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Apr 4, 1304
Francesco Petrarch
Petrarch became famous as a scholar and a teacher. His main influence to write poetry grew out of his desire to continue the work of the classical writers. He thought it was important to lead a full and active life here on earth. -
Jan 5, 1313
The Renaissance
This time was both a philosophical and artistic movement. It was marked by a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman literature and life. -
Aug 13, 1474
Isabella d'Este
Isabella was one of the most brilliant of the Italian Renaissance. She used her wealth to support artists and scholars. She housed many writers, sculptors, and painters in her own court and hired famous architects to design parts of her palace. -
Nov 21, 1475
Michelangelo
He was a brilliant painter who had millions of people visit his frescoes painted on the chapel ceiling. His sculptures were of biblical figures such as David. He also wrote poetry and helpecd design St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. -
Mar 4, 1483
Martin Luther
Martin Luther never wanted to leave the Roman Catholic Church because he was strongly committed to his religious beliefs. He felt it was necessary to challenge certain church practices that he believed were unnecessary or wrong. -
Nov 30, 1496
Niccolò Machiavelli
Machiavelli sought to describe government not in terms of lofty ideals but in the way it actually worked. He wrote the essay The Prince. He argued that rulers should be concerned only with power and political success. -
Feb 6, 1516
Thomas More publishes Utopia
Thomas More had published the book Utopia in 1516. In this book, More condemned governments as corrupt and argued that private ownership of property causes unnecessary conflicts between people. He contrasted life in Europe with his description of an imaginary, ideal society. -
Mar 3, 1517
The Reformation
When several northern humanists argued that the Roman Catholic Church had lost sight of its spirtitual mission. Their claims would lead to a reform movement that would split the church in western Europe. -
Sep 23, 1528
The Book of the Courtier
This book was published in 1528 by a man named Baldassare Castiglione. The setting of the book is the court at Urbino, which is an Italian city-state where Castiglione lived for many years. In his book, he used real people engaged in fictional conversations to explain how gentlemen and gentlewomen should act in polite society. -
Jun 15, 1530
Counter- Reformation
The Counter-Reformation began as an attempt to return the church to an emphasis on spiritual matters. It allowed the church to make doctrines more clear and it was a campaign to stop the spread of Protestantism.
