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1453
Fall of the Byzantine Empire
The attack on the Byzantine Empire started on April 6, 1453. The Ottomans stormed Constantinople with massive cannons, which led to fighting between the two for two months. Then on May 29, the walls couldn’t withstand it any longer and the Ottoman soldiers were able to march in. Since the Ottomans had control of the territory now, explorers had to find other routes around it which led to major discoveries of new land around the world. -
Period: 1500 to
Witchcraft Trials
Witchcraft trials became a widespread hysteria throughout Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Political tensions had spread, and people needed someone to blame for the economic decline so they blamed witches. People accused of witchcraft would be tortured into confessing and could be killed as a result. It was significant because there were more than a hundred thousand people accused and possible killed because the political and economic situations were declining. -
Period: 1500 to
Expansion of the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman forces went along the African coast and expanded into Europe. When they were expanding, the Hungarians stopped them along the Danube Valley. Under a new ruler, they went up the Danube and conquered Belgrade, defeating the Hungarians at the Battle of Mohacs. In the seventeenth century, the forces were quiet, but in the second half, they were defeated when trying to get Vienna. This was important because it expanded their territories and made them not be a threat to Central Europe. -
1555
Peace of Augsburg
The peace of Augsburg was a temporary settlement that religious differences in the Holy Roman Empire. It provided peace between the Lutherans and Catholics for a short period of time. It increased stability for the time being, so a religious war would not break out. The document, however, did not recognize calvinism, which caused disputes. -
Period: 1562 to
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion were French Civil wars over religion. The Huguenots, a group of French Protestants, were a powerful threat to the Crown. There were Catholics who opposed the Huguenots and could pay for and recruit large armies. For thirty years they had wars, but when the Edict of Nantes was issued, they were resolved. It was important because it solved the religious conflicts. -
England defeats the Spanish Armad
Philip II sent a group of Spanish ships, or an armada, to invade England. This fleet of ships did not have the manpower that he had planned on. They were hoping to be able to overthrow the Queen and Protestantism, but that never happened because the armada was beat up by English ships and destroyed in a storm. This was significant because this let England continue practicing Protestantism and it left King Philip II bankrupt. -
Shakespeare
Shakespeare appeared in London in 1592. He was considered “a complete man of the theater” best known for writing plays, an actor, and shareholder in a successful theater company. He wrote over 150 sonnets and wrote several successful plays. His work still is around today with several movies and other works based off of his original material. His plays have survived many centuries and still are read in schools today including "Romeo and Juliet". -
Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes was issued by Henry IV to solve the religious problem between the Catholics and the Huguenots. This recognized Catholicism was the official religion of France. The Huguenots got the right to worship and enjoy all political privileges like holding public offices. This event was significant because it stopped the fighting between these two groups and allowed both of them to have what they wanted. -
Period: to
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years’ War was called the “last of the religious wars”. It started off religious but then turned political when more countries entered the dispute. The war ended in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia. The peace agreement divided up the Holy Roman Empire into more than 300 states. This was very important because the political power of the Holy Roman Empire was no longer there. -
The Restoration
After Cromwell’s death in 1658, England restored itself to monarchy. The restoration undid the work of the English Revolution, but Parliament still held a lot of power in government. The restoration was important because it completely changed England’s government from a dictatorship to a monarchy. Charles II took on the role of monarch and created disputes with Parliament about new rules created with the restoration. -
Period: to
King Louis XIV- Rule
Louis XIV took to the throne in 1661 when Cardinal Mazarin died. He had a strict routine and he wanted all the authority. He had control of the central policy-making machinery of government and established a court at Versailles. He distracted other nobles so they were more concerned about court life and not politics. He blew his money on palaces, his court, and standing armies for war. His rule was important because he was known as the most absolute ruler. -
The Glorious Revolution
Nobles invited William of Orange to invade England. When he eventually did invade England in 1688, King James II fled to France. When England was taken over by William, it was called the “Glorious Revolution”. This was significant because there was almost no blood that was shed when England was getting invaded. -
Peter the Great's Reign
Peter the Great became czar in 1689. He was an absolute monarch who claimed he had the divine right to rule. He was able to create a strong navy and reorganized his army based on Western customs. He was able to collect more territory throughout his reign and move the capital to St. Petersburg. He was nicknamed “Peter the Great” because he remade Russia a great European nation which all other leaders had failed to do. -
English Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights helped create a system of government based on the rule of law and freely elected Parliament. This was important because it “laid the foundation” for a limited monarchy. It clearly established that the monarchy could not rule without consent of Parliament. It took away absolutism and divided the power up helping ease some of the political tensions. -
King Louis XIV- Death
When Louis XIV died, he left France surrounded by their enemies. On his deathbed, he told his five year old great-grandchild to not do what he did. Rather, live in peace with the nations and strive to relieve the burdens off of his people.
