Transition to modern era

The Black Death

1334

The Black death originated in China in 1334.It traveled through trade routes through Syria, Mesopotamia, and India. Some Mongols used the Black death as biological warfare by catapulting the dead bodies of their infected into Caffa. The infected traders who escaped brought the plague to Europe. In Europe, the Black death killed 1/3-2/3 of the continent's population.

Invention of the printing press

1440

The printing press was invented in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany. The printing press allowed for books to be printed at a much faster rate, meaning the cost of books became much cheaper. As a result, people of all classes, not just the upper class, could afford books, allowing for the spread of literature all across Europe. The creation of the printing press is credited with starting the Manufacturing Era.

Adoration of the Magi

1475

Adoration of the Magi is a painting by Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli, under the patronage of the Medici Family, one of the wealthiest families in Europe at the time. This painting depicts a biblical scene, where the three wise men find the newly born baby Jesus in a stable with Mary and Joseph. Botticelli painted himself into the painting, which was a very common practice at the time, and also some members of the Medici family who sponsored the creation of this painting.

School of Athens

1511

The School of Athens is a fresco painted by Renaissance artist Raphael in 1511. It is a fresco in the four room Stanze de Raphael, which formed part of the residence of former Pontiff Julius II del Rovere, at the Vatican. The School of Athens is not meant to depict an actual academy, but instead is meant to be a representation of Raphael’s ideal gathering of the classical period’s greatest minds. Some people depicted in the fresco are Plato, Aristotle, Archimedes, Ptolemy, and Pythagoras

Luther's 95 Theses

Oct 31, 1517

Luther, a German monk, was outraged at the behavior of the church, who were scamming people and selling indulgences, which claimed they could get them and their dead relatives salvation. To expose the corruption of the church, he tacked up his 95 Theses, a set of arguments against the Catholic church on October 31st, 1517. This caused a continental uproar, and the birth of Protestantism, a new sect of Christianity.

Hernan Cortés

1519

In February, 1519, Hernan Cortés, along with 600 men, 16 horses, and a number of cannons, landed on the coast of Mexico. Even though he was outnumbered by the Aztecs, he led an assault and captured and demolished the capital city of Tenochtitlán in a brutal assault in 1521. Their actions inspire other conquistadors to conquer regions in the Americas.

Anglican church

1534

The church was created under King Henry VIII of England, largely due to the fact that since divorce was strongly frowned upon by the Roman Catholic Church, King Henry would not be allowed to marry Catharine of Aragon.

Heliocentrism theory

1543

Nicolaus Copernicus, a scientist, created the theory of Heliocentrism, meaning the sun is at the center, with the planets revolving around it. He modeled his theories in a published work, which was released in 1543.

Birth of Shakespeare

Apr 23, 1564

Shakespeare was born on April 23rd, 1564, in England, in a place called Stratford-upon-Avon, as the third child to Mary Arden and John Shakespeare, the local Alderman. He had a total of five siblings.

Galileo's telescope

Jan 7, 1610

In 1610, Galileo tested the world’s first modern version of a telescope. It was a simple set of lenses that magnified one’s sight, a revolutionary improvement from the low power spyglass toys he had based it on. He used it to try and prove his theory of Heliocentrism, meaning the sun is at the center, with the planets revolving around it. With the telescope, Galileo was one of the first to observe jupiter’s moons. He also discovered Saturn’s rings, Sunspots, and seeing Venus wax and wane