european history Archives - Pints of History

This Week in History: The Treaty of Tordesillas

by David Tollen | Jun 11, 2020 | The Postclassical Age (Medieval History), The Early Modern Age, Geography

This week in 1494, the Spanish and Portuguese Empires signed the Treaty of Tordesillas—brokered by the Pope. The treaty divided the globe between the two great powers, fifty-fifty. The Treaty of Tordesillas drew a line through the Atlantic, from pole to pole. New...

Follow-up to REAL theories for the origin of April Fool’s Day

by David Tollen | Apr 9, 2020 | Classical Civilization, The Postclassical Age (Medieval History), The Early Modern Age

Last week, I posted this article that had 3 real theories on the origins of April Fool’s Day, and 3 fake theories. Below are the 3 true theories: 1. In 1582, France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, which moved New Year’s Day from March to...

This week in history: the Diet of Worms

by David Tollen | Jan 31, 2020 | The Early Modern Age

This week in 1521 saw the opening of the Diet of Worms: the great meeting of the princes of the Holy Roman Empire to address the turmoil created by Martin Luther. Luther was a clergyman and professor who had repeatedly criticized the Church and attacked its doctrines....

This week in history: Queen Elizabeth

by David Tollen | Nov 18, 2019 | The Early Modern Age

This week in 1558, Elizabeth Tudor was declared queen of England and Ireland, following the untimely death of her half-sister, Queen Mary. Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII by his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Her first and most important job as queen was to...

This week in history: Louis XIII

by David Tollen | Oct 17, 2019 | The Early Modern Age

On this day in 1610, Louis XIII was crowned King of France, following the assassination of his father, Henry IV. The new king was only nine, so his mother, Marie de’ Medici, ruled as regent. Her mismanagement, however, along with widespread hostility toward her...