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Period: Jan 1, 1300 to Oct 31, 1517
Renaissance
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Jul 20, 1304
Petrarch (I)
Birth of Petrarch.
Petrarch changed the way language was viewed. He founded philology, the study of linguistic/literary phenomena, so many sonnets in the same style to a lover that he created his own type of sonnet. Overall, he's considered the "Father of Humanism" as he sought to remove all limitations on his writing or his ability. -
Jun 15, 1349
Black Death (S)
Peak of the Bubonic Plague.
Not only did the Black Death negatively affect population sizes and thus politics and economics, it also caused a distrust of the RCC that led to the Renaissance. More and more people began to accept humanism, as they had once believed the RCC could do anything (the RCC practically claimed to be able to) and had now been naturally disappointed. -
Mar 25, 1409
Council of Pisa (R)
The council of Pisa was a lackluster movement to remove the schism created by the Avignon Papacy. As a result, there were actually three popes officially recognized. These schisms really affected the people's views of the RCC. "Who do we follow?" "If the RCC is so perfect, why is it confused?" It led to a more careful view of religion and helped open the door to the Reformation. -
Jan 1, 1440
Printing Press (T)
The advent of the printing press was probably the technological advancement most influential on the Reformation. It allowed for mass publication of humanist, and later Protestant, works. It was actually banned in several places by Catholic kings in an attempt to control the Reformation spread. -
Oct 28, 1466
Erasmus (R)
Birth of Erasmus.
Erasmus was one of the main figures of the Northern Renaissance. His book "The Praise of Folly" presented a satirical critique on the doctrines and practices of the RCC. It was used as a catalyst for the Reformation, and as part of the Renaissance, expressed the overall feeling of the people after the Plague toward the RCC on a social level. -
Feb 7, 1478
Sir Thomas More
Although he opposed the Reformation and was executed by Henry VIII, this humanist Renaissance man was a dear friend of Erasmus, as his critique of man's attempt at perfection in writing "Utopia" about a perfect world that doesn't (cannot) exist was influential on the Northern Renaissance. -
Feb 24, 1486
Oration on the Dignity of Man
Work of Mirandola.
An intellectual proclamation on humanism and man's responsibility to advance himself, the "Oration" was a successful attempt to explain humanism both in general and from the Christian standpoint. It has been labeled the "Manifesto of the Renaissance." It added to this idea of free-thinking individuals, including those who would contribute to the Reformation. -
Oct 31, 1517
Ninety-Five Theses (R)
(Cause) Start of Reformation.
Martin Luther publicized his disagreements with the RCC, spec. their indulgences, and sparked the religious movement that turned away from the established church. -
Period: Oct 31, 1517 to Sep 25, 1555
Reformation
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Jun 28, 1519
Charles V (P, R, E)
(Cause & Consequence) Coronation as HREmperor.
P- owned most of Europe and the seas. Other nations hated/feared him and could not compete, so France & HRE states rose up against him on Protestant basis.
R- Fought the Reformation (called Diet of Worms, reconverted HRE princes at Council of Trent, outlawed L of S).
E- owned Americas during conquest and colonization of S America and the Philippines. Thus, Spain had plenty of revenue to wage war on the Reformers. -
May 15, 1521
Diet of Worms (R)
(Cause) Issue of the Edict of Worms.
The Diet of Worms, in which Martin Luther was called to renounce or reaffirm his faith, led to Luther's being hidden for his safety by Frederick III of Saxony. While in Wartburg, Luther began translating the German Bible. Also, George of Brandenburg was converted by the influence of Luther's performance at the Diet. The Edict of Worms led to increased martyrdom of Protestants in S HRE, which was further divided. Overall, it only furthered the movement. -
Mar 1, 1525
German Peasants' War (S)
(Consequence)
Peasants in Germany basically saw the Reformation as an opportunity and (lame) excuse to rise up against perceived social injustice. When all was said and done, social change did not happen, "strangely enough." However, the war did lead to the Anabaptist movement, which frustrated even the Reformers, as it was schizophrenic and inconsistent. It wasn't included in the Peace of Augsburg or Westphalia, but rather condemned even by men like Luther. -
Sep 20, 1529
Siege of Vienna (P)
Reaching Vienna.
Ottoman Emperor Suleiman's campaign through Europe culminating, and ending, in the siege of Vienna obviously scared Europe. Before, the most experience Europeans had had with Muslims was the Crusades, the SPANISH problems (Reconquista), and the Ottoman control of the Red Sea. Now, the Muslims were on Western Europe's doorstep. This led people to lessen their grip on the RCC's power in exchange for their respective political leaders. -
Sep 25, 1555
Peace of Augsburg (P, R)
(Consequence)
Charles V was forced to accept an end to his resistance of the spread of Lutheranism in the HRE. The Peace of Augsburg allowed for popular sovereignty in the HRE (each state could choose its official religion) but not for freedom of religion (Catholics in Lutheran states had to move). It was mountain-moving for Protestants, and led to the 30 Years' War. -
Period: Jul 10, 1559 to
Rise of Nation-States
(Consequence) Death of Henri II of France.
After over 40 years of the Reformation, people began associating less and less with the unifying force of the RCC and the pope and more and more with their respective nations and monarchs. International affairs, starting with wars became about politics, with religion thrown in. -
Dec 4, 1563
Council of Trent (R)
(Consequence)
RCC council that clarified RCC doctrine and declared Protestants as heretics. Sparked the Counter Reformation and the creation of the Jesuits. -
Period: Jan 1, 1568 to
French Civil War
(Consequence)
Though mostly a family feud for the throne, the French Civil War was also a result of Calvinist integration into S France. The Bourbons who won the war and placed Henri IV as king were Calvinist, and the Guises who lost were Catholic. -
Period: Jan 1, 1568 to
Dutch Revolt
(Consequence)
Calvinism had seeped into the Netherlands, and Charles V had left them alone, but when Ferdinand II took control, he brought the Spanish Inquisition to their home. They got angry, revolted against him and his church, so he sent the Duke of Alba to bring them to a lurch. Then William of Orange in England arose, came to help his Protestant bros. It ended with the end of the Spanish Armada, and everyone drank a nice limonada. -
Edict of Nantes (P, R)
(Consequence)
Ending the French Civil War, the Edict allowed for freedom of worship for Lutherans and Calvinists (Huguenots). Henri IV, who issued it, converted to Catholicism as a strictly political move, further showing the move toward nation-state resulting from the Reformation. -
Period: to
30 Years' War
(Consequence)
Basically, the culmination of all previous conflicts. France, Spain, England, Denmark, and Sweden were involved and it started with Ferdinand II inheriting the HRE. Many HRE states were Lutheran, so they didn't want a Catholic for emperor. He sent out Wallenstein to take control. Wallenstein took back Lutheran states and declared in the Edict of Restitution that he was overturning the Peace of Augsburg, taking back the former church lands. -
Edict of Restitution (P, R)
(Consequence)
Issued by Wallenstein, it reacted to the Peace of Augsburg and the Reformation by Spain taking back Catholic lands and removing freedom of private worship from non-Lutheran Protestants. -
Peace of Westphalia (P, R)
(Consequence) End of 30-Years' War.
Signifying the end of the religious wars in Europe, the treaty reinforced the previous Peace of Augsburg, now allowing freedom of religion in the HRE, and also recognizing the Netherlands and Switzerland as and independent. The signing of the Peace of Westphalia led to Westphalian sovereignty superseding empirical rule and was a model for future international treaties. It also shifted focus from church to state.
