My Cultural Timeline of the World continues:

1501 – 1550 AD 

1501 AD — Michelangelo begins work on the David*, one of the world’s greatest sculptures. The original is housed in the Galleria dell’ Accademia in Florence. This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Florence, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.  *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1501 AD — The City Hall (Rathaus) of Basel, Switzerland, is constructed. The impressive and distinctive building anchors the main square of this cosmopolitan city. This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Basel, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.

1502 AD — The first African slaves are brought to the New World and sold.

1503 AD — Leonardo da Vinci begins work on the Mona Lisa. 

1503 AD — Nostradamus is born.

1506 AD — Christopher Columbus dies in Valladolid, Spain.

1506 AD — The Tatars invade Poland. Legend says that a lookout in the bell tower of St Mary’s Church in Krakow* saw the Tatar army approaching and tried to warn the populace by blowing his trumpet. His warning (Hejnal) was interrupted as an arrow pierced his throat. Today, every hour on the hour a trumpeter begins his interrupted piece to commemorate this event. This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Krakow, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.  *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1506 AD — Wawel Castle* is constructed on a hill above the Old Town of Krakow, Poland. This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Krakow, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.  *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1508 AD — Michelangelo begins to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel* in the Vatican (he completes the work in 1512). This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Rome, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.  *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1509 AD — The Plague reaches England and kills thousands. A Plague Column in the financial district commemorates this event. This sight and many others have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of London, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.

1512 AD — Copernicus claims that the Sun is the center of our solar system and the Earth revolves around it.

1513 AD — Machiavelli writes The Prince. 

1513 AD — Ponce de Leon lands on the Florida in the vicinity of St Augustine.

1515 AD — Chateau Chenonceau* is transformed from a hunting lodge into a palace. *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1516 AD — The Ottoman Turks defeat the Mamluks and control Egypt.

1517 AD — Beginning of the Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther.

1519 AD — Death of Leonardo da Vinci.

1519 AD — Construction begins on Chateau Chambord*, the most elaborate of the Loire Valley chateaux.  *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1519 AD — Ferdinand Magellan begins his circumnavigation of the globe (Magellan died en route but the voyage was completed in 1522.

1519 AD — Hernan Cortes leads the Spanish conquest of Mexico (completed in 1521).

1520 AD — The reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (until 1566)

1522 AD — Rhodes falls to Suleiman and the Ottoman Turks

1524 AD — Giovanni di Verrazzano is the first European to explore the Atlantic coast, from South Carolina to Newfoundland.

1524 AD — The Frauenkirche, Church of Our Lady, in Munich, Germany, is built. This church has become a symbol of the city. This sight and many others have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Munich, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.

1525 AD — The Cathedral of Segovia* is built. It was one of the last Gothic cathedrals built in Europe. This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Segovia, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.  *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1526 AD — Ottoman Turks defeat the Kingdom of Hungary at the Battle of Mohecs.

1526 AD — The Mughal Empire under its founder, Babur, rules India until 1857.

1526 AD — The Humble Administrator’s Garden* is constructed in Suzhou, China. This is considered the finest of the Classical Chinese Gardens and is the most visited. This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Suzhou, available for sale on the website for just $1.49. *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1529 AD — Austrians defeat the Ottomans at the Siege of Vienna.

1531 AD — The Church of England breaks with the Roman Catholic Church. Henry VIII is the head of the new religion.

1532 AD — Francisco Pizarro leads the Spanish conquest of the Incas.

1533 AD — Elizabeth Tudor (future Elizabeth I) is born.

1534 AD — Jacques Cartier claims Quebec for France.

1536 AD — The Inquisition begins in Portugal

1536 AD — Construction begins on Castillo San Felipe de Barajas*, the formidable fort in Cartagena, Colombia. This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Cartagena, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.  *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1537 AD — Buenos Aires is founded by Pedro de Mendoza.

1538 AD — Piazza del Campidoglio* is constructed near the ancient Roman Forum. This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Rome, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.  *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1539 AD — Hernando de Soto explores inland North America.

1540 AD — The Spirit Way, a formal entryway to the Ming Tombs is constructed north of Beijing, China. The route is lined with interesting sculptures. *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1541 AD — The Amazon River is encountered and explored by Francesco de Orellana.

1543 AD — Copernicus publishes his Heliocentric view of the Cosmos.

1546 AD — The Louvre* was renovated in the French Renaissance style by Francis I. He also acquired the nucleus of the museum’s collection, including the Mona Lisa.

This and many other major tourist attractions here have been incorporated into Gary’s Walking Tour of Paris, available for sale on the website for just $1.49.  *= UNESCO World Heritage Site

1547 AD — Henry VIII dies.

1547 AD — Ivan the Terrible becomes the first Russian Tsar.