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1485
Richard III is killed in battle
Last king of York, meeting his end at the the battle of Bosworth field in England. -
1492
Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas
Italian explorer, navigator, and colonist who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain. -
1503
Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa
the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world -
1516
Tomas More's Utopia is published
Thomas More and his friend Peter Giles meets this traveler named, Raphael Hythloday. They have a long heated debate over politics and philosophy and how they relate to each other. Then Raphael randomly goes into this place "Utopia" that is really cool. Thomas and Peter urge him to go on about this place. Raphael goes into great detail describing every little aspect there is to this little island. It ends with Thomas and Peter thinking Raphael is crazy and just needs to see a doctor. -
1543
With the Supremacy, Henry VIII proclaims himself head of Church of England
Two acts of the Parliament of England passed in 1534 and 1559 which established King Henry VIII of England and subsequent monarchs as the supreme head of the Church of England. -
1558
Elizabeth I becomes queen of England
Elizabeth was the last of the five monarchs of the House of Tudor, who chose not to marry. -
1564
William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, is born
English poet, playwright, and actor. Widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the pre-eminent dramatist. Renowned for his many writings and plays. -
Globe Theatre is built in London
Built by Shakespeare's playing company and home to the many acts of his. -
Period: to
Shakespeare writes King Lear and Macbeth
King Lear: A tragedy that depicts the gradual descent into madness of the title character, after he disposes of his kingdom by giving bequests to two of his three daughters egged on by their continual flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all.
Macbeth: Another tragedy that dramatizes the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power for its own sake. -
First permanent English settlement in North America is established at Jamestown, Virginia.
America’s first permanent English colony, in Virginia in 1607, sparked a series of cultural encounters that helped shape the nation and the world. The government, language, customs, beliefs and aspirations of these early Virginians are all part of the United States’ heritage today. -
Shakespeare's sonnets are published
The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. They are later known today as Shakespearean sonnets, or English sonnets, or Elizabethan sonnets. -
King James Bible is published
An English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England. -
The Mayflower lands at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts
English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691 at a location that had previously been surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement served as the capital of the colony and developed as the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. -
Newspapers are first published in London
The first English daily was The Daily Courant. Was quite limited on what it was allowed to record. -
John Milton begins Paradise Lost
An epic poem written in blank verse. Consisted of ten books with over ten thousand lines of verse. A second edition followed in 1674, arranged into twelve books with minor revisions throughout and a note on the versification.
