European History Timeline: Renaissance to 19th Century

Vocabulary practice flashcards identifying key dates, events, movements, and publications in European history from the 14th century to the mid-19th century.

Avignon Papacy

1309 to 1377.

Gutenberg's movable type printing press

Developed in the 1450s.

Fall of Constantinople

Major historical event occurring in 1453.

Treaty of Lodi

in 1454.

Pazzi Conspiracy in Florence

Conspiracy that took place in Florence in 1478.

Death of Lorenzo de Medici

Event occurring in 1492.

End of the Reconquista

Historical milestone that occurred in 1492.

Expulsion of Jews from Spain

State-mandated expulsion occurring in 1492.

Columbus' first voyage to the New World

First voyage across the Atlantic to the New World in 1492.

French invasion of Italy

Military invasion taking place in 1494.

Savonarola's power in Florence

Period during which Girolamo Savonarola held power in Florence, from 1494 to 1498.

The Prince

Political work written by Machiavelli in 1513.

Luther's 95 Theses

Theses issued by Martin Luther in 1517.

Spanish conquest of the Aztecs

Conquest spanning from 1519 to 1521.

Diet of Worms

Imperial assembly attended by Martin Luther in 1521.

Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe

Global circumnavigation expedition lasting from 1519 to 1522.

Germans' Peasants Revolt

Major peasant uprising taking place from 1524 to 1525.

Spanish conquest of the Incas

Conquest of the Inca Empire spanning from 1531 to 1533.

Act of Supremacy in England

Legislation passed in England in 1534.

Society of Jesus recognized by Catholic Church

Official Catholic recognition of the Jesuit order occurring in 1540.

On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

Astronomical treatise written by Copernicus in 1543.

Council of Trent

Catholic Church council that convened from 1545 to 1563.

French Wars of Religion

Series of religious conflicts in France lasting from 1562 to 1598.

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

Massacre of French Protestants that occurred in 1572.

Edict of Nantes

Edict issued by Henry IV in 1598.

Starry Messenger

Astronomical work written by Galileo in 1610.

30 Years War

Major European conflict spanning from 1618 to 1648.

Defenestration of Prague

Key incident occurring in 1618 that precipitated the 30 Years War.

English Civil War

Conflict in England that took place from 1642 to 1648.

Treaty of Westphalia

Peace treaty signed in 1648 ending the 30 Years War.

Fronde

Series of civil conflicts in France occurring from 1648 to 1653.

Leviathan

Philosophical work written by Hobbes in 1651.

Restoration

Re-establishment of the English monarchy in 1660.

Edict of Fontainebleau

Louis XIV's revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.

Principia Mathematica

Mathematical and scientific work written by Newton in 1687.

Glorious Revolution

Political revolution in England occurring in 1688.

Second Treatise and Essay Concerning Human Understanding

Works written by Locke in 1690.

Peter the Great's Grand Embassy

Russian diplomatic mission to Western Europe lasting from 1697 to 1698.

Great Northern War

War between Russia and Sweden from 1700 to 1721.

War of the Spanish Succession

European conflict taking place from 1701 to 1714.

The Renaissance

Major cultural era spanning from the late 14th (1300s) to mid 16th (1500s) centuries.

The Reformation and Counter Reformation

Religious transformation era lasting from 1517 to 1648.

The Enlightenment

Intellectual movement spanning from the late 17th century to 1800.

Social Contract and Emile

Works written by Rousseau in 1762.

The French Revolution

Period of political upheaval in France spanning from 1789 to 1799.

Storming of the Bastille

Pivotal event of the French Revolution occurring in 1789.

Reign of Terror

Violent phase of the French Revolution occurring from 1793 to 1794.

Napoleon's rise to power

Event in 1799 when Napoleon came to power in France.

Napoleon becomes emperor of France

Political elevation of Napoleon occurring in 1804.

Napoleon's invasion of Russia

Military campaign undertaken in 1812.

Napoleon's defeat and first exile

Defeat and exile of Napoleon occurring in 1814.

Congress of Vienna

Diplomatic conference held from 1814 to 1815.

The Peterloo Massacre

Event occurring in 1819.

The Decembrist's failed uprising in Russia

Failed revolutionary uprising in Russia occurring in 1825.

The Revolution of 1830 in France

Revolutionary event taking place in France in 1830.

The Communist Manifesto

Political pamphlet written by Marx in 1848.

Revolutions of 1848

Wave of revolutionary activity across Europe in 1848.

On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection

Scientific work written by Darwin in 1859.