an Italian Renaissance poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through hell to purgatory and paradise
LEONARDO DA VINCI, MICHELANGELO, RAPHAEL
ITALY (L-1452–1519) (M-1475–1564) (R-1483–1520)
famous Italian Renaissance artists whose works are well established as masterpieces worldwide
works include:the Mona Lisa (L), the Last Supper (L), the Statue of David (M), ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (M), and the School of Athens (R)
VASCO DA GAMA
PORTUGAL (1460–1524)
Portuguese explorer who led the first naval expedition from Europe to sail to India opening an important commercial (trade) sea route.
brought spices back to Portugal and made a profit of several thousand dollars. (10x the cost of the trip)
AMERIGO VESPUCCI
ITALY / SPAIN (1454–1512)
Italian sailor who corrected Columbus's mistake, acknowledging the coasts of America as a new world
America is named after him
HERNAN CORTEZ
SPAIN (1485–1547)
Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico
JOHN SMITH & JOHN ROLFE
ENGLAND (S-1580–1631) (R-1585–1622)
leaders of Jamestown
Smith led the colony through starvation by instituting military discipline to the colony
Rolfe introduced tobacco to the colony becoming a major cash crop for Virginia
Rolfe also married the Indian princess Pocahontas
NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI
FLORENCE, ITALY (1469–1527)
Italian writer on politics who believed that all means may be resorted to for the establishment and preservation of authority and if necessary, through deceit and manipulation
"the end justifies the means"
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
ENGLAND (1564–1616)
English poet and playwright considered one of the greatest writers of the English language
works include Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
GENOA / SPAIN (1451–1506)
Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a western route to China
FERDINAND MAGELLAN
PORTUGAL / SPAIN (1480–1521)
Portuguese explorer who found a western sea route to the Spice Island by sailing around the American continent
his crew was the first to cross the Pacific Ocean and circumnavigate the world
FRANCISCO PIZARRO
SPAIN (1471–1476)
Spanish explorer who led the conquest of the Incan Empire in Peru from 1531-1533.
