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1440
Creation of the Printing Press
Johann Gutenberg created the printing press, with the first book printed being the Bible. The printing press would have been used by Martin Luther to spread his works, along with other events. -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus Discovers the New World
Christopher Columbus, on a voyage to find the East Indies, makes landfall in the New World. This opened the door for future explorations to this unknown area. -
Oct 31, 1517
95 Theses
Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenburg Castle Church. These 95 Theses emphasized that the sale of indulgences is corrupt and the Bible is the ultimate authority. -
Apr 17, 1521
Diet of Worms
Martin Luther was called to the Diet of Worms for a hearing. Upon his refusal to recant, Luther was placed in hiding for 9 months in a castle and Luther was declared a heretic. -
Creation of the Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes granted religious freedom to the Protestant Huguenots of France. It was later revoked by King Louis XIV -
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English Civil War
The English Civil War started when disputes between Charles I and Parliament reached a boiling point. Each gathered an army, with Charles I's being called the Cavaliers and Parliament the Roundheads. After 4 years of fighting, Oliver Cromwell and the Roundheads defeated the Cavaliers and Charles I was put on trial and executed in 1649. Cromwell later established himself as Lord Protector of England. -
Louis XIV Revokes the Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes granted religious freedom to the Protestant Huguenots. Louis XIV, a Catholic, revoked the Edict and the religious freedom of the Huguenots -
Glorious Revolution
In 1685, James II, an absolutist just like Charles I, came to power and claimed that he had the right to ignore all Parliament laws. This angered Parliament and James II fled to exile when William of Orange arrived with a Dutch army. William and his wife Mary were named co-rulers and signed the English Bill of Rights. This bloodless transfer of power is called the Glorious Revolution -
American Revolution
As the Intolerable Acts were passed, several colonial delegates voiced their complaints against the Acts and the British crown. On this day, Congress voted to create the Declaration of Independence, breaking away from British rule. -
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French Revolution
During the French Revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was created and signed by the National Assembly. The Reign of Terror was another significant period of the Revolution, with mass executions of those suspected of being disloyal. The Revolution ultimately ended when Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup d'etat and created the Consulate. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was called into session to restore peace to Europe after the events of Napoleon. Three main characteristics were Balance of Power, Legitimacy, and Compensation. -
Treaty of Nanjing
The Treaty of Nanjing concluded the Opium War. The terms of this treaty were that Britain gets the island of Hong Kong, British could trade with all Chinese merchants, merchants could live anywhere, and extraterritoriality. -
Matthew Perry Opening Japan to Trade
Matthew Perry was sent to Japan by president Millard Filmore to negotiate a treaty with Japan that would open trade. He arrived with heavily armed warships and promised to return in one year. Upon his return, Japan signed the Treaty of Kanagawa, granting trade with the United States. -
Unification of Germany
Otto van Bismarck, chancellor of Prussia, fought to unify Germany and get territory against Denmark, Austria, and France. He proclaimed that Germany was unified at the Palace at Versailles in France after the Franco-Prussian War.
