16th century

Centuries - Year in Review 16th Century

15th century - 16th century - 17th century

Decades:1500s,1510s,1520s,1530s,1540s,1550s,1560s,1570s,1580s?,1590s?

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Events:

• Protestant reform of the Christian church in several countries in Northern Europe.
  • King Henry VIII of England breaks with Roman Catholic Church and forms Church of England (1533)
• European explorers conquer Indians in Central and South America, introduce horse to the Americas.
• First cirumnavigation of the globe by a ship of Magellan?'s expedition (1522).
• Introduction of [spinning wheel]? revolutionizes textile? production.
• Ottoman Empire reaches Vienna but fails to conquer the city (1529)
• Copernicus publishes his theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun (1543)
• Gregorian Calendar introduced in catholic countries (1582)
• Poland is the largest state in Europe.

Significant persons:

• Martin Luther, religious reformer
• Michelangelo Buonarotti, painter and sculptor
• Thomas More, English politician and writer