| 1450 | (Johannes Gutenberg invents printing in movable type.) |
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| 1466 | Birth of Erasmus of Rotterdam (d. 1536), Christian Humanist |
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| 1483 | Birth of Martin Luther (d. 1546) |
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| 1492 | (Christopher Columbus discovers the New World by accident.) |
| | Jews expelled from Spain. |
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| 1498 | Cardinal Ximenez de Cisneros establishes the University of Alcala. |
| | Work begins on the Complutensian Polyglot Bible. |
| | Reform of Spanish clergy carried out. |
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| 1503 | Erasmus writes The Enchiridion. |
| | (Leonardo da Vinci begins to paint the Mona Lisa). |
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| 1505 | Martin Luther enters the Augustinian cloister at Erfurt. |
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| 1506 | Johann Renchlin publishes the first Hebrew grammar and lexicon. |
| | Hebrew-Christian studies come under attack; humanists defend their studies. |
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| 1509 | Birth of John Calvin |
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| 1512 | Urged by his spiritual director, Johann Staupitz, |
| | Martin Luther earns his doctorate in Scriptureat the University of Wittenberg. |
| | (Michaelangelo finishes painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.) |
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| 1515 | (Francis I becomes King of France.) |
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| 1516 | Erasmus' New Testament is published. |
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| 1517 | John Tetzel promotes Indulgences in Saxony, Luther posts 95 theses against him. |
| | Traditional beginning of the Reformation |
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| 1519 | Luther debates John Eck at Leipzig; |
| | Zwingli begins his ministry in Zurich. |
| | (Charles V is elected Holy Roman Emperor.) |
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| 1520 | Luther writes An Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, |
| | The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian; |
| | establishes the three principles of Sola Fides, Sola Scriptura, |
| | and the "priesthood of all believers." |
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| 1521 | At the Diet of Worms, Emperor Charles V issues edict declaring Luther an outlaw; |
| | Luther goes into hiding at Wartburg Castle. |
| | (Hernan Cortez conquers Mexico for Spain.) |
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| 1521-22 | Andreas Bodenstein von Karlstadt attempts radical reforms |
| | at Wittenberg while Luther is away; |
| | Luther returns from Wartburg, takes control again. |
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| 1522 | Reformation begins openly in Zurich |
| | when some of Zwingli's followers eat sausage in defiance of Lenten fasting. |
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| 1523 | Iconoclasm begins in Zurich. |
| | Question of images and the Mass debated. |
| | Thomas Muntzer is elected pastor of Alstedt. |
| | Karlstadt leads iconoclastic riots in Orlamunde. |
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| 1524 | Relgious imagery is removed from all Zurich churches. |
| | Mass abolished, replaced with memorial supper. |
| | Zwingli marries Anna Reinhard. |
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| 1525 | Luther marries Katherine von Bora. |
| | Peasant's Revolt breaks out. |
| | Luther writes against peasants. |
| | Thomas Muntzer is killed in battle. |
| | Dissenters from Zwingli's church in Zurich begin to practice adult baptism. |
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| 1527 | Michael Sattler writes "The Schleitheim Confession," outlining Anabaptist beliefs. |
| | Felix Mantz is drowned in Zurich as punishment for "rebaptism." |
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| 1525-29 | Reformation spreads throughout Northern Germany, |
| | Imperial free cities (esp. Strassburg) and Switzerland (esp. Bern & Basel). |
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| 1529 | All major reformers meet at the Marburg Colloquy, seeking union. |
| | Attempt fails due to disagreement over the eucharist. |
| | Second Diet of Speyer threatens to halt Reformation. |
| | Luther's followers issue a "Protest" (hence the term "Protestant"). |
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| 1530 | Augsburg Confession outlines Lutheran beliefs. |
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| 1531 | Zwingli dies in battle against Catholic Swiss cantons. |