15th century

As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500.

Table of contents

1 Events
2 Significant people
3 Inventions, discoveries, introductions
4 Decades and years

Events

Renaissance affects philosophy, science and art.
The New Monarchs come to power in France, England, Portugal and Spain.
Rise of Modern English language from Middle English.
Lollardy is suppressed in England; John Badby is the first person burnt at the stake for heresy in England.
Great Schism of the Catholic Church is ended in 1417.
Jeanne d'Arc in 1429 leads French forces to a victory against England in a battle of the Hundred Years' War.
Brazil is discovered by Pedro Alvares Cabral, thus creating the United Kingdom of Portugal and Brazil.
Constantinople falls to the Ottoman Empire in 1453.
John Huss is burned at the stake
Niccolo Machiavelli writes The Prince.
The Spanish Inquisition is established.
Muslims and Jews are expelled from southern Spain after almost 800 years of Moslem rule, in 1492.
The Ancient Pueblo Peoples Native American civilization mysteriously disappears
Christopher Columbus reaches Caribbean islands in 1492 and South America in 1498, initiating the Spanish Empire.
Portuguese Vasco da Gama completes sea voyage to India, in 1498.
Zheng He's fleet sails from China to South-East Asia, India, East Africa and Egypt.
The Sultanate of Malacca is a regional power. Through its trade and empire, Malayss are converted to Islam.

Christopher Columbus sails to the Americas for Spain
Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon as the monarchs of a unified kingdom who funded the founding of the New World.
Vasco da Gama reaches India for Portugal, creating the first maritime alternative for the Silk Road
Filippo Brunelleschi invents one-point perspective, leads innovation in Italian architecture
Leonardo da Vinci, inventor and painter
Henry VII, English King founds the Tudor dynasty
Zheng He, Chinese eunuch admiral and explorer