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1347
Black Death
The Black Death was an epidemic that ultimately wiped out Europe about 1/3 of the continent's population. Bubonic and Pneumonic plagues sickened many and spread quickly due to trade, lack of adequate hygiene and ineffective treatment methods. This event impacted Europe greatly as, with many workers and leaders dead, peasants (serfs) could begin to demand better conditions and higher pay. This lead to the end of the Feudal System in Europe. -
1440
Printing Press
The printing press was invented circa 1440 by Johannes Gutenburg of Germany. The printing press allowed information to be spread far and wide quickly, as one would no longer need to hand copy text. This revolutionized Europe as it indirectly led to the Protestant Reformation (it allowed Martin Luther to spread his ideas effectively) and continues to influence the world today. The printing press was an early form of social media. -
1476
Columbus Discovers America
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, came across America on a journey meant to navigate a more efficient path to Asia. He began the permanent colonization of North America and the also the genocide of Native Americans. His discovery of the Americas is considered a crucial event in world history, as it resulted in exchanges of animals, plants, diseases, technologies, farming tactics, business, religious worship, and other ideas, paving the way for the global community known today. -
1478
Spanish Inquisition
The Spanish Inquisition, first established by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile was created with the purpose of maintaining traditional Catholic practices and beliefs. Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards were prosecuted for different offenses, and many were determined heretics and executed. The impact of the Spanish Inquisition was that it serves as a lesson on abuse of power and realms of government control (versus personal choices and privacy) which is still relevant today. -
1491
The David (Michelangelo)
Michelangelo’s David is a classic marble sculpture of the Renaissance which depicts David, a Biblical hero. The 17-foot tall statue is incredibly realistic and has remained an impressive show of talent for hundreds of years. The Renaissance relic influenced the development of art and architecture for generations after its creation. It also revolutionized ideas about living for enjoyment and education (as opposed to religiously) along with other pieces of art from this time. -
1513
Mona Lisa (Da Vinci)
The Mona Lisa is portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci during the Italian Renaissance. The piece depicts Lisa Gherardini, with an ambiguous expression, that, coupled with its incredible realism, cause the oil painting to still bring awe to its viewers today. The Mona Lisa exemplifies the incredible artistic skill associated with the Renaissance and continues to influence art and painting to this day. It reformed the arts and showed the ability of illustration to connect to human emotion. -
1517
Luther's 95-Theses
The 95-Theses was Martin Luther's collection of different practices of the Catholic Church he disputed. Luther opposed the Church's selling of Indulgences. His ideas, which spread quickly throughout Europe due to the printing press, soon led to the Protestant Reformation. Other Christians agreed with Luther. They created new branches of Christianity including Lutherism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism. Luther proves that dissidents can be beneficial to society, and so has influenced history. -
1576
The Lord Chamberlain's Men
The Lord Chamberlain's Men was a company of actors which performed Shakespeare's plays including Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth. In the company, Shakespeare himself would often perform secondary roles in his plays. The company contributed to the birth of modern theater and shaped this form of art, allowing it to flourish into what it is today, a conveyor of experience and emotion. -
Galileo's Telescope
The first telescope, invented by Galileo, was inspired by the spyglass which had just recently been gained popularity. In a bid to prove that the Earth was, in fact, not the center of the universe, he presented his findings (which he discovered due to his telescope) to the public, but was convicted of Heresy and sentenced to life on house arrest. The telescope revolutionized astronomy and enhanced our understanding of the universe, paving the way for future scientific discoveries. -
Theory of Gravitation
The theory of gravity was developed by the English mathematician Sir Isaac Newton and published Principia. The theory of relativity was based off of these earlier findings and gravity has since become a law. Newton’s discovery influenced the evolution of physical science and bettered human understanding of the world.
