What is the Renaissance?

The Renaissance is a cultural movement that marks the period of change between the end of fifteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth century. The influential cultural movement heralded an era of scientific revolution and artistic transformation.
The Renaissance is often thought to be rediscovery of glories of the Greek and Roman civilizations. Learning and education was on an upsurge, because many universities were established all over the Europe. Although it was a rediscovery of old traditions, the Renaissance was also a time when many important inventions and discoveries took place. Many of the greatest names in history made their contributions in their respective fields during the renaissance. In art, there as Botticelli , Michael Angelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci among many others. Columbus and Magellan were the great explorers of the age. Copernicus, in the field of science, proved round the sun and not vice versa as was believed earlier. Kepler explained the laws of planetary motions, while Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn by the Telescope also made by him.

Why did Columbus call the islands he discovered, the Indies?

Why did Columbus call the islands he discovered, the Indies?

Christopher Columbus was an Italian sea captain who served Spain. In 1492, in a ship not much bigger than a modern racing yacht, he sailed across the Atlantic, a journey that many were terrified to make. Sailors never sailed out of sight of land. Columbus wanted to discover a new trade route to the riches of the Far East. He knew that the world was round and by sailing towards the West, he could find this route.
He did not know that the large continents of North and South America lay in his way, and his calculations of how big the earth was, proved wrong. When he sighted land after ten weeks, Columbus thought he had reached the outskirts of Asia. He believed that he had discovered the Indies, and named them so. He made three more voyages to the West Indies, still believing them to be part of Asia.
Spain, however showed great enthusiasm towards these discoveries and took up explorations and colonization efforts on a large scale

How did the invention of the printing press alter history?

How did the invention of the printing press alter history?

The method of printing from movable type was invented by Johann Gutenberg. He set up his first printing press in 1454.
Gutenberg was born in Mainz in 1398, but he lived the greater part of his life in Strasbourg. Although he worked as an artisan, he spent his free time in printing experiments.
In the 1450’s he retuned to Mainz and began the work of printing a Latin Bible in collaboration with one Johann Fust, who lent him money for this venture. Seeing the difficulty in carving large wooden types, he decided to cast the type in metal. This work was finished around 1456.
Columbus in the New World
Christopher Columbus’s voyages were ‘sponsored’ by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. They agreed to commit three ships – the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria – with crew to undertake the task. It was thus that Columbus landed at San Salvador in the West Indies on October 12, 1492. At that time, he believed that he had reached the Indies in Asia. Thus, unknowingly, he discovered the ‘New World’.

How did the Turks capture Constantinople?

How did the Turks capture Constantinople?

Mahomet II came to the Turkish throne in 1451, and he swore to capture Constantinople. He trained an Army of fighters called janissaries, and engaged a Hungarian engineer to cast the world’s largest guns. In April 1453, his Army was finally ready to attack. The guns began to fire continuously for six weeks. The Army in Constantinople put up a brave front, but it was certain from the beginning that they would be defeated. On May 29, the city fell. The scholars who had lived there fled, taking their manuscripts and documents to Europe, where they started a new interest in learning

Who was Joan of Arc and why is she famous?

Who was Joan of Arc and why is she famous?

The Hundred Year’s War between France and England was almost coming to an end. Henry V, the English king had died. Counselors, who were jealous of each other, ruled France, after the death of Charles VI. The Army too, was totally discouraged. Then, out of nowhere, it appeared, a peasant girl from Lorraine, presented herself at the royal court. She claimed that she had heard heavenly voices telling her to free Orleans from the besieging English.
Although the nobles mocked her, the Army was inspired by this suggestion. This girl, who came to be known as Joan of Arc, led the French Army into battle and succeeded in driving away the English from Orleans. When the Dauphin was crowned Charles VII in the Rheims Cathedral, Joan stood by his side.
Later, she was betrayed, sold to the English, and found guilty of sorcery. Although, she was tragically burned at the stake, Joan of Arc helped unify France. This heroine is today regarded as a symbol of hope and courage.

In history, what is the Black Death?

In history, what is the Black Death?

A terrible disease reached Europe from Eastern countries. The Europeans thought this to be a curse of the ‘savages’ who lived in these countries. Today, this disease is understood to be bubonic/pneumonic plague.
England, at that point of time, was prosperous, thanks to the efforts of Edward III, and the exports of wool and cloth. Hence, reports that the silks and spices from the East had carried the disease did not cause much concern. Then, on a fine summer’s day in1348, a French sailor stepped on English soil. He unknowingly carried the bacillus of the disease, and became the origin of the pestilence that later came to be known as Black Death. It is estimated that at least half a million people-which was a large percentage of population-fell prey to the Black Death. The Black Death spread, and reached its peak in the spring of 1349. It died out during autumn that same year, leaving and behind a disrupted society, and having ruined trade in Europe.

What is the Hundred Years War?

What is the Hundred Years War?

The Hundred Years War is the name given to the long struggle between England and France which started in 1338 and ended 1453. The hundred years was actually lasted for 116 years! The English kings had to pay homage to the French kings for being appointed Dukes of Aquitaine. They did not like to do this. Matters turned serious when Philip VI took over Edward, the King of England’s land in France, and thus, war began. The major events in this war include the battle on the river Sluys in 1340.

Who was Marco Polo?

Who was Marco Polo?

Marco Polo (1254 – 1324), together with his father Niccolo and his uncle Maffeo, was one of the first Westerners to travel the Silk Road to China.
The Polos, who were traders, were looking for new areas for trade, reached the court of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan). It was on their second journey to China, in 1271, that they took along Marco. He became a confidant of Kublai Khan, who took Marco into his service and bestowed many favours on him. The Polos stayed at the court of Kublai Khan for 20 years until 1292. During this period, Marco Polo traveled the whole of China, and his experiences have become part of his writings which is one of the greatest travelogues ever written. This, translated, is what has come to be known as ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’.
The Polos were by no means the first Europeans to reach China by land route. But due to Marco’s book, their journey which was very well documented, became the first to have gained wide publicity, and had far-reaching influences. Marco Polo’s description of the Far East and its riches inspired Christopher Columbus to try to reach lands by a western route. Among Columbus’s belongings was a copy of Marco Polo’s book.
Marco Polo’s return journey
According to Marco’s travel writings, the Polos requested permission from the Khan, many times, to return Europe. But Khan valued them so much that he would not let them go. Finally, in1291, Kublai Khan entrusted Marco with his last duty-to escort the Mongol princes Koekecin (also spelt as Cocacin) to her betrothed, Arghun of the Ilkhanate in Persia. The party sailed out from the southern port city of Quanzhou. They went on to Sumatra, and then to Persia, via Sri Lanka and India. Marco Polo visits included Mylapore, Madurai and Alleppey, which he nicknamed Venice of the East. In 1293 or 1294, the Polos reached the Ilkhanate, ruled by Gaykhatu after the death of Arghun. They left Koekecin with new Ilkhan, and moved on the Trabzon from where the sailed to Venice.

Who signed the Magna Carta?

Who signed the Magna Carta?

King John of England, who ascended the throne on the death of his brother, Richard I, proved to be a wicked ruler. He lost a lot of the Kingdom’s lands in France, got involved in a controversy with the Pope. Finally England had enough and King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta (or the Great Charter). This took place in June 1215, at Runnymede. The charter stated that the King was beneath the law and not above it. Its spirit has influenced the law of England ever since. The most enduring legacy of the Magna Carta was the right of Habeas Corpus.

Who was Genghis Khan?

Who was Genghis Khan?

Genghis Khan (1167-1227 AD) was a warlord of Mongol, who evolved as one of the most successful military leaders in the history of the world. The Mongols were a nomadic people who lived on the plains of Central Asia. In the late twelfth century, Genghis became the ambitious leader of the Mongol band, that set no limits as to what the size of the Mongol Empire could be.
Having captured the whole of China, by 1214, Genghis Khan turned his attention westwards, towards lands that had never heard of his conquests. The ‘Mongol Hordes’ as this huge Army of heavily-armed horsemen came to be known, swept across vast territories, reaping victory wherever they went. Russia, the Persian empire, Poland and Hungary fell under them. Over the next eight years, Genghis accumulated the largest contiguous empire that the world had seen so far.
However, unlike Alexander the Great, Persian Emperors or the Romans, Genghis Khan had no idea of ruling over other peoples, and conquered territories. In fact, his aim was only to loot and destroy everything in his path. His cruelty and lack of concern for human life made him the most dreaded figures in Asia and Europe.
The Hordes were dependent on military abilities of Genghis Khan for their success. On his death, Ogadai Khan took up the reins and continued the conquests. Bu the Mongols soon exhausted themselves and went back to Central Asia.
Before the invasions by Genghis Khan, the people of Europe and China were unaware of each other. Thus, the significance of these invasions is that it made people at opposites ends of the globe aware of one another. In fact, before the Mongols, Europeans were ignorant of the existence of the Far East

What is the catalyst that led to the Renaissance?

What is the catalyst that led to the Renaissance?

The Crusades (1095-1291) were the catalyst that led to the Renaissance. The Crusades or the Holy Wars were a series of several military campaigns led by the Catholic Church to take the Holy Land and Jerusalem from the Muslims.
The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II. It was a major turning point in the expansion of Western power, and was the only crusade to capture Jerusalem.
The Crusades initially started as an appeal to the French knightly class. But it soon turned into a conquest of territory outside of Europe, such as the Fourth Crusade against Constantinople. Although it did not capture Jerusalem, it managed to establish a Roman Christian kingdom there that lasted till 1262. None of the crusades that followed were successful.
But the historic significance of the Crusades was not that it was a series of defeats, but that it brought Europe in contact with the East. Although the original aim of liberating Jerusalem failed to materialize, it opened up a new world and widened the outlook of the Europeans. This provided the base for a cultural rebirth or renaissance

Why is the battle of Hastings important?

Why is the battle of Hastings important?

The King of England, known as Edward the Confessor (1002-1066 AD) was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Harold II, to whom Edward had publicly promised the throne. But this was challenged by William of Normandy, who was Edward’s half brother. William invaded England by crossing the English Channel from Normandy, in the North of France.
Harold failed to disrupt this landing, and both met in battle at Hastings on October 14, 1066 Harold’s infantry proved a poor match for William’s cavalry, which was heavily armed and armoured. Harold had to admit defeat. On Christmas day, William was crowned King of England, and came to be known as William the Conqueror thereafter.
William has gone down in history as the last man to lead a successful invasion of England by force of arms. With this Norman Conquest, England became open to the art and literature of Europe, adapting and adopting the best of European culture