AP Euro Timeline

  • Gutenberg invents the printing press
    1450

    Gutenberg invents the printing press

    Printing Press: a machine for printing text more efficiently.
    This new invention allowed for accessibility to literature to all people. It also spreads humanism ideas through humanist writers works, throughout Europe.
  • Fall of Constantinople
    May 29, 1453

    Fall of Constantinople

    Constantinople falls to the Ottoman empire, ending the Byzantine Empire. Ending the middle ages and strengthening the Ottomans as a major power
  • End of the Byzantine Empire
    May 29, 1453

    End of the Byzantine Empire

    The Byzantine Empire ended when the Ottomans took over Constantinople.
  • Period: 1485 to

    Reign of the Tudor Dynasty

    Tudor Dynasty: A royal family of English rule, that created outlines to turn England from medieval times to a powerful nation
  • Columbus Voyage to the Americas
    1492

    Columbus Voyage to the Americas

    Christopher Columbus takes off on his trip to India, sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. He ended up in the Americas unknowingly, believing he was in India.
  • Alhambra Decree
    1492

    Alhambra Decree

    The Alhambra Decree was a declaration made by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, that stated all Jews and Muslims must convert to Catholicism or be forced to leave the country. The penalty for staying in Spain and not converting was death.
  • Completion of the Reconquista
    1492

    Completion of the Reconquista

    The completion of the Reconquista happened after Spain concurred all of the Muslim territories around them. The Reconquista refers to the Spaniards goal to rule over Muslim territories and convert them to Christianity, giving Spain unity for their nation.
  • Michelangelo completes the painting of the Sistine Chapel
    1512

    Michelangelo completes the painting of the Sistine Chapel

    Michelangelo was a artist during the renaissance, who lead the change in more humanist artwork.
    The chapel was commissioned by Pope Julius II, in order to keep the church up with the rising change in art. They wanted to create religious influence with these paintings.
  • Martin Luther post his 95 Theses
    1517

    Martin Luther post his 95 Theses

    Martin Luther was a monk who started the protestant reformation by challenging indulgences and writing works on his views of religious aspects that were different from the Catholic Church's. And because of the Church's corruption during the time Luther wrote the 95 Theses, which were a list of his beliefs on what the Church should and should not be doing. He did this to help the clergy/parish realize that they were being taken advantage of.
  • Protestant Reformation Begins
    1517

    Protestant Reformation Begins

    The Protestant Reformation sparked after Martin Luther published his 95 Theses, bringing up realization for church members of the corruption. The Reformation was a movement primarily lead by the works of Martin Luther, this movement was meant to reform the Catholic Church and create new just religious systems.
  • Luther's attendance at the Diet of Worms
    1521

    Luther's attendance at the Diet of Worms

    Luther is called to recant his works in front of Charles V, at the Diet of Worms, which was a meeting held by the empire to address Martin Luther's work. When he refuses to due so he is outlawed and the Emperor Edicts anyone is allowed to kill Luther with no repercussions.
  • Machiavelli's "The Prince" is published
    1532

    Machiavelli's "The Prince" is published

    Machiavelli, a very influential humanist writer, wrote "The Prince" addressing monarchs and their behavior and decisions as leaders. He speaks on how he believes is acceptable for a Prince/Monarch to act.
  • Act of Supremacy under Henry VIII
    1534

    Act of Supremacy under Henry VIII

    An act established by Henry VIII, King of England from 1509-1547, separating England from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry VIII gave himself the position as head of the Church of England.
  • Creation of the Anglican Church
    1534

    Creation of the Anglican Church

    The Anglican Church, also known as the Church of England, was created following the Act of Supremacy and followed many values of the Catholic Church although it was separate.
  • Copernicus publishes "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres"
    1543

    Copernicus publishes "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres"

    Copernicus, an astronomer most famously known for creating a model of the solar system, published this work causing change in the way we view the solar system. He did this by saying the Sun is the center of the universe and not the Earth.
  • Period: 1545 to 1563

    Council of Trent (Catholic Reformation)

    The council of Trent was a series of meeting held by members of the Catholic Church. They discussed and planned a way to deal with the protestant reformation, and get more people back in the Roman Catholic Church.
  • Peace of Augsburg
    1555

    Peace of Augsburg

    A treaty passed by the Holy Roman Empire that ended the division of Lutherans and Catholics.
  • Cuius regio, eius religio
    1555

    Cuius regio, eius religio

    The cuius regio, eius religio, meaning whose realm, his religion, was put into effect because of the Peace of Augsburg and stated that leaders of each region were able to pick their peoples religion.
  • St. Bartholomew's Massacre
    1572

    St. Bartholomew's Massacre

    This was a massacre on the French Calvinists/Protestants by the Catholics. This was caused by the ongoing changes in religion in regions.
  • Period: to

    War of the Three Henrys

    A war on religion between Henry III of France, Henry of Navarre, and Henry I. The war started in a conflict of heirs and chosen religion. The previous king was a Catholic and the heir was a protestant, which was not acceptable for the region.
  • Philip II of Spain vs. Elizabeth I of England

    Philip II of Spain vs. Elizabeth I of England

    These two monarchs fought over religious authority, Philip II being a Catholic and Elizabeth I being a Protestant.
  • Defeat of the Spanish Armada

    Defeat of the Spanish Armada

    The Spanish Armada, a plethora of ships sent to England for invasion, was defeated by the English due to their use of cannons to take down Spain's ships. This caused the English to rise in power and fall of the Spanish empire.
  • Edict of Nantes

    Edict of Nantes

    The Edict of Nantes helped end the religious wars in France by allowing Protestants the right to many things including freedom to practice religion, education, and other things, giving them rights to be equal in the community.
  • Period: to

    Thirty Years War

    The Thirty Years War was a war beginning with a religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants but towards the end shifted to be political when the Habsburgs tried to take dominance over the Holy Roman Empire and enforce Catholicism. There were four phases, Bohemian, Danish, Swedish, and French. Bohemian Protestants fought against the Habsburgs and lost which then caused Denmark to join to help fight with the Protestants. Then Swedish Protestants and French Protestants joined in.
  • Defenstration of Prague

    Defenstration of Prague

    The Defenestration of Prague was a protest against Habsburgs Catholic Rule during the Bohemian phase where nobles threw Catholic officials out a window of Prague Castle.
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    English Civil War

    The English Civil War was between the Royalist who supported Charles I, King of England from 1625 to 1649, and the Parliamentarians who supported England's Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell.
  • Peace of Westphalia

    Peace of Westphalia

    The Peace of Westphalia was a pivotal turn in the war causing its end. It stated that rulers could choose a religion for their state either Catholicism, Lutheranism, or Calvinism viewing all religions as equal.
  • Execution of Charles I

    Execution of Charles I

    King Charles I was executed for treason of disobedience to Parliament, believing solely in his divine right. This established the Common Wealth, which was a non monarchical government led by Parliament and military overseen by Oliver Cromwell, leader of this government in the role of Lord Protector.
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    Reign of Louis XIV at Versailles

    The Reign of King Louis XIV, the last Bourbon, at Versailles submitted France into a lot of trouble. Louis's commission of Versailles and his support of the American Revolution put France in a lot of debt, sparking the French Revolution.
  • The Glorious Revolution

    The Glorious Revolution

    The Glorious Revolution was when King James II was overthrown by the Parliamentarians and replaced by William III and Mary II, the heirs to the English throne who established a constitutional monarch putting parliament in a more powerful position.
  • English Bill of Rights

    English Bill of Rights

    The English Bill of Rights limited power of the monarchy, shifting the power towards Parliament. This made England a constitutional monarchy, were the monarch is the ruler but is restricted in power by a constitution.
  • John Locke Publishes Two Treaties of Government

    John Locke Publishes Two Treaties of Government

    Two Treaties of Government was a writing affirming governments proper values of natural rights of life, liberty, and property, and denying values of absolute monarchies and divine rights.
  • Treaty of Urtecht ends War of Spanish Succession

    Treaty of Urtecht ends War of Spanish Succession

    The War of Spanish Succession started when King Charles II of Spain died leaving conflict on who the heir to the thrown was. It was ended by the Treaty of Urtecht, confirming Philip V King of Spain and bringing peace to Spain with other laws helping balance the conflict.
  • War of Austrian Succession

    War of Austrian Succession

    The War of Austrian Succession started after Charles VI's death when Frederick the Great invaded land meant to be inherited by Maria Theresa, sparking conflict between the nations resulting in a war over land.
  • Period: to

    Reign of Maria Theresa of Austria

    Maria Theresa was a Habsburg who maintained absolute power over Austria during her reign.
  • Period: to

    Denis Diderot Publishes Encyclopedia

    Diderot's Encyclopedia was a work of the Enlightenment, sparking a shift in societal thinking of governmental authority as well as ideas of reason, it promoted facts over faith.
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    Seven Years War

    The Seven Years War was over land all across Europe and North America, Fredrick the Great, King of Prussia, starting the War by invading Saxony causing Louis XV, King of France, to step in fighting Britain and Prussia. Then Maria Theresa, Queen of Austria, attempted to gain her hereditary land back, fought against Prussia in alliance with France and Russia. George III, King of Great Britain, fought over land with France in North America.
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    Early Industrial Revolution in Great Britian

    The Industrial Revolution produced lots of literature on the Enlightenment, spreading its ideals throughout Europe. It also introduced factory systems which later became a very efficient provider in the industrial revolution.
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    Reign of Catherine the Great

    Catherine the Great of Russia was a great ruler with much success during her rule, sparking Russia's Golden Age. She expanded territory and modernized through Enlightenment, overall strengthening the government.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of Paris

    The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years War by dividing the land up giving Britain the North American land, France North American lands East of Britain, and Spain getting Louisiana.
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    Pugachev's Rebellion

    Pugachev's Rebellion was a revolt against Catherine the Great after Pugachev claimed to be Peter III supposed Tsar of Russia promising to end serfdom, causing uprisings that eventually led to the execution of Pugachev.
  • Adam Smith publishes On the Wealth of Nations

    Adam Smith publishes On the Wealth of Nations

    On the Wealth of Nations was an influential work of Adam Smith stating that wealth of nations comes from the labor of the people, and advocated that a more restricted government could benefit this. It also promoted ideas that would later help shape more productive labor systems.
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    American Revolution

    The American Revolution was an uprising against Britain who had been oppressing Americans under their monarchy. This revolution sparked many others throughout Europe, leading by example.
  • The French Revolution Begins

    The French Revolution is sparked under the oppression of King Louis XVI's, King of France, and his unjust taxation of the Third Estate and its consequences as well as Marie Antoinette, King Louis XVI's wife.
  • Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is published

    Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is published

    This declaration was created by the National Assembly, a group of the Third Estate trying to create a new constitution for France, confirming natural rights of man, rights to fight oppression, and their right to be equal.
  • Storming of Bastille

    Storming of Bastille

    The storming of Bastille was a protest done by the Third Estate stormed a prison and stole weapons and gunpowder to defy King Louis XVI.
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    Haitian Revolution

    Haiti, inspired by France and Americas Revolutions, sparked their own revolution for independence from France, led by Toussaint Louverture, abolishing slavery for their people.