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