Century overview
The world in the 15th century
1401 – 1500. 183 events across 8 regions. Below, the century’s most significant events by region — what each part of the world was doing during the same stretch of time.
Europe
Showing 6 of 120 events from this century
- Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War begins
The Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War began in 1409 with the Teutonic invasion of Poland, sparked by the Samogitian uprising. Neither side was ready for all-out war, and a truce was brokered by Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia. Fighting resumed in 1410, culminating in the Battle of Grunwald, one of the largest medieval European battles, where the Knights were decisively defeated. The Order withstood the siege of their capital, Marienburg, and the 1411 Peace of Thorn imposed minor territorial losses. The war shifted the balance of power in Eastern Europe and marked the rise of the Polish–Lithuanian union as a regional power.
- Council of Constance convenes
From 1414 to 1418, the Catholic Church held an ecumenical council in Constance, convened by Emperor Sigismund and Antipope John XXIII. It accepted the resignation of Gregory XII, deposed two antipopes, and elected Martin V, ending the Western Schism. It also condemned Wycliffe, Hus and Jerome of Prague as heretics, with Hus and Jerome burned at the stake.
- Printing of the Gutenberg Bible
In the early to mid-1450s, Johannes Gutenberg printed the Latin Vulgate Bible using metal movable type in the Holy Roman Empire. It was the first major book in Europe produced with mass-produced movable type, marking the start of the Gutenberg Revolution and enabling mass reproduction of books.
- Treaty of Tordesillas
On 7 June 1494, the treaty was signed at Tordesillas, Spain, establishing a demarcation meridian to divide newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and Castile. The line lay about 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands.
- The Church and Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie
Santa Maria delle Grazie is a Catholic complex in Milan, Italy, comprising a church and a Dominican convent. Its architecture combines Gothic and Renaissance styles, and its refectory houses Leonardo da Vinci's mural The Last Supper.
- Foundation of the Llotja de la Seda
In the late 15th century, construction of the Llotja de la Seda began in Valencia, Spain, continuing into the first half of the 16th century. This Gothic-style complex served as a trade hub for silk and other goods, reflecting the economic power of Valencia as a major Mediterranean mercantile city.
East Asia
Showing 6 of 29 events from this century
- Ming Treasure Voyages
Between 1405 and 1433, the Ming fleet undertook seven major maritime expeditions, crossing Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean to reach the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa. The Yongle Emperor ordered the construction of a vast fleet, and Admiral Zheng He was commissioned to lead it. The first three voyages reached Calicut on India's Malabar Coast, the fourth went as far as Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, and the later voyages sailed to the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa.
- Completion of the Forbidden City
In 1420, the Forbidden City in Beijing, ordered by the Yongle Emperor, was completed. Serving as the residence for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was the political heart of China for over 500 years. It is the world's largest preserved palace complex, later becoming the Palace Museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Founding of the Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven was founded in the first half of the 15th century during the Ming dynasty in Beijing. It is an imperial complex for ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvests. Its layout symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven, central to Chinese cosmogony. It was later inscribed as a World Heritage site.
- Construction of Tiananmen Begins
In the 15th century during the Ming dynasty, construction of the main gate of the Imperial City at the southern end of the Forbidden City began. Designed by the imperial architect Kuai Xiang, it was initially named Chengtianmen. The gate, later renamed Tiananmen, served as the entrance to the imperial city during the Ming and Qing dynasties and has become a significant national symbol of China.
- Founding of Ganden Monastery
In the early 15th century, Je Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug order, established Ganden Monastery on Wangbur Mountain near Lhasa. The oldest of the three great Gelug monasteries, it later became a major religious site and cultural heritage monument in Tibet.
- Founding of Drepung Monastery
Around the early 15th century, the Gelug school founded Drepung Monastery at the foot of a mountain west of Lhasa. Its name means 'rice heap'. It later became one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastic centers and a key member of the 'great three' Gelug monasteries.
North Africa
Showing 6 of 10 events from this century
- Establishment of the Songhai Empire
The Songhai Empire was established in 1464 by Sonni Ali, with Gao as its capital. It was the last major black indigenous empire in West African history, ruling the western Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries and succeeding the Mali Empire.
- Treaty of Granada signed
On November 25, 1491, the Treaty of Granada was signed between Sultan Boabdil of Granada and the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, ending the Granada War that had been ongoing since 1482. It stipulated the terms of surrender for Granada and the treatment of its Muslim population, marking the completion of the Reconquista.
- End of the Granada War
The Granada War ended in 1492, marking the end of Islamic rule on the Iberian Peninsula. The Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, defeated the Nasrid Emirate of Granada and annexed it into Castile.
- Construction of the Tomb of Askia
The Tomb of Askia was built in Gao, West Africa, as the burial place of Askia Muhammad I, emperor of the Songhai Empire. The tomb includes a mud pyramid, two mosques, a cemetery, and an open ground, representing Sudano-Sahelian architecture.
- Founding of San Cristóbal de La Laguna
San Cristóbal de La Laguna was founded in the late 15th century in the northern part of Tenerife, Canary Islands, by the Spanish. It later became the capital of the archipelago and is now the third-largest city in the Canaries and second-largest on the island, forming a large urban center with Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
- Construction of the Jamal al-Din al-Ustadar Mosque-Madrasa
Located on Al-Tambakshiya Street in Islamic Cairo, Egypt, this religious building combines a mosque and a madrasa. Habas al-Rahb Street lies to its southeast.
South Asia
Showing 6 of 7 events from this century
- Rise of Hội An as a Trading Port
Around the 15th century, Hội An emerged as a Southeast Asian trading port. Its well-preserved Old Town reflects a blend of indigenous and foreign influences.
- Demak Great Mosque: One of the Oldest Mosques in Java (15th c.)
The Demak Great Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia, located in the center of Demak, Central Java. It is believed to have been built by the Wali Songo (Nine Saints) during the reign of the first Demak Sultanate ruler, Raden Patah, in the 15th century, with Sunan Kalijaga as the most prominent figure.
- The Great Blue Mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif
The Mausoleum of Ali, commonly known as the Great Blue Mosque, is a combined mausoleum and mosque located in central Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Sunni Muslims believe it entombs the fourth caliph Ali, and the shrine welcomes visitors of all faiths throughout the year.
- Founding of the Historic City of Ahmadabad
The Historic City of Ahmadabad was founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah I of the Gujarat Sultanate in the 15th century, on the eastern bank of the Sabarmati River. It served as the political and commercial centre of Gujarat for centuries, preserving rich architectural heritage from the sultanate period, including the Bhadra citadel, walls, gates, mosques and tombs, alongside later Hindu and Jain temples. The urban fabric features dense traditional housing in gated streets with bird feeders, public wells and religious institutions. The site was later inscribed as a World Heritage site.
- Completion of the Green Mosque
The Green Mosque was completed in Balkh, Afghanistan, during the Timurid era. It includes a mosque, madrasa, and mausoleum, named for its turquoise tiles.
- Founding of Wat Ratchaburana
Wat Ratchaburana was founded around the 15th century in Ayutthaya, Thailand. It is a significant Buddhist temple within the historical park, with its main prang considered one of the finest in the city. The temple is situated on the island section of Ayutthaya, immediately north of Wat Mahathat.
Central Asian steppe
Showing 5 of 5 events from this century
- Construction of Gur-e Amir Mausoleum Begins
The construction of the Gur-e Amir Mausoleum began in 1403 in Samarkand. It became the burial place of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur and had a significant influence on later Mughal architecture in the Indian subcontinent.
- Completion of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Timur commissioned the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand in 1399, and construction lasted five years, concluding in 1404. It was one of the largest and most magnificent mosques of the 15th-century Islamic world, considered a masterpiece of the Timurid Renaissance.
- Founding of Ulugh Beg Madrasa
In 1417, the Timurid ruler and astronomer Ulugh Beg initiated the construction of an Islamic madrasa in Samarkand, which later became the centerpiece of the Registan ensemble and a World Heritage site.
- Construction of Ulugh Beg Observatory begins
In the 1420s, the Timurid astronomer Ulugh Beg oversaw the construction of an observatory in Samarkand. It was one of the last such institutions of the medieval Islamic world, hosting scholars including Jamshid al-Kashi and Ali Qushji.
- Establishment of the Kazakh Khanate
The Kazakh Khanate was established around 1465 in Central Asia, formed by nomadic tribes that broke away from the Golden Horde. Its core territory covered present-day Kazakhstan, and it lasted until the 19th century.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Showing 5 of 5 events from this century
- Construction of the Ghanaian Forts and Castles Begins
In the late 15th century, the Portuguese began constructing forts along the coast of present-day Ghana to serve as trading posts. These structures, located between Keta and Beyin, represent the local manifestation of Portugal's global trade network during the Age of Discovery, forming the earliest part of the later Ghanaian forts and castles.
- Founding of Elmina Castle
In 1482, the Portuguese built São Jorge da Mina Castle, later known as Elmina Castle, on the coast of present-day Ghana. It was the first European trading post on the Gulf of Guinea and is the oldest extant European building in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Thimlich Ohinga established
In the 15th to 16th century, construction began on a large stone-built settlement near Lake Victoria in East Africa. Located on a gentle slope in present-day Migori County, Kenya, the site is the largest and best preserved of ancient stone-walled enclosures around Lake Victoria. The structures were built with densely packed undressed stones without mortar. The site was later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Founding of the Larabanga Mosque
In 1421, the Larabanga Mosque was founded in the Sudanese architectural style in present-day northern Ghana, becoming the country's oldest mosque and a significant testament to West African Islamic architecture.
- Founding of Cidade Velha
Cidade Velha was founded by Portuguese traders in the mid-15th century (around 1462) on the southern coast of Santiago island, Cape Verde. It is the oldest settlement in Cape Verde and served as its first capital. Originally called Ribeira Grande, it was renamed Cidade Velha in the late 18th century after the capital moved to Praia.
West Asia
Showing 4 of 4 events from this century
- Formation of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs Complex
The Palace of the Shirvanshahs complex in Baku's Inner City took shape in the 15th century following the transfer of the Shirvanshah capital from Shamakhy. It comprises the main palace, Divanhane, mausoleums, a mosque with minaret, a bathhouse, and other structures. Praised by UNESCO as one of the pearls of Azerbaijani architecture, it forms part of a World Heritage ensemble together with the Maiden Tower.
- Battle of Ankara
In 1402, Timur’s forces fought Ottoman sultan Bayezid I. Timur won a major victory, which triggered the Ottoman Interregnum, a period of internal division in the Ottoman state.
- Foundation of the Muradiye Complex
In 1426, Ottoman Sultan Murad II commissioned the Muradiye Complex in Bursa, a multi-functional architectural ensemble serving educational and religious purposes. It was later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
- Construction of the Blue Mosque of Tabriz
In 1465, the Blue Mosque of Tabriz was completed under the patronage of the Qara Qoyunlu ruler Jahan Shah, becoming a significant religious and architectural monument in Iran.
Central & South America
Showing 3 of 3 events from this century
- Construction of Machu Picchu begins
In the 15th century, the Inca Empire began constructing the citadel of Machu Picchu on a mountain ridge in the Peruvian Andes. Located about 80 kilometers northwest of Cusco at approximately 2,430 meters above sea level, it overlooks the Urubamba River valley. The site later became an iconic relic of pre-Columbian Inca civilization and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Beginning of the Columbian Exchange
In 1492, Columbus's first arrival in the Americas initiated the widespread transfer of plants, animals, and pathogens between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, known as the Columbian Exchange. This led to a catastrophic decline in Indigenous populations, with 80 to 95 percent dying from Old World diseases.
- Rise of the Inca Empire
The Inca Empire rose in the Peruvian highlands around the 15th century, with Cusco as its administrative, political, and military center. It became the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, and its people, the Incas, were the creators of the Inca civilization, one of the three great civilizations of the Americas.
Years in the 15th century
1 years in this century have enough records for a page of their own.