Renaissance

Petrarch, a famous Italian Renaissance scholar and humanist, rediscovered the earlier work of Roman philosopher Cicero, contributing to the revival of ancient Greek and Roman ideas during the Renaissance.

In 1305, the Italian artist Giotto finished his masterpiece, the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. This significant event marked a milestone in the Proto-Renaissance period.

In 1308, Dante Alighieri wrote his epic poem the Divine Comedy, which is considered one of the greatest works of world literature.

The Hundred Year War marks the beginning of the Renaissance timeline of events. It was a series of conflicts fought between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France over the French throne.

On April 6, 1341, Francesco Petrarch was crowned Poet Laureate. This event is considered by many historians as the starting point of the Renaissance.

In 1397, Giovanni de Medici, the papal banker, relocates his business to Florence and starts participating in Florentine public affairs and supporting the arts, setting the stage for his son Cosimo de Medici's ascent to authority.

A period in European history known for its cultural and artistic achievements, sparked by a revival of interest in classical learning and wisdom.

The Italian Renaissance was a period of cultural rebirth in Italy around the 14th century, characterized by a revival of art, literature, and humanism.

In 1401, Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, known as Masaccio, the first painter of the early Renaissance, was born.

In 1403, Leonardo Bruni presented his Panegyric to the City of Florence, praising the city for its values of freedom of speech, self-government, and equality.

In 1418, Brunelleschi, the renowned Renaissance engineer, began working on the Church of San Lorenzo.

In 1419, the architect Brunelleschi created the innovative design for the dome of the Florence Cathedral, showcasing his architectural genius.

In 1420, after being located in Avignon for over a century, the Papacy returns to Rome, which leads to the rebuilding of the city with the wealth and prestige it brings.

In 1423, Francesco Fosari becomes the Doge of Venice and tries to consolidate significant political power during his reign.

After his father's death, Cosimo de Medici becomes the head of the bank and consolidates political power using his economic influence, eventually becoming the unquestioned ruler of the city within five years.

In 1432, Jan van Eyck created the masterpiece 'Adoration of the Lamb', a significant work in the development of Northern Renaissance art.

By 1434, the powerful Medici family rose to prominence and became the rulers of the city-state of Florence, exerting significant influence over its political and cultural landscape.

In 1435, Leon Battista Alberti wrote 'On Painting', an influential essay on perspective that contributed to the understanding of artistic techniques during the Renaissance.

In 1440, Lorenzo Valla used textual criticism to reveal the Donation of Constantine as a forgery, challenging the authority of the Catholic church in Rome.

In 1444, Leon Battista Alberti penned 'On the Family', offering a model for Renaissance marriages and family structures.

In 1446, Filippo Brunelleschi, the renowned architect and engineer, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of innovative architectural works.

Pope Nicholas V, appointed in 1447, oversaw major rebuilding projects in Rome, contributing to the city's artistic and architectural development.

In 1450, Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized the world with his invention of the printing press, which played a crucial role in the spread of knowledge and ideas during the Renaissance.

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452. He was a polymath who excelled in various fields such as painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography.

The once mighty Byzantine Empire's capital, Constantinople, succumbs to the Ottoman Turks. This event triggers a mass migration of Greek people and valuable cultural artifacts to the Italian city-states.

Johannes Gutenberg published the Gutenberg Bible in 1454, introducing a new printing press technology that had a significant impact on European literacy.

Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press with movable type in 1455, revolutionizing the spread of information and ideas by making it faster and easier to produce books and disseminate knowledge.

After the death of Cosimo de Medici in 1464, his son Piero briefly rules until his death in 1469. Power then passes to Lorenzo de Medici, who governs Florence until 1491, overseeing a period of great cultural and artistic flourishing known as the Renaissance.

Andrea Mantegna and Giovanni Bellini, brothers-in-law, each produced their own versions of 'The Agony in the Garden' in 1465.

In 1469, Lorenzo de Medici assumed leadership in the city-state of Florence. He is renowned as a prominent supporter of the arts.

Thomas Malory wrote or compiled 'Le Morte d'Arthur' in 1470.

Sixtus IV became Pope in 1471 and continued significant building projects in Rome, including the construction of the Sistine Chapel.

The Renaissance period began around 1475, characterized by a revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe.

A famous artistic work created by Botticelli in 1480 depicting a mythological scene of spring.

Veronese Guarino's work 'Erotemata' was published in 1484, contributing to the educational and literary landscape of the Renaissance period.

The Renaissance in England is usually dated to Henry VII's victory at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. It coincided with the reign of the Tudor Dynasty and saw the flourishing of arts and culture, with Shakespeare being one of the greatest writers of this period.

In 1486, Pico della Mirandola publishes his collection of 900 treatises, sparking conflicts with the Catholic Church due to his philosophical views. He is later declared a heretic but is saved by Lorenzo de Medici.

The Age of Exploration started with Christopher Columbus' voyage to America in 1492. This period marked a significant era of global exploration and colonization.

A work by Fra Luca Bartolomeo de Pacioli in 1494 discussing arithmetic, geometry, and the Golden Ratio, influencing artists like da Vinci.

In 1495, Leonardo da Vinci completed the iconic painting of the Last Supper, depicting the final meal of Jesus with his disciples.

A renowned painting by Leonardo da Vinci in 1498 portraying the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples.

A painting by Michelangelo in 1500 depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus Christ.

Around 1501, Michelangelo commenced the creation of his renowned sculpture of David, a masterpiece of Renaissance art showcasing human perfection and strength.

In 1502, Michelangelo starts working on his famous sculpture, David, showcasing his exceptional talent and skill in the art of sculpting.

In 1503, Leonardo da Vinci painted one of the most famous artworks in the world, the Mona Lisa, known for its enigmatic smile and exquisite detail.

On June 30, 1503, John Frederick the Magnanimous is born in Torgau, becoming a notable figure in the political landscape of the time.

On November 13, 1504, Philip of Hesse is born in Marburg, later becoming a significant political and military leader in the region.

Martin Waldseemüller's 'Universalis Cosmographia' was published in 1507, incorporating the discoveries of Amerigo Vespucci and Ptolemy in world maps.

In 1508, Michelangelo began the monumental task of painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, showcasing his exceptional talent and creativity.

In 1509, Henry VIII ascended to the throne of England, marking the beginning of a tumultuous reign that would have significant political and religious consequences.

Desiderius Erasmus wrote 'Praise of Folly' in 1511, a satirical work criticizing the society and the church during the Renaissance period.

In 1512, Desiderius Erasmus wrote 'De Copia,' a work focused on the importance of rhetoric and writing skills.

The Tomb of Pope Julius II, designed by Michelangelo in 1513, is a monumental sculptural project that reflects the grandeur and power of the papacy during the Renaissance.

Desiderius Erasmus published the first modern and critical version of the Greek New Testament in 1516, contributing to the field of biblical studies.

Martin Luther kickstarts the Reformation movement by nailing his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. This event leads to a significant division within the Roman Catholic Church.

Leonardo da Vinci, a versatile genius of the Renaissance, was renowned for his artistic masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, as well as his scientific inventions and anatomical studies.

Leonardo da Vinci passed away on May 2, 1519. He is widely considered one of the greatest artists of all time and a key figure in the Italian Renaissance.

Raphael, the renowned artist of the Italian Renaissance, passes away on April 6, 1520.

Pope Clement VII becomes the new Pope after Pope Leo X, facing challenges and making controversial decisions that ultimately lead to the sack of Rome.

In 1525, Dürer published his 'Course in the Art of Measurement,' a work that contributed to the understanding of geometry and proportion in art.

The Sack of Rome in 1527 was a significant event during the High Renaissance period, where the city of Rome was invaded and plundered by the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.

The sack of Rome occurs on May 6, 1527, when the imperial army attacks the city after Pope Clement VII's refusal to pay ransom, resulting in significant destruction and chaos.

Lucas Cranach created a portrait of Martin Luther in 1529, reflecting the importance of art in capturing historical figures during the Reformation.

In 1532, François Rabelais wrote 'Gargantua and Pantagruel,' a satirical novel that explores various aspects of Renaissance society and culture.

Montaigne, a later scholar of the Renaissance, played a key role in spreading humanist ideas from the Italian peninsula to northern Europe through his famous work Essais, which structured and disseminated humanist philosophies.

In 1534, Henry VIII officially separated the Church of England from the authority of the Catholic Church in Rome in order to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn.

The Swiss physician known as Paracelsus wrote the 'Great Book of Surgery' in 1536, a significant medical work that contributed to the field of surgery.

In 1543, the astronomer Copernicus wrote 'Revolutions of the Celestial Orbits,' a groundbreaking work that proposed a heliocentric model of the universe.

In 1544, the Italian monk Matteo Bandello published a collection of tales known as 'Novelle,' contributing to the development of Italian literature.

In 1556, Niccolò Fontana Tartaglia wrote 'A General Treatise on Numbers and Measurement,' a significant work on mathematics and measurement.

In 1564, the renowned playwright William Shakespeare was born, who would later become one of the most influential figures in English literature during the Renaissance period.

Isabella Whitney, the first English woman to write non-religious verses, published 'The Copy of a Letter' in 1567, showcasing her literary talent.

In 1569, Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator published his 'World Map,' a groundbreaking cartographic achievement.

In 1570, Abraham Ortelius published 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum,' considered the first modern atlas, revolutionizing cartography.

Luís Vaz de Camões published his epic poem 'The Lusiads' in 1572, a masterpiece of Portuguese literature.

Michel de Montaigne published his 'Essays' in 1580, popularizing the literary form and influencing future writers.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar to correct inaccuracies in the Julian calendar.

Edmund Spenser published 'The Faerie Queen' in 1590, a celebrated work of English literature that showcases allegory and romance.

In 1595, Thomas Morley published 'The First Booke of Canzonets to Two Voyces', showcasing his musical compositions during the Renaissance.

In 1599, William Shakespeare constructed the Globe Theatre, a renowned venue where many of his timeless plays, such as Hamlet and Macbeth, were performed.

The Renaissance period came to an end around the year 1600, giving way to the Baroque Period and the Scientific Revolution. It marked the conclusion of a significant era of artistic, intellectual, and cultural development in Europe.

In 1603, William Shakespeare wrote 'Hamlet,' one of his most famous tragedies that explores themes of revenge and madness.

Miguel Cervantes' 'Don Quixote' was published in 1605, considered one of the greatest works of fiction in world literature.

In 1610, Galileo Galilei made a groundbreaking discovery by observing the four largest moons of Jupiter, now known as the Galilean moons. This observation provided strong evidence for the heliocentric model of the solar system.

The Thirty Years War, which started in 1618, was a devastating conflict primarily fought in Central Europe. It involved a complex web of political and religious tensions, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life.

In 1633, Galileo Galilei went on trial for heresy due to his support for the heliocentric model of the universe, challenging the geocentric views of the Catholic Church during the Renaissance.

The Peace of Westphalia was a treaty that ended over a century of religious wars that were a result of the Protestant Reformation. It brought about religious toleration and firmly established national boundaries.

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I of England was created in 1901, highlighting the enduring fascination with historical monarchs.

The book 'The Hutchinson Encyclopedia of the Renaissance' was published in 1999 by Rundle, David. It serves as a comprehensive resource on the Renaissance period.

Authored by David Rundle, this encyclopedia covers various aspects of the Renaissance period.

An illustrated history book on the Renaissance by Gordon Campbell, offering a visual and informative exploration of the era's significant events and developments.