Deleted to no need further need of use.

A few ideas that leap to mind:

1400 - Geoffrey Chaucer leaves Canterbury Tales unfinished.
1431-49 - Council of Basel, Florence, and Ferrara re-unites Catholic and Orthodox churches, theoretically.
1482 - Marsilio Ficino publishes Theologia platonica.
1487 - Malleus Maleficarum published.
1494 - Savonarola takes control of Florence.
Early sixteenth century - Paracelsus invents gnomes.

Do the Hundred years war, since it talks of the rise of the British Empire, even though they lost the war, it meant they had to focus on being a good naval country and thus allowing them to become the largest nations in the world and it's cultural influence is still the most powerful now, since English in the general language used in international affairs.

@Plotinus: Thanks for the extra events to look over, will look into them.

@classical hero: I'm leaning towards that right now, but the turning point needs to be a specific event in history, not an entire war. So should I use the final battle of the war, or is there one more significant that happened before the end?

So then I would doubt that yur teacher would say that WW2 was not a turning point in History. :shake: Seriously sn=me battles are turning points, but often it is the whole war in a glance that shows the turning point, so if you have to do one, then just do the final battle.

If I were you I'd do the whiskey topic, just because it's bound to be the most amusing.

Hmm, I think you've got enough potentials, though there are others - Plotty's mention of Savonarola reminded me of the publishing of Il Principe and the rise of the Pope's as temporal rulers - so it seems to me you just need to pick one.

I'd probably do Zheng He, and write two papers. One where I support all the crap Gavin Menzies spouts, and one where I actually write about what really happened. You could call it 2009: The Year China Conquered Term Papers.

You could call it 2009: The Year China Conquered Term Papers.

You would of course get it bound into a miniature version of Mao's Red Book as well. I personally think "Glorious, Patriot and Party Member, Gavin Menzies's Account of History as It Happened: Approved by the Peoples Education and Propaganda Division of the Communist Party of China" would be a cooler title.

You would of course get it bound into a miniature version of Mao's Red Book as well. I personally think "Glorious, Patriot and Party Member, Gavin Menzies's Account of History as It Happened: Approved by the Peoples Education and Propaganda Division of the Communist Party of China" would be a cooler title.
Shall they be handed out for free on "Serf's Emancipation Day?"

Shall they be handed out for free on "Serf's Emancipation Day?"

And "Slavery to the Glorious Revolution Day". It should also be compulsory reading to balance out the Western propaganda which denies China its true role as director of all things in history (China of course influenced the Reformation and Counter Reformation).

@classical hero: Yeah, I know how the requirements are stupid, but that's life I guess.

@Sharwood: Sort of what I thought about the whiskey topic. Although I would need some help on getting research. My friend knows several books dealing with whiskey history, which is kind of disturbing.

@Masada & sharwood: I would prefer if you don't talk about communism or Red China here, unless that was something that happened during the 1350-1550 time period. :p

I really like protestantism as a trend towards secularization, so I'd go with Martin Luther or Henry VIII, myself.

Mercator Maps sound interesting, but wikipedia makes it as if they were mathematical innovation well ahead of instrumention (not til 17th C did instruments catch up).

Diaz and Cape Horn sounds like a winner. The Dutch East India company was founded on it apparently.

I assume they can't be negative turning points (i.e. no unproven 'what if's).

Whoever thought that Agincourt happened in 1431 and that Crecy happened in 1415 should be shot. ;)

Go with the Council of Constance, that's a nice one. Jan Hus burned at the stake, Great Schism ended, high point of the conciliar movement...

@Masada & sharwood: I would prefer if you don't talk about communism or Red China here, unless that was something that happened during the 1350-1550 time period.

It's becoming more relevant in the Comparison between Roman and Han Empires thread :p

It's becoming more relevant in the Comparison between Roman and Han Empires thread :p

And your comments are becoming more and more irrelevant to this thread. :p

So far, I've got some nice suggestions, are there any possible events that we've missed?

The beginning of the Livonian Wars in 1558. That basically turned the entire Eastern and Northern European power struggle on its head.

1415- English defeat French at the Battle of Crecy (Large influence on military and the Hundred Years War)
1431- Battle of Agincourt (Important Battle)
As said, these battles are misdated. But more importantly, are they even that meaningful? They ensured the HYW kept going for sure, but in what way did they constitute historical "turning points".

IF the HYW is in any way important, key dates might rather be things like:
- 1429 - the raising of the siege of Orléans by Jeanne d'Arc
or even better
- 1434 - the first "ordonance" by king Charles VII contractually establishing a standing professional army of "gendarmes" cavalry (that and Bureau's organisation of a large and efficient artillery train won the French that war)

How about coming up with things related to medieval science/technology, since I have to write the rough draft of a paper on that by Thursday and haven't chosen a topic yet?

How about coming up with things related to medieval science/technology, since I have to write the rough draft of a paper on that by Thursday and haven't chosen a topic yet?

Was Muslim Astronomy the Harbinger of Copernicanism?
http://www.chowk.com/articles/9489

Basically, what was the true effect (going from earth-centric to sun-centric view) of retransmitting ancient Mediterranean work (e.g. Ptolemy) on astronomy back to Europe?

How about coming up with things related to medieval science/technology, since I have to write the rough draft of a paper on that by Thursday and haven't chosen a topic yet?
How loosely is 'medieval' defined? Could you use Greek fire?

He said circa 500 to 1500, so I guess Greek Fire might work if I could find enough about it. Most of what we studied in the class though was from the 12 through 14th century, so I tend to think the focus should be around there.

It is supposed to be a field of scientific inquiry, so I'm not sure a single invention would really count. The professor suggested it fit into the fields of Astronomy, Arithmetic, Geometry, Harmonics, or Medicine. He said that if in the conclusion of our last assignment we mentioned and area we might want to research we should do that. I sort of listed one ), but definitely wasn't definitive about it. I said I might want to look into medieval hydraulics, as I may end up going into hydraulic engineering and as it might be of some use in another class. It seems that practical matters like how to utilize water power weren't really studied much by the highly theoretical scholastics of the time.


The impact of the availability of Arabic texts on Astronomy (and astrology) was covered a lot in the class. There were several Latin authors between the Arab masters and Copernicus that made greater advancements than either of them. Copernicus isn't that impressive compared to some astronomers whose work was already available to him.


I thought that medical cannibalism that I first read about here would be an interesting topic, but I could only find any evidence of that happening in Ancient times and the Renaissance, not in between. It seems to be one of those superstitions that was reborn in the 16th century, not something widely practiced in the much more rational middle ages.



This essay is supposed to be in the form of a 1500-2000 word wikipedia-type entry (although we still aren't supposed to actually use anything from wikipedia). The final draft is due March 24, but we need t post a rough draft online before spring break so they can be peer reviewed. (I have another longer essay with a rough draft due at the same time.) Reviewing each other's essays is also part of the grade. We were actually supposed to post my topic on a class forum by last Thursday, but only half the class did so.

This essay is supposed to be in the form of a 1500-2000 word wikipedia-type entry
http://www.hauskat.net/hauskoja/wtf.jpg

Not exactly a quality educational institution, I'm guessing.

What about the Black Death? Also, you could talk about the introduction of new world crops to Europe, Asia and Africa.

Also, Battle of Chaldiran, ensuring Ottoman dominance in the Middle East and caused a religious revolution within Persia.

This essay is supposed to be in the form of a 1500-2000 word wikipedia-type entry

Slap your teacher.

@Magister,

You're going to need some specialist books if you go with an engineering topic. I doubt you'll find an engineering revolution for that time frame, just gradual improvements by un-named people.
E.g.
http://www.amazon.com/Water-Technology-Middle-Ages-Monasteries/dp/080186626X
http://books.google.com/books?id=5mvVElGudyYC&pg=PA202&lpg=PA202&dq=hydraulic+engineering+in+middle+ages&source=bl&ots=SzVmEnKo_h&sig=NC0NYQkULBQjRrEOb92bAF7_kUQ&hl=en&ei=4Ca1Sen_NpaitgfhgeXpDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA203,M1

It might be interesting to compare their work to the engineering that was going on in central American in the same time frame. They had some extensive works and irrigation, I believe (at least as seen on cable tv).

Not exactly a quality educational institution, I'm guessing.

It is Georgia Tech, which is considered quite good in science, engineering, and business, but it really weird when it comes to English classes. In addition to having odd themes (Medieval Science & Technology seems rather ordinary compared to those focusing on horror movies), they want the classes to deal with some electronic formats in addition to the more traditional essays.

1453 the year

printing press
fall of constantinople
end of the hundred years war

no competition

1453 the year

printing press
fall of constantinople
end of the hundred years war

no competition
Gutenberg did his thing in the late 1430s; 1453 was just the publication of the Mainz Psalter, which may or may not have been his work. The Hundred Years' War also technically didn't end in 1453, and Castillon, though important, was not really a potential tipping point for the English; things had been decided awhile before that. And then, of course, the Fall of Constantinople was mostly just going to happen anyway.

Gutenberg did his thing in the late 1430s; 1453 was just the publication of the Mainz Psalter, which may or may not have been his work. The Hundred Years' War also technically didn't end in 1453, and Castillon, though important, was not really a potential tipping point for the English; things had been decided awhile before that. And then, of course, the Fall of Constantinople was mostly just going to happen anyway.

I thought the Hundred Years war ended technically with French recapture of Bordeaux (1453). And while you can argue the Fall of Constantinople was ineveitable (perhaps) most things are. And finally, regarding the printing press (this is probably another case of wikipedia epic fail, but oh well...) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1453

Wikipedia often contradicts itself. If you look at the entry on Gutenberg himself, you'll see that not only does it state that he invented moveable type in the 1430s, but it doesn't even mention the year 1453 in the entire article.

Incidentally, I wouldn't call 1500-2000 words an essay at degree level. That's an introduction.

After some deliberations, I've decided to do the Hundred Years War, with the Battle of Orleans as the turning point. I may be able to insert some battles in terms of the war's context, and use the battle to show the turning point in the war, which was a turning point in world history.

One that popped in my head was

1683 Battle of Vienna - Polish win, start of the decline of the Ottoman empire.

One that popped in my head was

1683 Battle of Vienna - Polish win, start of the decline of the Ottoman empire.
1683 is between 1350 and 1550? :confused:

ohh... my bad...

This essay is supposed to be in the form of a 1500-2000 word wikipedia-type entry (although we still aren't supposed to actually use anything from wikipedia).

Wait, a wiki-type entry? Are you meant to even put an argument into your essay?

Wait, a wiki-type entry? Are you meant to even put an argument into your essay?
I think he's meant to put an argument, but base it on hearsay and unfounded assumptions, and reference poorly if at all. Those references should also be highly unreliable and biased towards the thrust of his argument.

Ah, and then that little box has to be added on top then? The one about neutrality?

Ah, and then that little box has to be added on top then? The one about neutrality?
Nah, that's only when the neutrality is disputed. There's another one when an article fails to meet standards of referencing and quality. What I described is well within Wiki's normal operating standards. He will however be required to allow other students to edit it whenever they feel like any way they want before he enters it.

Actually, it seems now like what he wants is actually a normal essay that is for no apparent reason submitted on the the class website's wiki.

Actually, it seems now like what he wants is actually a normal essay that is for no apparent reason submitted on the the class website's wiki.
Sweet, let us know what that Wiki is, and we'll be sure to damage the competition for you.

Actually, it seems now like what he wants is actually a normal essay that is for no apparent reason submitted on the the class website's wiki.

I find American schools stranger and stranger every single day :p

I'm surprised nobody mentioned 1492 in Spain:

-The Inquisition was born.

-Columbus made his 1st voyage to the Americas.

-The last Muslims in Iberia were defeated.

-The large Jewish population of Spain was converted or expelled.

-Spain was united under a single monarchy.

Each of those points had a huge impact on world history. Taken together, 1492 Spain must be the biggest turning point during the OP's time period.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned 1492 in Spain:

-The Inquisition was born.

-Columbus made his 1st voyage to the Americas.

-The last Muslims in Iberia were defeated.

-The large Jewish population of Spain was converted or expelled.

-Spain was united under a single monarchy.

Each of those points had a huge impact on world history. Taken together, 1492 Spain must be the biggest turning point during the OP's time period.
Not really.

1. The Inquisition took its time heating up.

2. Columbus' voyage to the Americas was very important.

3. Did not Granada hold out a little longer? Even if not, the important work had already been done.

4. Took a lot of time.

5. Ferdinand and Isabella had already done that.

3. Did not Granada hold out a little longer? Even if not, the important work had already been done.
First part ain't true, second part is. Mostly. I vaguely recall a scheme by the Moroccans to unite with Granada and carry on the war, but it's not like Morocco had enough weight to beat Castile-Leon-Aragon.
4. Took a lot of time.
Still, the starting point is pretty important. Took a long time to Hellenize the East, but Gaugamela and Issos were still pretty critical.

What about the Black Death? Also, you could talk about the introduction of new world crops to Europe, Asia and Africa.
That, and Dias rounding Africa are the best choices in my NES book.

The last 13 posts have no bearing on the Renaissance at all.

The last 13 posts have no bearing on the Renaissance at all.
Good thing that's not what the OP cares about. It's the period he wanted input on, as is made rather clear in the thread title and first post.

The last 13 posts have no bearing on the Renaissance at all.
Only to people indoctrinated by the Renaissance.

Good thing that's not what the OP cares about. It's the period he wanted input on, as is made rather clear in the thread title and first post.

Then why is Plotinus more on the dot?

Hmmmm Wont the end of the Medieval Era for Europe be the further centralisation of states, the end or partial end of feudalism, as well as the beginning of an exploration era, with people beginning to challenge the normal boundaries of society (going over the edge of the world, art, nudity, non-religious views, scientific study)
The struggle between Church and Crown worsens and the slow, slow death of Kingly Divinity

-The last Muslims in Iberia were defeated.

They were already castillan vassals, I believe.

I'd attribute more importance to 1415, the year when the iberian war between christinas and muslims first crossed over to Africa, starting European expansion beyond the continent for the first time since the the defeat of the crusader states. In that year Ceuta was taken because of its strategic position and its wealth (as one of the ending points of african gold trade). It would be the beginning of a continuous pursuit for those goals.


-Spain was united under a single monarchy.

Not really, they would still be two separate kingdoms for centuries. Even its kings only started trying to treat "Spain" as a single state with Philip I.

They were already castillan vassals, I believe.

I'd attribute more importance to 1415, the year when the iberian war between christinas and muslims first crossed over to Africa, starting European expansion beyond the continent for the first time since the the defeat of the crusader states. In that year Ceuta was taken because of its strategic position and its wealth (as one of the ending points of african gold trade). It would be the beginning of a continuous pursuit for those goals.

IMO this underestimates the Potuguese naval exploits, starting with the exploration of the African coast southward. If Columbus hadn't been able to persuade the Spanish monarchs of his "Indian" expedition, European expansion might have remained very limited for quite a while. (And, coincidentally, Columbus was a Renaissance Italian.)

Well, I have chosen the Siege of Orleans for my topic choice, as I needed to choose a specific turning point, ie ONE event and not a series of events, such as those suggested, which kind of sucks badly.

So, in other words, I'll be asking you for any possible sources you know of that could help me in my research of this topic, and more importantly, its influences on world history. I know of its main influence, Britain's transition to a naval power, but I need sources that talk about said influence.

I would prefer any primary sources, although I would greatly appreciate any help on the matter.
I already have the Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Commentaries of Pope Pius II, and the Chronicle of Jean de Venette, and am searching for more.

Oh, and I live in New York City, so if there are any possible primary sources I could look at, say a museum, I would appreciate that too.

IMO this underestimates the Potuguese naval exploits, starting with the exploration of the African coast southward.

Well, the first step towards that exploration was precisely Ceuta. Tho moroccans obviously retaliated by cutting off most trade to that city, and that in turn let the portuguese to seek other path to the african gold, by sea...


If Columbus hadn't been able to persuade the Spanish monarchs of his "Indian" expedition, European expansion might have remained very limited for quite a while. (And, coincidentally, Columbus was a Renaissance Italian.)

It was inevitable that America be found, soon after 1492 if not then. There's even some speculation about whether the location of some landmass there was already known. The south Atlantic currents push ships near to the coast of what is now Brasil, and by 1500 America would have been stumbled upon anyway.

Well, the first step towards that exploration was precisely Ceuta. Tho moroccans obviously retaliated by cutting off most trade to that city, and that in turn let the portuguese to seek other path to the african gold, by sea...



It was inevitable that America be found, soon after 1492 if not then. There's even some speculation about whether the location of some landmass there was already known. The south Atlantic currents push ships near to the coast of what is now Brasil, and by 1500 America would have been stumbled upon anyway.
Carthaginian and Phoenician enscriptions have been found in Brazil, and Roman shipwrecks have been discovered in Central America, so it's certainly possible that the vague descriptions offered by Plato and others in antiquity of another continent across the Atlantic were more than just guesses. Wasn't really much thought about there being other continents in the 15th century though, it was more mythical islands - such as Antilla - that people believed in.

So, in other words, I'll be asking you for any possible sources you know of that could help me in my research of this topic, and more importantly, its influences on world history.

If you're in university, you should be able to have access to journal databases in your library. The best ones (from experience) are JSTOR and Project Muse. Go check about databases with your library and that should help a lot.

Then why is Plotinus more on the dot?
Who the what now?
If you're in university, you should be able to have access to journal databases in your library.
He isn't.

I hear Mark Twain wrote something or other on Jeanne. :p In more seriousness, Fuller and Creasy might have bibliographies to help.

I got access to some databases, although none of them are really that great. They could be useful though.

Right now, I have 3 primary and 8 secondary sources, but none of them really talk about the Hundred Years War's INFLUENCE on history. I would appreciate if any of you point me in the right direction.

An excellent way to find good resources is to look on www.copac.ac.uk which is a sort of combined database of all the major academic libraries in Britain (including all of the copyright libraries). Type in search terms for the sort of subject you're interested in and it will tell you all the relevant books. The site is rather buggy and clunky but if you want to know what literature exists on any given topic, this is the way to do it. Then when you've compiled a list of possible books you can search the database of your own library to see if it has them.

www.questia.com has a lot of books available to read online, although (a) the selection is somewhat erratic, and (b) you have to pay. But this can also be a good source of information.

It was inevitable that America be found, soon after 1492 if not then. There's even some speculation about whether the location of some landmass there was already known. The south Atlantic currents push ships near to the coast of what is now Brasil, and by 1500 America would have been stumbled upon anyway.

Really? Then why were the Portuguese all sailing in the wrong direction towards India and the spice isles? (Currents don't push sailing ships, the winds do.) The fact that something is discovered (in this case America, and by chance, mind you) does not make it inevitable. (Columbus died thinking he had reached India - hence Indians. The name America derives from Amerigo Vespucci, who was a better writer and had much better PR.)

Really? Then why were the Portuguese all sailing in the wrong direction towards India and the spice isles? (Currents don't push sailing ships, the winds do.) The fact that something is discovered (in this case America, and by chance, mind you) does not make it inevitable. (Columbus died thinking he had reached India - hence Indians. The name America derives from Amerigo Vespucci, who was a better writer and had much better PR.)
What? The Portuguese were sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, which is on the way to India. And America was not really discovered "by chance." People thought it would take too long to get to Asia from Europe going West, and they were right. Doesn't mean someone wouldn't have tried at some point, and I've already mentioned shipwrecks. A Portuguese Caravel is a hell of a lot more likely to survive a return trip than a Phoenician Quadrireme.

Really? Then why were the Portuguese all sailing in the wrong direction towards India and the spice isles? (Currents don't push sailing ships, the winds do.) The fact that something is discovered (in this case America, and by chance, mind you) does not make it inevitable.
Look up Pedro Álvares Cabral, and what he did, and say again that prevailing sea and wind conditions didn't make a European discovery of the Americas (Africa to Brazil) virtually inevitable.

Look up Pedro Álvares Cabral, and what he did, and say again that prevailing sea and wind conditions didn't make a European discovery of the Americas (Africa to Brazil) virtually inevitable.

Dutch used to hit Brazil all the time as they began to work their way down Africa, it helps to explain why they bothered with Dutch Brazil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Brazil)for so darn long.

On a similar, related, but slightly geographically removed example the Dutch used to have to work turn at just the right time to avoid hitting Western Australia (ala the Batavia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batavia_%28ship%29)) and actually end up in Indonesia. Once the roaring forties were tapped by this man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderik_Brouwer), the discovery of Australia was a given.