Timeline:

1.    1300- In the 1300s the Renaissance begins in Italian city-states such as Florence, Milan, and Mantua.

2.    1324- Mali king Mansa Musa makes a pilgrimage to Mecca.

3.    1368- Hongwu founds Ming Dynasty in China.

4.    1405- Chinese explorer Zheng begins exploration of Asia and Africa. 

5.    1434- Medici family takes control of Florence.

6.    1453- Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople.

7.    1455- Gutenberg Bible printed in Mainz.

8.    1492- Columbus reaches the Americas.

9.    1517- Martin Luther begins the Reformation in Wittenberg.

10.  1526- Babur establishes Mughal Empire in India.

11.  1534- English king Henry VIII starts the Church of England.

12.  1563- Council of Trent mandates reforms in Catholic Church. 

What can you learn from art?

1.    Classical Art- Renaissance artists admired classical art. The columns show classical style.

2.    Perspective- Van Eyck used the technique of perspective, which shows distant objects as smaller than close ones. He also used oil paints, a new invention.

3.    Religion- This painting portrays the infant Jesus and his mother Mary in 15^th-century Europe. Such a depiction shows the continuing importance of religion during the Renaissance. 

4.    The Individual- Renaissance artists portrayed the importance of individuals. Chancellor Rolin is wearing a full-trimmed robe that shows his high status. 

5.    Beauty- Van Eyck included many details simply to add beauty. These include the design on the floor, the folds of Mary’s cloak, and the scenery outside.