West and the World

Bubonic Plague Begins

Jan 1, 1347

The Bubonic Plague resulted in Europes worst human disaster in history, destroying a third of its population. It originated in China, then spread throughout Italy and the rest of Europe. The victims had a 50/50 chance, and the disease was transmitted from person to person or by the bites of fleas.

Renaissance Begins

Jan 1, 1350

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that originated in Italy and spanned the era of the 14th throughout the 17th century. It is widely regarded for its literature and art, the culture and style of art and architecture was developed during this era. It is the transformation of turning the medievel world into the modern world.

Brunelleschi creates Linear Perspective

Jan 1, 1413

Brunelleschi was the first to carry out a series of optical experiments that led to the mathematical theory of perspective. Linear perspective spread throughout western Europe, and quickly became standard studio practice up to and including present time.

Joan Arc and the Siege of Orleans

Jan 1, 1429

The Siege of Orleans marketed a turning point in the hundred year war between France and England. This was Joan Arc's first military victory and first major French succes after the crushing they got at Agincourt in 1415.

Johann Gutenburg invents the printing press

Jan 1, 1439

Johann Gutenburg was a German goldsmith and inventor best known for his invention of the Gutenberg print press, an innovate printing mashine that used movable type.

Cosimo de Medici dies

Aug 1, 1464

Italien financier and statesman and friend of the papel court. Medici was the first of the Medici political dynsaty, da facto rulers of Florence during much of the Italien Renassaince

Spanish Inquisition Begins

Sep 27, 1478

The Spanish Inquisition was a tribunal established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabell I of Castile. It was intended to maintain catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and replace medievil Inquisition which was under Papel control.

Sandro Botticelli paints Birth of Venus

Jan 1, 1486

The painting depects the goddes Venus, emerging from the sea as a fully grown woman.

Sandro Botticelli paints Birth of Venus

Jan 1, 1486

The Birth of Venus depicts the goddess Venus, having emerged from the sea as a fully grown woman, arriving at the sea-shore

Christopher Columbus discovers the Americas

Oct 12, 1492

Though Columbus was not the first European explorer to reach the Americas (having been preceded by the Norse expedition led by Leif Ericson), Columbus' voyages led to the first lasting European contact with America, inaugurating a period of European exploration and colonization of foreign lands that lasted for several centuries.

da Vinci paints The Last Supper

Jan 1, 1495

The last supper represents the scene of The Last Supper from the final days of Jesus as it is told in the Gospel of John 13:21, when Jesus announces that one of his Twelve Apostles would betray him

Rapheal paints The School of Athens

Jan 1, 1510

The School of Athens depicts a gathering of ancient philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras. This work illustrates the revival of classical thought, especially pertaining to harmony and order, during the Italian Renaissance.

Michelangelo paints the Sistine Chapel

Jan 1, 1512

Commissioned by Pope Julius II, it is a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art. The ceiling is that of the large Papal Chapel built within the Vatican. It depicts nine scenes from the book genesis.

Machiavelli writes the Prince

Jan 1, 1514

Machiavelli is most famous for a short political treatise, The Prince, written in 1513 but not published until 1532, five years after his death. Although he privately circulated The Prince among friends, the only theoretical work to be printed in his lifetime was The Art of War, about military science

Thomas More Utopia

Jan 1, 1514

Utopia is a name he gave to the ideal and imaginary island nation, the political system of which he described in Utopia published in 1516. He opposed the king's separation from the Catholic Church and refused to accept the king as Supreme Head of the Church of England.

Martin Luther 95 Theses

Jan 1, 1517

The 95 theses were writtin in 1517 by Martin Luther and was widely regarded as the primary means for the Protestant Reformation. Luther used these theses thesis to display his unhappiness with the churches sale of indulgences, and this eventually gave birth to Protanstism.

Start of the European Wars of Religion

Jan 1, 1524

The European wars of religion were a series of wars waged in Europe from ca. 1524 to 1648, following the onset of the Protestant Reformation in Western and Northern Europe. Although sometimes unconnected, all of these wars were strongly influenced by the religious change of the period, and the conflict and rivalry that it produced

Ivan the Terrible is Born

Aug 25, 1530

Ivan the teriible was the great Prince of Moscow from 1533 until his death. His reign saw the conquest of many states, transforming Russia into a multiethnic and multiconfessional state spanning almost one billion acres. Ivan managed countless changes in the progression from a medieval state to an empire and emerging regional power, and became the first ruler to be crowned as Tsar of All Russia.

Henry VIII of England is excommunicated

Jul 11, 1533

Henry got excommunicated because he wanted to divorce Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn.

Jesuit Order founded

Aug 15, 1534

Roman Catholic order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1534 to defend Catholicism against the Reformation and to do missionary work among the heathen.

Desiderius Erasmus dies

Jul 12, 1536

Desiderius Erasmus was a Dutch humanist and theologian who was the leading Renaissance schooler leader of Northern Europe. Although his criticsm of the Roman Catholic Church led to reformation, he himself oppsed violence and condamned Martin Luther.

Scientific Revolution/Copernicus

Jan 1, 1543

The scientific revolution/copernicus occured during the 16th and 17th centuries during which new ideas and knowledge in physics, astronomy, biology, medicine and chemistry transformed medieval and ancient views of nature and laid the new foundations for modern science.

Spain Declares Bankrupcty for the first time

Jan 1, 1557

In 1557 king Philip II of Spain declard Spain as bankrupt. The blame was that the country became dependent on the revenues flowing in from the mercantile empire in the Americas which led to overwhelming military costs that Spain couldnt soppurt Philips plans.

Corination of Queen Elizabeth I

Jan 15, 1559

Queen Elizabeth I of England was corinated on January 15 , 1559 at the age of 1. She was in Monarch from that day until her death on March 24, 1603. She was the fifth and last of the monarch of dynasty.

Saint Bartholomew's Massacre

Aug 23, 1572

The murder of Huguenots in Paris that began on Aug. 23, 1572 on the orders of Charles IX, acting under the influence of his mother Catherine de' Medici

Edict of Nantes

Apr 13, 1598

The Edict of Nantes was a law that granted considerable religouis and civil liberty to the hugoenots introduced by Henry IV of France. The aim was to promote more civil unity. It marks the end of French religious wars during the second half of the 16th century.