Important Events from 1300 to 1400 in the Renaissance (and some events from pre-renaissance)
1308: Dante writes the poem Divine Comedy Dante's poem Divine Comedy is known as the best work of literature in the Italian language ever. It helped inspire many other writers after Dante's time. Some of our modern literature and even video games are still affected by this poem.
1305:Giotto completes his fresco cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua This event is important because this signaled to a change in art that would come in the Renaissance. In this fresco cycle, Giotto painted things as they were in real life, unlike the previous abstract drawings that looked nothing like how the object looked like in real life. Giotto is said to be the first great Renaissance artist, who pushed the little snowflake that was the experimental beginning of the Renaissance, into the avalanche that it became a hundred years later.
April 6th, 1341: On this date, Francesco Petrach, the great humanist who studied the works of ancient Greek and Roman writers, and himself wrote poetry, was crowned Poet Laurate. This event is important because this event is often credited as the beginning of the Renaissance. Also, Petrach was one of the first great humanists, and began the movement known as humanism. This affected the renaissance because it made an impact on the art forms of the time. Artists began taking a closer look at the techniques used in ancient art, and used these techniques on their own art.
1397: Giovanni de Medici moves to Florence The papal banker, Giovanni de Medici sets up headquarters in Florence, becoming involved in the public life in Florence, and patronage of the arts. The Medici family had been important before the Renaissance, however Giovanni increased the family's economic status, which, in Renaissance Florence was equivalent to political power. This sets up the stage for his son, Cosimo de Medici to rise to power in Florence, along with Cosimo having the best education available during the time in Florence. This is the beginning of a long reign over Florence by the wealthy Medici family.