Our Future Will Come Trivia Quiz

At outbreak of Bubonic Plague (known as the Black Death) spread across Europe from 1347 to 1350, decimating its populations. It was particularly effective in Italy, where a series of famines had left the population weak, despite their living in the most urbanized societies in Europe. Economic crises followed as trade ceased for fear of the plague.

The decimation of the population led to an end to the feudalism as labour shortages increased wages and living conditions improved. Italy, in particular, became very wealthy, which allowed patronage of the arts, culture and religious convictions to thrive, ultimately leading to the Renaissance and ending the Dark Ages.

In May 1453, a 55 day siege of the Byzantine city of Constantinople ended with the capture of the city by the Ottoman Empire. This led to the exodus of many Greek scholars from Byzantium to Italian city-states, where they shared knowledge and documents from the Greco-Roman tradition that hadn't been available during the Dark Ages.

They also set up new centres of learning, which drove Europe's Renaissance further.

The invention of the first mechanised printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1455 changed the world. It allowed for mass production of books and the spread of knowledge and literacy on a global basis. During the Dark Ages, much knowledge had been lost due to lack of records, inability to copy fast enough, and general lack of literacy, so it is arguable that the invention of the printing press really kick started the Renaissance era.

Lorenzo de Medici assumed the role of head of state of the city-state Florence in 1469 at the age of 20 following his father's death. He was one of the most powerful patrons of Renaissance culture, providing sponsorship for artists including Botticelli and Michelangelo, whilst also providing stable leadership and patronage to the Medici bank and Florence as a political power.

This represented a significant boost to European economy, culture, and political stability, all of which had a significant effect on the propulsion of Renaissance ideas.

From Christopher Columbus's first landing in what is thought to have been the Bahamas in 1492, knowledge of the "New World" brought Europeans new trade routes, new knowledge and learning, and new opportunities to revive their fortunes. It was the beginning of the "Age of Discovery", which saw colonisation and exploration by Europeans across the globe.

Widely considered to be a painting of Italian noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo, the "Mona Lisa" is an oil painting on panel and it has become the definitive example of the Renaissance portrait and of Renaissance art. It it the best known example of the shift from brightly-coloured medieval drawings and gothic-style paintings to the more learned, realistic depictions that defined the Renaissance era. Though it is not known exactly when he finished the work Da Vinci is believed to have started it in 1503.

When he took the Papacy in 1503, Pope Julius II quickly became known as the Warrior Pope. His incumbency saw the consolidation and increase of power of the Papal States and their influence on Europe. In 1506, Julius II established the Vatican Museums which immediately began to amass knowledge, art, and historical artifacts for preservation, and started rebuilding St. Peter's Basilica which remains a prime example of Renaissance architecture. Julius II also further propelled the Age of Discovery as he established the first bishoprics in the Americas in the 1510s and began the Catholicization of Latin America.

In protest against the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences (i.e. a forgiveness of sins), Martin Luther, a professor and preacher in Germany, wrote "Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences", commonly known as the "Ninety-five Theses", and allegedly nailed it to the door of a German Catholic Church in 1517.

The document is considered to have sparked the Protestant Reformation which defined the later Renaissance era by creating a schism within the Church.

Originally part of the Papal States controlled by the Catholic Church, Rome was a critical seat of power in Italy. In 1527, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V led over 20,000 troops to conquer Rome. A lack of authority in his army meant that the taking of the city led to massacres, pillages, and looting of Church buildings, and it is now described as the sack of Rome.

The sack of Rome ended the golden age of the Italian Renaissance, as it destroyed Rome's burgeoning economy and led influential members of the cultural scene to flee elsewhere. It also led to religious orthodoxy as Pope Clement VIII adopted a conciliatory policy toward Charles V to avoid further conflict.

When Henry VIII of England's marriage to Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon failed to produce a male heir, he sought permission for a divorce from Pope Clement VIII, who had repeatedly refused him. In 1534, Henry declared himself head of the Church of England and split England's faith from the church in Rome via the Act of Supremacy.

Called "The King's Great Matter", this huge decision led to the English Reformation and transformed England into a Protestant nation. When Henry dissolved the monasteries from 1536 and pillaged their wealth, he defined the end of the Renaissance period in England.