-
Apr 15, 1452
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was a major influence on the Renaissance period. His art, inventions, and scientific discoveries helped to usher in a new era of creativity and innovation. He also helped to spread new ideas and philosophies, inspiring artists, thinkers, and scientists across Europe. His work helped to bridge the gap between the ancient and modern worlds, playing a vital role in the development of European culture and society. -
May 29, 1453
Fall of Constantinople
The capture of the capital of Byzantine Empire by the Ottoman Empire which marked the end of the Middle Ages. This whole event really marked a new cultural shift of the age to come with the gunpowder and maritime empires to follow. -
1455
European Printing Press
The European Printing Press was a major breakthrough in the history of communication and exchange. It allowed for the mass production of books, which helped to spread knowledge and ideas across Europe and beyond. It also helped to foster increased literacy, allowing people to access new ideas and philosophies. By making information more widely available, it helped to create a more interconnected and globalized world, connecting people from different regions and cultures. -
May 3, 1459
Niccolò Machiavelli
He was an Italian historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist and writer. He was also often been called the father of modern political philosophy and political science. -
Feb 19, 1473
Nicolaus Copernicus
A Renaissance polymath, who formulated the model that the center of the universe was the Sun and not the Earth. His works on that model were published just before his death. -
Oct 12, 1492
Colombian Exchange
The Colombian Exchange was a swapping of New and Old World germs, animals, plants, peoples, and cultures. This had major consequences on both cultures in the years to come leaving a lasting effect seen to this day. -
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
He was a explorer, navigator, and colonizer. His arrival to the new world came the arrival of European culture and people to the Americas. The arrival also added the Americas to the world movement towards globalization, developing cultures/colonies in the Americas. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
A treaty that divided the New World into two with a line drawn North to South over Eastern Brazil affecting the 50 million people already living in established communities. This separation has caused cultural differences throughout Latin America such as how all Latin American nations are predominantly Spanish-speaking countries except Brazil which speaks Portuguese. -
May 20, 1498
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama's discovery of a sea route to India was a major milestone in the history of global exploration and trade. It opened up new pathways of exchange between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, allowing for the spread of goods, ideas, and cultures. It also helped to foster increased economic and political integration, laying the foundations for a more interconnected world. -
1501
Safavid Empire
The Safavid Empire was a major political and cultural force in the Middle East and beyond. It was famous for its patronage of the arts, religious tolerance, and its championing of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of the state. It was also a major hub of trade and exchange between the East and the West, helping to spread ideas, goods, and culture around the world. -
Aug 23, 1514
Battle of Chaldiran
An important battle where the Ottoman Empire had a deceive win over the Safavids of Iran. It was important because it determined the borders and demographics of the Persian Safavid Empire and the Turkish Ottoman Empire -
Oct 31, 1517
Lutheranism
The creation of Lutheranism led to it becoming one of the largest branches of Protestantism. It was a growing culture originating from German monk Martin Luther. -
Aug 13, 1521
Destruction of Tenochtitlán
A decisive battle in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The fall of Tenochtitlán led to a massive cultural shift from the old Aztec to the new Spanish culture ruling the area. -
1526
Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic slave trade was a brutal process that led to the mass displacement of Africans and hardships that lasted generations. Many Africans in the trade initially died on the way to the Americas but the ones that survived were forced into slavery and their descendants as well. The newly brought Africans developed their own culture and way of life compared to the European colonizers. -
1533
Ivan the Terrible
Tsar Ivan the Terrible's rule over Russia had a major influence on the country's history and development. He expanded the borders of the Russian Empire, bringing new lands and cultures under its control. His reforms also helped to modernize and Westernize Russia, laying the groundwork for a more powerful and influential nation on the world stage. Lastly, he introduced new centralized laws and administrative systems, helping to create a stronger, more unified, and more prosperous country. -
1534
The Church Of England
The Church of England was an important religious and cultural force in Europe and beyond. It helped to spread the ideas of Protestantism and religious freedom, challenging traditional beliefs and fostering greater understanding and tolerance. It also served as a major political power, influencing the laws and government of England and its colonies. The Church was a major hub of trade and exchange, helping to spread goods, ideas, and cultures around the world. -
Aug 27, 1540
Founding of the Jesuits
The Jesuits or Society of Jesus' are a religious order founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola. They played a leading role in the Counter-Reformation against the growing Protestant movement. The order was dedicated to the education and spread of Catholicism in other cultures throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Europe. -
1543
Scientific Revolution
The Scientific Revolution was a major turning point in the history of human understanding. It saw the emergence of new scientific theories and methods, which helped to challenge traditional beliefs and open up new ways of thinking. It also led to advances in medicine, agriculture, and technology, helping to improve the quality of life for people around the world. It helped to create a more interconnected and globalized world, fostering increased exchange of ideas and cultures. -
1557
Creation of Macau Trading Post in East Asia
The Portuguese taking of Macau was a key event in the history of global interaction and development. It enabled the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture between Europe and East Asia, creating a more interconnected world. It also served as a gateway for the spread of Christianity and helped to foster greater understanding and tolerance between cultures. Finally, it helped create an environment of increased economic and political integration, paving the way for a more globalized world. -
East India Company
A joint stock company and was originally formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region. The company would later on took control over parts of India and set up colonies in parts of of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. This colonization left a lasting cultural impact trying to monopolize trade in the region. The company as well had global trade impact further showing cultural impact across the world. -
Jamestown
The settlement was the first one by the British. The new colony was forced to interact with new cultures such as the Native Americans in the area. They developed their own culture similar but different to the one back in Britain. -
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was a major conflict that stretched across Europe and lasted from 1618 to 1648. It saw the rise of powerful nation-states, the spread of new ideas, and the development of new military tactics and strategies. It also had far-reaching political, religious, and economic consequences, including the weakening of the Holy Roman Empire, the spread of religious toleration, and an increase in trade and economic integration. -
Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton's discoveries in mathematics, physics, and astronomy revolutionized our understanding of the universe. His laws of motion and theories of gravity laid the groundwork for the development of modern physics and engineering. His work also inspired generations of scientists and mathematicians to pursue their own groundbreaking research. Newton's contributions to science and mathematics remain a cornerstone of modern thought. -
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of treaties signed in 1648 that ended the Thirty Years' War and greatly reduced the power of the Holy Roman Empire. It also established the principle of religious freedom, allowing individuals to practice their faith without fear of persecution. Moreover, it established the concept of the nation-state, a governing system that has remained in place to the present day. -
The Enlightenment
Range of ideas centered around the value of the pursuit of knowledge obtained by means of reason, the evidence of the senses, and human happiness. It is a massive cultural influence globally and has lasting effects. -