in the 17th and 18th century that emphasized natural law, rationalism, and skepticism. The main contributers to this movement were the Philosphes who preached ideas of natural rights and limited government that serves the people. These ideas would lead to the reign of Enlightened Despots and the French and American Revolutions. -
Lassiez-faire
An economic philosphy that calls for limited government intervention in the economy, a system that directley oppossed Mercantilism. It was influenced by the natural laws of Newton, it stated that the economy worked best when economic natural law remained unhinged. Lassiez-faire was fostered by Adam Smith and the Physiocrats. This economic policy influenced many contriues economic system and still is discussed today as a strong alternative to Corporatism. -
Adam Smith
English economist and philospher. Fostered the economic theory of Lassiez-faire and started the study of economics through his book "Wealth of Nations". Adam Smith's economic ideas would influence the economies of many nations and contribute to the Englightenment idea of limited government. -
Joseph II
Holy Roman Emporer and King of Austria after Maria Thersa. He limited the power of the Catholic Church, ended press censorship, and abolished serfdom in the empire. He gave more tolerance to non-Christian and Protestant religions in his Edict of Toleration. He also praticed judical reform. He was considered an enlightened despot, but mostly used the ideas of the Enlightenment for making the empire more efficient and financially secure.
