1400- Canterbury Tales by Chaucer

• First book of poetry written in English.
• First collection of short stories.
• Written in the vernacular, showed the poetic ability of English.

1436- Gutenberg's Printing Press

• Writing was able to be copied quickly for the first time.
• Allowed books to be printed and bought faster, cheaper, and more reliably.
• Increased the availability of books and the literacy rate.

1501- Harmonice Musices Odhecaton

• Book of songs published by Petrucci.
• The first sheet music to be produced with moveable type printing.
• Sheet music was now available on a mass scale.

1510- Missa de Beata Virgine by Josquin

• Most popular work by Josquin.
• Josquin was the best composer of the Renaissance.
• Influenced new forms of composition, especially polyphony.

1532- The Prince by Machiavelli

• One of the first works of modern political philosophy.
• Has influenced countless rulers.

1562- Council of Trent 22nd Session

• Reforms against secular music.
• Outlawed professional musicians, the use of the organ, and polyphonic singing.

1597- Dafne by Jacopo Peri

• First opera. Ever.
• An attempt to copy Greek music.