The emergence of Anabaptism, and the Reformation’s blow to the authority of the papacy, were a product of fundamental changes in the social fabric that arose during the sixteenth century. During this period, new forms of culture that included new expressions of art, science and faith were being discovered. Much of the change was empowered by the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in the middle of the fifteenth century.

Below is a list of key dates that outline the historical timeline of the emergence of the Anabaptist movement. During the lead up to the Reformation period, the Renaissance was unfolding, a time when DaVinci completes the Last Supper and Mona Lisa, Michelangelo completes his David as well as the Sistine Chapel and Raphael completes his School of Athens. Other changes that were occurring including Henry VIII becoming King of England and Christopher Columbus discovering the new world. It was a time of great social change and expression. For these reasons, many historians consider this period to be the century which saw the rise of Western civilization.