Unit 5 dates

The Renaissance

A cultural movement from 1300 to 1500 in Europe characterized by a revival of art, literature, and learning.

Black Death

A devastating pandemic that struck Europe around 1350, significantly decreasing the population.

Fall of Constantinople

The event in 1453 marking the end of the Byzantine Empire after being captured by the Ottoman Turks.

Gutenberg printed the Bible

In 1456, Johannes Gutenberg produced the first major book printed with movable type, the Gutenberg Bible.

Columbus sailed to America

Christopher Columbus made his first voyage to the Americas in 1492, marking the beginning of European exploration and colonization.

Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses

A document posted by Martin Luther on October 31, 1517, challenging the Catholic Church and sparking the Protestant Reformation.

Tenochtitlan falls to the Spanish

In 1521, the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan was conquered by Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés.

Nicolaus Copernicus publishes On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

In 1534, Copernicus outlined his heliocentric theory, which posited that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Act of Supremacy

A 1534 act that created the Church of England, declaring the monarch as its supreme head.

Elizabethan Era

The period from 1558 to 1603 during Queen Elizabeth I's reign, noted for its cultural flourishing.

Spanish Armada

The fleet sent by Spain in 1588 to invade England, which ended in a significant defeat for Spain.

Founding of Jamestown, Virginia

The establishment of the first permanent English settlement in North America in 1607.

Louis XIV ruled France

Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, ruled from 1643 to 1715 and is known for his absolute monarchy.

Rene Descartes published Discourse on Methods

In 1637, Descartes introduced his method of doubt and analytical geometry.

Charles I of England executed

In 1649, Charles I was executed, leading to a temporary republic in England.

Sir Isaac Newton Published Principia Mathematica

Newton published his influential work on physics and mathematics in 1687.

Glorious Revolution

A significant political event in 1688, which led to William and Mary becoming co-rulers of England.

Declaration of Independence signed

The formal statement declaring the thirteen American colonies free from British rule, signed in 1776.

The French Revolution

A significant period from 1789 to 1799 characterized by social and political upheaval in France.

Mary Wollstonecraft’s Vindication on the Rights of Women published

In 1792, Wollstonecraft's work argued for women's rights and education.

Abolition of the slave trade in the entire British Empire

The act passed in 1807 that made it illegal to trade slaves within the British Empire.

Wars for Independence in Latin America

A series of revolutionary wars from 1810 to 1825 that resulted in independence for many Latin American countries.

Charles Dickens lived

The renowned English novelist's active years were from 1812 to 1870.

Napoleon defeated at Waterloo

The battle in 1815 where Napoleonic forces were decisively defeated, leading to his final exile.

Reign of Queen Victoria

The period from 1837 to 1901 during which Queen Victoria ruled over the British Empire.

Marx and Engels publish Communist Manifesto

The publication in 1848 that outlined the principles of communism and class struggle.

Berlin Conference: Scramble for Africa begins

The 1884 conference which regulated European colonization and trade in Africa.

Boxer Rebellion in China

An anti-foreign uprising that occurred in China around 1900.

World War I

A global conflict from 1914 to 1918 involving many countries, primarily centered in Europe.

World War II

A worldwide conflict from 1939 to 1945 involving most of the world's nations.