13th Century – Institute for the Study of Western Civilization

1204	Death of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Fourth Crusade, stops to conquer “ally” Constantinople.
1206	Florence: foundation of Arte del Cambio (Bankers Union). Beginning of power of the Guilds (new middle class).
1208	Formal chartering of University of Paris by King. University of Bologna already established.
1215	Magna Carta signed by King John (son of Eleanor). Cornerstone of English legal protections for indiv.
1216	Buondlemonte Murder on Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Event brings international Guelf Ghibelline divisions to Florence.
1220	Both Dominic and Francis out preaching in vernacular in streets. Soon church for each in Florence: Santa Maria Novella & Santa Croce. A revolutionary Christian movement; papacy scared.
1221	Death of Dominic. (Order of Dominicans) (b. 1170)
1226	Death of Francis of Assisi. (Order of Franciscans) (b. 1182)
1226	Succession of baby King Louis IX (St. Louis) in France. Louis dominates whole century in France, reigns almost 50 years.
1228	Canonization of Francis (extraordinary speed). Papacy immediately begins to build great basilica in Assisi. Contradicts essence of whole Franciscan clerical poverty.
1230	King Ferdinand of Leon unites Leon & Castile. beginning of new united Spain.
1237	All streets paved in central Florence. sign of prosperity, not true in Rome or Paris.
1240	England: the Great Council comes to be called Parliament. Important moment in the evolution of most important legislative body in the West, Marks the change from a royal advisory council to real democratic representative institution.
1250	Death of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick the Great (II) in Apuglia, Italy. The last of the great medieval emperors with the real possibility of uniting all the lands of the empire (Germany, Italy, Sicily) into one political unit.
1252	Florence: city mints the first gold Florin; prosperous Florence on the march.
1256	Wool industry comes to Florence from Lombardy. Now Florence joins wool industry to Florentine banking; Secret of Florentine success.
1260	Battle of Montaperti (near Siena) Florence versus Siena. Imperialists with Siena (Ghibellines win). Villain: Bocca d’Abbati.
1260	Pisa: revolution in sculpture at Pisa. Nicola Pisano, new humanism, like painting of Giotto.
1265	Birth of Dante. (d. 1321 in Ravenna).
1265	English Parliament: send 2 knights, 2 burgesses to Parliament. This is the real beginning of representative government in England. The first time ever that a large government solves problem of representation. (not Greece, not Rome)
1267	Birth of Giotto in the Mugello, Mountain valley north of Florence (Medici from there too).
1270	University of Paris supreme: Aquinas, Bonaventura etc.
1274	Little Dante meets 8 yr old Beatrice. May day party in Palazzo Portinari, Via del Corso (still there)..
1283	Begin gov of the Priors in Flo (freely elected). Building across from Dante’s house. Dante soon is elected to the governing council.
1290	Death of Beatrice, age 24. (b. 1266)
1290	Rome: important innovation in painting: Pietro Cavallini, who influences Giotto.
1293	Giano della Bella leading new government of Priors in Florence. Government issues Ordinances of Justice, Middle Class gov. & constitution. Similar democratic movements in Eng, France, Spain.
1294	Florence: begin build the new Cathedral of Florence (Duomo=Domus Dei).
1294	Florence: finish new Church of Ognissanti (All Saints).
1295	Florence: begin build Santa Croce. (Franciscan church).
1299	Florence: begin build the Palazzo dei Priori. (the current Palazzo Vecchio) biggest in Italy. Florence now most dynamic city in all Italy.