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1347
The Black Death Hit Europe
The Black Death was a pandemic that spread all throughout Europe in the 14th Century. It infested ⅓ - ⅔ of Europe’s population with the bacteria Yersinia pestis, killing it’s victims in a span of 2-3 days. From this devastating disease came the fall of Feudalism, which was the dominant social order of the time. Its destruction initiated the emergence of the middle class, hence beginning a new age of rebirth, or the Renaissance. -
1439
The Invention of the Printing Press
The Printing Press is a machine invented by Johannes Gutenberg that utilizes metal letters to achieve a process called "movable print", allowing workers to make several copies of passages as opposed to hand writing one by one. This technological advancement is one of the most influential advancements to exist. Not only did the printing press allow for the rapid spread of information throughout entire continents, but it made literature more accessible to all, increasing the world's literacy rate. -
1497
Hans Holbein
Hans Holbein was a painter who lived in Germany from 1497 to 1543. He painted during the Northern Renaissance, and produced artwork in the form of portraits, religious paintings, and propaganda. Hans painted the average person, and didn't just depict royalty like the majority of artists. He began to show the population that normal people mattered, and was able to use his talent to preach this message to the world. -
1503
Mona Lisa
"Mona Lisa" is an extremely famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, created over the course of four years. It depicts a smiling by woman, and a landscape. One of the things that made Da Vinci's painting so influential was the use of a new painting technique, called "Sfumato". This technique broke from the regular technique of the time: painting with outlines. Not only did Da Vinci paint without outlines, but he used shading to create a smoky look, revolutionizing the world's artistic techniques. -
1509
School of Athens
"School of Athens" is a fresco by Raphael in the Vatican. This beautiful illustration depicts several of the world's greatest scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians under "one roof". Raphael's use of perspective, and foreshortening (making certain body parts larger to seem closer to the viewer) in this piece introduced his various techniques to the world. It advanced many artists' styles for the better, simultaneously modernizing the way art was created, and produced. -
1517
Luther's 95 Theses
In 1517, a German monk named Martin Luther started to sense corruption in the Church. He decided to write and post opinions called the "95 Theses", stating 95 problems Luther had with the church. After its publication, the collection of writings prompted many people to negatively look at the church, and started the revolution of questioning authority. Luther had no idea of what would happen after spreading his work, but he ended up initiating the Protestant Reformation. -
Sep 20, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan's Travels
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer that hoped to find a new route to the spice islands, certain that he could get there by going west around South Africa, instead of going around Africa. He convinced King Charles I from Spain to fund his trip, and he set sail in 1519. After searching, he and his crew finally found passage in Argentina, which is now called the Strait of Magellan, and is used by travelers everywhere. His adventure circumnavigated the globe, reforming nautical travel. -
Galileo's Telescope
Though Galileo didn't invent it, the telescope was mainly developed by him. His goal was to use this device to look into the sky, and find evidence for his theory that the Earth revolved around the Sun, and not vice versa. After much trial and error, Galileo finished this invention in 1608, and used it to unlock many secrets about the solar system. His findings using the telescope changed science forever, and standardized the heliocentric theory (proving the geocentric theory incorrect). -
The Publishing of Galileo's Book
In 1620, Galileo published his book "Sidereus Nuncius", or Starry Messenger, in Venice. This is one of the works he published, equally explaining his ideas (heliocentric theory), and the Church's ideas (geocentric theory). This publication opened the eye's of Europe, quickly becoming a best seller. He further developed the trend of standing up to authority, and he was one of the first to provide substantial evidence against the church, and not just state opinions (like Luther). -
Shakespeare's First Folio
In 1623, Shakespeare published a collection of his finest works, or his "first folio". Many people were unsure of if the work would sell or not, because people had taken a liking to seeing his plays live. The decision to publish his work paid off, as they soon became very popular, and a sign of wealth to own. His publication preserved a lot of his work, simultaneously advancing modern literature drastically, and becoming a staple piece in the modern English classroom.
