- Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses
1518 - Michelangelo completes the Sistine Chapel
1512In the November of 1512, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, was shown to the public for the first time.
- John Calvin is born
1509John Calvin was born on July 10 1509, and in the course of his life time became an important French religious reformer.
- Columbus' first voyage
1492On August 3 1492 Christopher Columbus began his first journey to America, which leads to a life time of exploring.
- Copernicus begins his studies of the night sky
1491Copernicus was the first astronomer to figure out that earth was not in the center of the universe. His research became a landmark in the history of modern science (the Copernican Revolution). 1491 was the year he was enrolled at Krakow Academy and began his studies.
- Raphael is born
1483Raphael was born in 1483, and soon became and Italian painter and architect of the high Renaissance.
- Leonardo de Vinci sets up his own workshop
1478Leonardo set up his own workshop and began his own art and science in 1478, breaking away from his teachers and picking up his own work.
- The invention of the printing press
1439Johannes Gensfleisch Zur Laden Zum Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1439. The printing press allowed books and news to travel much faster than before, making the world more knowledgeable and connected.
- Gutenberg is born
1400The future inventor of the printing press was born in 1400.
- The Plague begins
1347The Black Death was one of the most deadliest pandemics in human history. About 75 million people died worldwide. It changed the whole of Europe's social structure. It was a big blow to the church, so they started picking of Jews, foreigners, beggars and lepers.
- The Crusades end
1291The Crusades ended when the last Christian post in Syria fell and the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem vanished. They lasted 200 years, and achieved only one thing: Men finally began to think less of winning future salvation and more about their present duties.
- The Crusades begin
1096 - The Papacy declares the Pope can be judged by no one
1075In the April of 1077, Pope Gregory VII published the Dictatus Papae in which he said the pope has absolute authority over the people.
- William the Conqueror is crowned
1066William was crowned William 1 of England in 1066. His reign brought Norman culture to Englannd and made political changes and changes in the law. This was also where feudalism began.
- The Battle of Hastings
1066This battle is the point where William the Conquerer gained control of England. He defeated king Harold's army and became the king.
- The Church splits in two
1054The church split into 2 different churches: the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox. In July they finally excommunicated each other. Most historians look at this as the final step of the split. There have been disagreements and wars over the the split.
- Charlemagne's death
814 ADCharlemagne crowned his only surviving legitimate son in 813. He spent the autumn hunting before returning to Aachen. He soon fell ill with pleurisy and died 7 days later. His death affected many people. He was 72.
- Charlemagne is crowned 'Holy Roman Emperor'
800 ADCharlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on christmas day. He and Pope Leo were kneeling in a prayer when the Pope leapt up and crowned him. However, instead of giving him power, the title took power away and instead gave it to the church. Also, the Byzantine Empire did not accept him as the ruler of all Christians, and two years later, war broke out.
- The Fall of Rome
476 ADThe fall of Rome marked the beginning of the middle ages. No one is sure why it fell, but historians such as Edward Gibbon believe it could have been because of christianity, barbarians, nature or the Romans themselves.
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