1453- The city of Constantinople fell to the Turks after being sieged for several months. This event and the rapid spread of the Turkish people throughout the east, allowed the Turks to exert considerable pressure on the western kingdoms.

1438- The Habsburg dynasty was the principal ruling dynasty in the "Holy Roman Empire" in the mid-fifteenth century. The Habsburgs were one of the largest land holders in the region. They cemented their success through a system of strategic marriages devised to maintain or increase power and influence over the …

1480

The marriage of Isabella of Castile, 1474- 1504, and Ferdinand of Aragon, 1479- 1516, served to unify much of Christian and Muslim Spain. Though both kingdoms maintained separate governing institutions, the two rulers were able to strengthen the bond between the two kingdoms by strengthening their respective monarchies. Isabella …

1485- 1509 - Henry VII defeated Richard III and established the Tudor dynasty. After the War of the Roses, much work was needed to unify the aristocracy, and Henry worked to quell dissension and build a strong monarchy. Henry eliminated the practice of wealthy families maintaining personal militaries. Henry also worked …

1450- 1485 - The War of the Roses was a civil war that broke out between English ducal houses. The house of Lancaster, whose symbol was a red rose, and the house of York, adopting the white rose. In the 1450's many aristocratic families were pitted against one another. Later, in …

Raphael painted School of Athens after he arrived in Rome, 1510- 1511. The School of Athens depicts a gathering of ancient philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras. This work illustrates the revival of classical thought, especially pertaining to harmony and order, during the Italian Renaissance.