All Major Events
John Calvin(A.D. 1509-1564) French Protestant theologian who lived most of his adult life in Geneva. He was the most influential figure in Reformed theology and ... more<Calvin begins his work(A.D. 1536) John Calvin begins his work as a reformed pastor, teacher, and theologian in Geneva, shortly after he publishes his first edition of Insti... more
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Jesuits order(A.D. 1540) Pope Paul III formally approves of The Jesuits order.
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Calvin back in Geneva(A.D. 1541) Calvin is invited back to Geneva and publishes his treatise, Institutes, in French. Geneva city council accepts his Ecclesiastical Ordinan... more
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Roman Inquisition(A.D. 1542) refers to the final primary inquisition known as the Roman Inquisition which commenced in 1542.
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Scientific RevolutionRefers to the intellectual movement during the late 16th and 17th centuries in Europe that developed the scientific method and made great discoveries ... more
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Council of Trent(A.D. 1545–1563) The Roman Catholic council of bishops held in the city of Trent near the border Austria and Italy over two decades between 1543 and... more begins
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Schmalkaldic war(A.D. 1547) Emperor Charles V defeats Protestant princes of Germany in the Schmalkaldic war. John Frederick, the Electoral Saxony and protector of Lut... more
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Augsburg InterimCharles V imposes the oppressive Augsburg Interim (A.D. 1548) on the subjugated Lutheran principalities in Germany and restores the Roman Catholic Chu... more
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Book of Common PrayerThe official prayer book of the Church of England and is the basis for their common beliefs. It was first published under King Edward VI in 1549, with... more
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Little Ice Age(c. A.D. 1550–1850) A period in which Europe’s climate was markedly colder than average, resulting in harsher winters and expanding glaciers, dest... more
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Mary Tudor becomes Queen of EnglandMary Tudor becomes queen of England (A.D. 1553) and restores Roman Catholicism after the death of Edward VI.
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Peace of AugsburgIs the treaty reached between the emperor Charles V and the German princes in A.D. 1555 that allowed for the existence of Lutheran churches under the ... more
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Calvinist Churches in France and the Netherlands(A.D. 1555) The first organized Calvinist Reformed churches are established in France and the Low Countries.
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Ignatius of Loyola(Died A.D. 31 Jul 1556) Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish military officer who experienced a religious conversion while recovering from injuries. He fo... more
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Elizabeth I becomes queen of England(A.D. 1558) Mary Tudor dies and Elizabeth I becomes queen of England.
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John Knox(A.D. 1513–24 Nov 1572) Scottish minister who introduced Calvinist Reformed Protestant movement to Scotland, which became the Presbyterian Church.Knox publishes(A.D. 1558) Scotland’s John Knox publishes several treatises in Geneva.
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Elizabethan Settlement(A.D. 1559–1663) Refers to Queen Elizabeth I’s rejection of Roman Catholicism while limiting the reformation of the English Church essentially cre... more
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Francis BaconFrance Bacon (A.D. 1561–1626) was an English philosopher and prominent statesman. He was later considered to have been the father of the scientific ... more
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Massacre of Vassy(A.D. 1562) The Massacre of Vassy inaugurates the French Wars of Religion.
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Council of Trent reconvenesThe Council of Trent reconvenes in March but is suspended a year later.
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Counter-Reformation(A.D. 1563) The efforts of the Catholic Church to counter-act, denounce and undo the changes brought about by the Protestant Reformation.
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39 Articles(A.D. 1563) Queen Elizabeth I issues the 39 Articles, the official confessional document of the Church of England.
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Council of Trent concludes its work(A.D. 1563)
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Theresa of Avila(A.D. 1572) Theresa of Avila discusses how she realized the ultimate state of inner union with God that is possible in this life. John of the Cross ac... more
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Religious Tolerance in the Netherlands(A.D. 1577) William I of Orange provides for Anabaptists to be tolerated in the Netherlands.
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Book of Concord(A.D. 1580) The Formula of Concord is published as the Book of Concord together with other Lutheran confessional documents, including The Augsburg Con... more
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Formula of Concord(A.D. 1580) refers to The Formula of Concord which is a Luthern statement of faith written in 1580 that settled various doctrinal disputes within the ... more
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Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and ... more AmyrautMoses Amyraut (A.D. 1596-1664) Also known by a Latinized version of his name, Amyraldus, was a French Protestant (a Huguenot) who advocated a modified... more
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Molinists and Thomists(A.D. 1598–1607) Catholics debate Molinists and Thomists positions on the help of grace without conclusion and appeal to the pope who allows both po... more
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Defenestration of Prague(A.D. 1618) The Defenestration of Prague triggers the Thirty Years’ War.
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Arminianism(A.D. 1618–1619) Reformed theologians reject Arminianism and formulate the five points of Calvinism at the Synod of Dordt in Holland. A Protestant t... more
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Synod of Dordtwas a conference of Dutch Reformed theologians held in A.D. 1619 to address Arminianism and formulated the five points of classic Calvinism, represent... more
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George Fox(A.D. Jul 1624–13 Jan 1691) Founder of the Religious Society of Friends, more commonly known as Quakers.
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Philipp Jakob Spenser
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Qing Empire (China)(A.D. 1644) The Ming Dynasty ends as rebels capture the capital city and the Emperor hangs himself. The Qing dynasty assumes control of Imperial China... more
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Presbyterian church(A.D. 1646) England establishes a Presbyterian church order after the parliamentarian victory in the first civil war.
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Westminster Confession accepted(A.D. 1647) Parliament accepts the Westminster Confession which becomes the most important Reformed confessional document originally written in Englis... more
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Cambridge Platform(A.D. 1648) The Cambridge Platform in New England establishes the Congregationalist form of church governance.
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Peace of Westphalia(A.D. 1648) The Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years’ War in Germany. It reinstitutes the Peace of Augsburg and includes various forms of the R... more
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Charles I is executed(A.D. 1649) England is proclaimed a Republic when King Charles I is executed by order of the Rump Parliament.
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Quakers(A.D. 1650) The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, form in England based on the preaching of George Fox.
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EnlightenmentA broad term for 18th century European intellectual developments, including deism and other movements critical of orthodox Christianity, that are char... more
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EnlightenmentA broad term for 18th century European intellectual developments, including deism and other movements critical of orthodox Christianity, that are char... more
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Pope condemns Jansenism(A.D. 1653) The Jansenist controversy comes to a head in France when the pope condemns five propositions based on Jansen’s book, Augustinus.
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Tolerant state church in England(A.D. 1654) Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, establishes an inclusive and tolerant state church.
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English Monarchy reestablished(A.D. 1660) The English Republic falls and the monarchy and the Church of England are restored to their prerevolutionary positions.
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Halfway Covenant(A.D. 1662) Puritan Congregationalist churches in 1662 modified their policy of only allowing baptized individuals who could adequately demonstrate th... more
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Pietist movement(A.D. 1675) Lutheran pastor Philipp Jakob Spener inaugurates the Pietist movement in Germany when he publishes his book Pia Desideria (“Pious Desire... more
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Quietism condemned(A.D. 1687) The Roman Catholic Church condemns Quietism that sprung out of the teachings of John the Cross and Theresa of Avila.
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Act of Toleration(A.D. 1689) The Act of Toleration in England legalizes Protestant churches that dissent from the established Church of England.
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Deism begins
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John Wesley(A.D. 1703–1791) Anglican priest, revival preacher and organizer, and together with his brother Charles, a founding figure of Methodism, whose theol... more
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Jonathan Edwards(A.D. 1703-1758) Puritan minister, Calvinist theologian, the first American theorist of revival, and leader of the Great Awakening in New England.
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Kingdom of Great Britain(A.D. 1706) The Treaty of Union unites England, Wales and Scotland into a single kingdom, the Kingdom of Great Britain.
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George Whitefield(A.D. 16 Dec 1714–30 Sep 1770) George Whitefield was an ordained Anglican clergy who became one of the most popular Evangelist preachers during the ... more
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Immanuel Kant(A.D. 1724–1804) German thinker generally recognized as the greatest philosopher of the modern period. He revolutionized modern epistemology with th... more
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John Wesley begins(A.D. 1739) John Wesley begins his career as itinerant preacher of revival and leader of the Methodist movement in England.
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First Great Awakening(A.D. 1740) The influential revival movement known as the First Great Awakening begins to spread throughout New England and endures in various forms f... more
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First Industrial Revolution(c. A.D. 1760) The First Industrial Revolution begins as the use of machines and the implementation of factory systems greatly increases production of... more
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Friedrich Schleiermacher(A.D. 1768–1834) German theologian and philosopher, minister in the Reformed church, professor at the University of Berlin (A.D. 1811–1834), and f... more
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American Revolution(A.D. 1775) The American Revolution begins in response to the British Parliament taxing its American colonists without their consent. The taxes were i... more
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French RevolutionA.D. 1789 The French Revolution begins after the French government sought to finance its military engagements in the Seven Years’ War and the Americ... more
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Liberal TheologyIs a major theological movement beginning in German universities in the early 19th century that is critical of orthodox dogmas and turned to experienc... more
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French EmpireA.D. 1804 The French Empire emerges as Napoleon Bonaparte becomes Emperor of the French. He would lead France into a series of conflicts in which Napo... more
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Joseph Smith(A.D. 1805–1844) Joseph Smith, Jr. was an American religious leader who published the Book of Mormon and founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latte... more
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Søren Kierkegaard(A.D. 1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, critic of Hegelianism and modernist Christianity. Kierkegaard mocked the rationalist faith of En... more
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Second Great Awakening(A.D. 1824) Charles Finney replaces some of Jonathan Edwards’s Revivalist theology with “new measures” based on Wesleyan’s increased emphasis ... more
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Dispensationalist theologyA theological movement popular among conservative, evangelical Christians in the 19th and 20th centuries that divides history into a series of time pe... more
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Spanish Inquisition Ends(A.D. 1834) The Spanish Inquisition is definitively ended after a decline in local support over an approximate 50 year period.
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Holiness tradition(A.D. 1836) Methodist teacher Phoebe Palmer inaugurating the Holiness by holding Tuesday Night Meetings in her home in New York City.
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C. I. ScofieldC. I. Scofield (A.D. 1843–1921) Minister, Bible teacher, Dispensationalist theologian, and editor of the Scofield Reference Bible, whose 2nd edition... more
A.D. 1843–1921 Minister, Bible teacher, Dispensationalist theologian, and editor of the ScofieldC. I. Scofield (A.D. 1843–1921) Minister, Bible teacher, Dispensationalist theologian, and editor of the Scofield Reference Bible, whose 2nd edition... more Reference Bible(A.D. 1917) Publication of the second edition of the Scofield Reference Bible(A.D. 1917) Publication of the second edition of the Scofield Reference Bible, which becomes the most important text for the Dispensationalist movemen... more, which becomes the most important text for the Dispensationalist movemen... more, whose 2nd edition (1917) is the most influential book in the Dispensationalist movement. Please share if you found this post informative.
Immaculate ConceptionA Roman Catholic tradition that that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. This doctrine was formally accepted by Pope Pius IX in A.D. 1... more
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Syllabus of Errors(A.D. 1864) Pope Pius IX publishes the Syllabus of Errors, which denounce many modern beliefs such as freedom of religion.
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National Camp Meeting Association for the Promotion of Holiness(A.D. 1870) The First Vatican Council officially adopts the doctrine of papal infallibility as well as the doctrine that God can be known through natu... more
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Second Industrial Revolution(c. A.D. 1870) After an economic slowdown stunts the growth from the First Industrial Revolution, the Second Industrial Revolution continued the gener... more
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Aeterni Patris(A.D. 1879) Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Aeterni Patris promotes “the restoration of Christian philosophy according to the mind of Saint Thomas Aqui... more
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Azusa Street Revival(A.D. 1906) The Azusa Street Revival begins in Los Angeles and lasts for several years. This movement gives birth to Pentecostalism.
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Quest of the Historical Jesus(A.D. 1906) Albert Schweitzer publishes The Quest of the Historical Jesus, and claims that the historical Jesus was simple an eschatological prophet b... more
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Fundamentals(A.D. 1910–1915) Publication of The Fundamentals, a series of books from which the Fundamentalist movement took its name.
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World War I(A.D. 1914) World War 1 begins, a four year conflict pitting the British Empire, France, the Russian Empire, and the United States against the German ... more
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Scofield Reference Bible(A.D. 1917) Publication of the second edition of the Scofield Reference Bible, which becomes the most important text for the Dispensationalist movemen... more
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Billy Graham(A.D. 17 Nov 1918–21 Feb 2018) One of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th Century. He was an ordained Baptist minister who became ver... more
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Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy(A.D. 1922) Harry Emerson Fosdick’s sermon “Shall the Fundamentalists Win?” identifies the main issues on the modernist side in the Fundamentali... more
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Christianity and Liberalism(A.D. 1923) J. Gresham Machen publishes his book, Christianity and Liberalism, which articulates the main points on the Fundamentalist side of the Fun... more
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Scopes “Monkey Trial”The trial in 1925 of John Scopes, a biology teacher in Tennessee, for defying a state law forbidding the teaching of evolution in public schools. Skep... more
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Great Depression(A.D. 1929) The Great Depression begins. It was a worldwide economic depression which lasted anywhere between 5 to 10 years in differing parts of the ... more
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World War II(A.D. 1939) World War II begins, a 6 year conflict pitting the British Empire, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States against Nazi Germany, t... more
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Liberation TheologyRefers to a movement, primarily in Catholicism, that originated in Latin America in the 1960s that understands Christianity from the perspective of th... more
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Vatican II(A.D. 1962–1965) The ecumenical council of Roman Catholic bishops presided over by Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI that was held between 1962–196... more
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Sam Harris(born A.D. 9 April 1967) Samuel Benjamin Harris is a neuroscientist, author and prominent critic of religion. Harris published his first book, The End... more
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Information Age(A.D. 1991) The Information Age begins as the World Wide Web is released to the public.
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Great Recession(A.D. 2007) The Great Recession begins, a two year long economic contraction with the greatest economic impact on the world since the Great Depression... more
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