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Sep 1, 1096
The Crusades
Series of holy wars called by popes who promised indulgences for loyalty. Catholics fought the Muslims. Jerusalem, which was a very important place for Christianss and Muslims, was fought over. Each religion wanted the city for themselves. -
Sep 1, 1300
The Renaissance
French for "rebirth", the Renaissance was a great period of time where people valued art and individualism as opposed to purely religous philosophies. It began in Italy, and rose up to nothern Europe. Many admired art works that we still treasure today are from this time period. -
Sep 1, 1337
100 Years War
A war between the English and the French. Was not a continous war, there were times of peace at times of war before and after the 100 years. It was a dispute of Englad's claim of territory. -
Sep 1, 1347
The Black Death begins in Europe
The Black Death (also called the Bubonic Plague) was an epidemic that helped to spur the Renaissance. Millions of Europeans died from the plague. The Black Death came from fleas on rats, which came to Europe via trading ships. Within years Europe was flooded with plagued corpses. The plague cut down a lot of the population and boosted the economy. -
Sep 1, 1368
Ming Dynasty
The rule of China for 276 years that followed the Yuan Dynasty. Social stability and orderly government made the Ming Dynasty one of the greatest eras. The empire's army exeeded one mllion troops and they had one of the largest dockyards for their navy. -
Sep 1, 1431
Joan of Ark
She was a peasant and 19 and said she saw visions from God. She was a symbol for France. Became a saint in 1920. Was burned at the stake for heresy. -
Sep 1, 1455
The Printing Press
Johannes Gutenburg invented the first movable type printing press. This revolutionized the idea of literature and books and made it possible to make hundreds of copies of the same book whithout having to write it yourself. This made books more accessable to common folk and helped to spread ideas. -
Sep 1, 1492
Columbus' First Voyage
In 1492, Christopher Columbus recieved 3 ships the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. He hoped to find a new route to Asia across the Pacific to benefit Spain. He did not land in Asia. Instead, he found the Americas, but he still thought it to be India. Hence the name "Indian" vs. "Native American". He was friendly with the natives he met and even left some of his people there when he left. -
Sep 1, 1498
Da Gama Lands in India
Vasco da Gama was a Porteguese explorer and the first to successfully sail around Africa, reach India, and sail back. This was huge because it was the first route to India via ship. This was huge because now other countries could have access to Asia to trade. -
Sep 1, 1500
Slave Trade Across Atlantic
"Why use Native American for labor when we can use Africans?" Millions of African were traded / captured, shipped to, and sold as slaves in the Americas. The Portuguese were the first to engage in The New World slave trade and others folowed. Slaves were considered cargo and were transported as quickly and cheaply as possible. They were to be sold to labour in tobacco, sugar and cotton plantations, mines, rice fields, construction, and as domestic servants. -
Sep 1, 1501
Safavid Empire
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Sep 1, 1502
Naming of the New World
The Americas were named after Amerigo Vespucci. He was an Italian explorer, and the first person to realize that this was "not Asia". He did not name the Americas after hismelf. A mapmaker named the continent after him, deriving the name from it's latin root "Americanus", but made it an effeminate "America". -
Sep 1, 1503
Mona Lisa
Painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, the Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Da Vinci is also one of the most famous artists in the world! The painting is described as detailed yet ambiguous. Today, the painting resides in a museum in France. -
Sep 1, 1508
The Sistine Chapel
Michelangelo was a sculptor. painter, and a poet who greatly impacted the Rennaissance with his art. He painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for years, upside down. The various paintings depicts stories from the catholic bible. -
Oct 31, 1517
The 95 Theses
Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Catholic Church. In it, Luther spoke of how some of the things the church was doing was wrong. He wasn't trying to oppose the church, as it was more directed towards the people. He wanted the church to sell their belongings and focus on the work of their god. -
Sep 1, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan
Sailing in hopes to find the East Indes, Magellan had a real difficult time in his trip. He left Portugal with 5 ships and 250 men. After many "not East Indes" he came across native who speared him to death. In the end, there were only 18 of the original crew who made it back to Portugal. But hey! He was the first to circumnavigate the world! So, good for him. -
Sep 1, 1526
Mughal Empire
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Sep 1, 1533
Invasion of the Inca Empire
Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, invaded Peru 10 years of the conquest of the Aztecs. He came for the Inca silver, and brought smallpox with him, which weakened the Incas. The Incan emperor, Atahualpa, met with Pizarro to speak with him. Pizarro demanded that Atahualpa hand over the Empire and accept Christianity. When the emperor refused, he was killed. Thus, Pizarro conquered the Incas. -
Sep 1, 1534
The Anglican Church
King Henry VIII went to Pope Clement VII to annul his marriage to his first wife, Catherine. She was not having any male children so he wanted a new wife. The pope refused. So the King turned away from the Roman Catholic Church and started the Anglican Church. -
Sep 1, 1543
The Heliocentric Theory
The Heliocentric theory is the idea that the planets revolve around the sun. The idea was first presented in the 3rd century but was opposed by the idea that the Earth was the center. It wasn't until Copernicus revived the idea with a fully redictive mathematical model that it became more popular. -
Sep 1, 1545
The Council of Trent
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Sep 1, 1556
Philip II of Spain
During his reign, Spain reached the height of it's influence and power. Countries under his command were, Spain, Portugal, half Italy and Netherlands in Europe, different cities and ports in North Africa, from Patagonia to Colorado in America and Philipine Islands (which were named after him). His father before him left Spain in an econoomical disaster that led Spain to numerous bankruptsies. -
The Founding of Jamestown
The first colony established by the English in the New World was Jamestown. Things started off well but ended badly. The settlers did not land in the most oopurtune of spots and in a terrible season nonetheless. [Un]fortunately, many of the settlers turned to cannibalism to survive. -
Louis XIV becomes the King of France
Also knonn as "the Sun King", he became king at a young age and was taught all the skills a king would need from childhood. He began the tradition of an absolute monarchy. He demanded to be in charge of the military, all political and economic activities. -
Peter the Great Becomes Czar
He transformed Russia in a modern state and was an absolute monarch. Peter I led a cultural revolution in Russia and replaced the traditional political and social system based on The Enlightenement. He had two wives and fourteen children. Only three survived until adulthood. -
The French Revolution
This period of time marked the rise of democracry and political upheaval in France. Abolishing the French monarchy, and creating conflict with other European countries. The revolution spurred the rise of Napoleon. -
Napoleon Becomes Emperor
Napoleon Bonaparte was Emporer of the French. He won a majority of the battles he fought in the French Revolution, and controled most of continental Europe. The Pennisular War and the French invasion of Russia were two of his biggest defeats. He is known as one of the greatest commanders in history. -
Battle of Waterloo
The defeat of the French military leader Napoleon took place in Belium at the Battle of Waterloo. His forces were defeated by the British and the Prussians. Napoleon was abdicated after the battle.
