Jan Amos Comenius Issue 13 | 1987 Purchase this issue

ARTICLE TOOLS

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Here we place the events of Comenius’s life in chronological context with the horrid Thirty Years War on one side and, on the other, the exciting lives and achievements of his contemporaries.

Comenius was a true world Christian. As the selected events listed indicate, he was widely traveled, but not always by his choice. He lived many lives in his 78 years—Bishop, Educator, Refugee, Peacemaker, Author, Futurist.

His life intersected the lives of many notable Europeans. Many pioneers in science, art, philosophy, literature and politics were contemporary with him. It was a time of great cultural and intellectual ferment and Comenius was active in the thick of it all.

Other Personalities

1592

Born in Eastern Moravia

1604

Orphaned by death of parents at Uhersky Brod

1605

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) writes Macbeth

1609

Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) builds first refracting telescope

1611

King James I of England (1566–1625) publishes King James Bible

1614

Attends Prerov Latin Schol, Herborn Gymnasium, University of Heidelberg

1616

Ordained a minister in the Unity of the Brethren curch at Zeravice

1618

Appointed pastor at Fulnek

1618–1648

The Thirty Years War [The Thirty Years War Thirty Years War

For three decades this horrible war spread destruction across Europe and was the backdrop that influenced many of the turns in Comenius’s life.

1618

War begins with revolt in Prague

1620

Ferdinand defeats Bohemian Protestants at White Mountain

1625

King Christian IV of Denmark enters war against Hapsburgs

1630

King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden enters war

1632

Gustavus dies in battle

1643

France officially enters war

1648

Treaty of Westphalia ends the]

1620

Francis Bacon [Francis Bacon ] (1561–1626) writes Novum Organum, analysis of knowledge

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