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1347
Black Death Hits Europe
The Black Death was a deadly pandemic that spread quickly and killed ⅓ of Europe. The start of it in Europe was a very major event because it changed Europe a lot by reducing the population and altering society. -
1440
Printing Press Invented in Europe
The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg. It was a machine that could help people print and copy writing much faster than by hand. This invention is important because it led to availability of books/texts and let people spread their own books easily. -
1502
Creation of Young Hare
Young Hare is a painting by Albrecht Durer that shows a rabbit painted with watercolor and body color. It’s important because it’s very detailed and lifelike, and prior to its creation people were against painting animals. -
1502
Amerigo Vespucci Arrives at America
Around this time, Amerigo Vespucci landed in the Americas. Unlike Columbus, he realized that the new land he was on wasn’t Asia and was its own place. This is important because it helped speed up exploration of the Americas and informed people more about them. -
1503
Creation of Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci that depicts a woman with a half-smile. It’s important because it’s a very well known, famous, and beautiful painting. -
1517
Luther's 95 Theses
The 95 Theses by Martin Luther were writings that criticized some unfair practices of the Church like indulgences. This is important because it’s an example of someone advocating for justice against a greater power, like the Church or a government, while using technology to spread their message. This has become more common with the rise in technology use. -
1543
Copernicus's Last Book Appeared in Print
Copernicus’s final book, “Six Books Concerning the Revolutions of the Heavenly Orbs”, appeared in print the same year as Copernicus’s death. It’s a book that describes the final version of his theories. This is important because Copernicus spread his ideas to the world with the printing press, and without them publicized, Galileo and other thinkers may have never been inspired by him to think unlike the Church. -
1545
Start of Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was a meeting of Church officials to refine the practices of the Church. It was important because it helped reform the Church and make it harder to bend the rules and be unjust. -
Galileo's Telescope is Invented
After hearing about someone inventing a telescope, Galileo made his own and improved on it so he could study the sky and find evidence to prove his theories. It’s important because it was the first time people could study astronomy with a tool that could help see space. This made it easier to discover more about the universe. -
Shakespeare's Last Play
Shakespeare collaborated on his last play, The Two Noble Kinsmen, with John Fletcher. It’s important because it was the final major writing of a great writer in the Renaissance.
