The Spanish government became bankrupt.
St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican City was consecrated, becoming the world's largest Christian basilica.
English parliament was dissolved by King James I of England after a disagreement about his son Charles marrying Princess Maria of Spain.
Governor William Bradford of Plymouth Colony forbade game playing on Christmas.
The Dutch Republic granted a charter for New Netherlands to the Dutch West India Company.
Samoset became the first Native American to make contact with the Plymouth colony.
Thirty Native Americans attacked Myles Standish and a group of eighteen settlers. This became known as the 'First Encounter.'
English military officer Myles Standish lead 16 men to explore Cape Cod.
The Mayflower, filled with Puritan Pilgrims, spotted land at Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
The first merry-go-round debuted at a fair in Philippopolis, Turkey.
Spanish Catholic priest Joseph Calasanz started the first public and free school in Europe.
English poet William Shakespeare died at the age of 52.
The Roman Inquisition ordered Galileo not to teach or defend his theory that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun.
American Indian princess Pocahontas married English tobacco planter, John Rolfe.
A fire destroyed Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London.
The Pendle witch trials begin.
William Shakespeare had his first known performance of 'The Tempest.'
English navigator Henry Hudson, his teenage son, and seven supporters set adrift aboard a tiny boat on the Hudson Bay.
The first official performance of Macbeth by Shakespeare took place at the Globe Theatre in London, England.
Dutch astronomer Johannes Fabricius discovered sunspots.
English sea explorer Henry Hudson reached the Hudson Bay, which was named after him.
Henry Hudson began a journey up the river that would later be named after him – the Hudson River.
British explorer Henry Hudson discovered Delaware Bay.
Shakespeare's Sonnets were first published in London.
John Smith, famous for setting up the first permanent English colony in the New World, told the first stories about Jamestown.
French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City, Canada.
Settlers funded by the Virginia Company of London established Jamestown.
The construction for the San Agustin Church in Manila was officially completed.
The three ships carrying settlers who would later found Virginia, the first of the Thirteen Colonies, departed England.
The first known performance of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' was performed.
Guy Fawkes was arrested while attempting to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, England.
The first known performance of William Shakespeare's 'Othello' occurred at Whitehall Palace, London.
Writer, explorer, and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh went on trial for suspected treason.
King James VI of Scotland was crowned King James I of England and Ireland.
The Dutch East India Company was established.
The British East India Trading Company was given a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I.
Euridice, the oldest-surviving opera, premiered in Florence, Italy.
Italian Artist Caravaggio signed his first commission contract to paint the Contarelli Chapel in the French church in Rome.
English poet and playwright Ben Jonson was arrested for manslaughter after killing Elizabethan actor Gabriel Spenser in a duel.
The Dutch expedition captained by Admiral Van Warwyck first sighted Mauritius.
The government executed a group of Japanese Catholic Christians (known as the 26 Martyrs) as they were deemed too dangerous to Japan's way of life.
A peasant uprising called the Cudgel War began in Finland.
One of William Shakespeare's most acclaimed plays, ''Romeo & Juliet" was performed for the first time.
French King Henry IV declared war against Spain during the French Wars of Religion.
Henry IV took to the throne as he was crowned the King of France.
Folklore states that injured soldier Gil Pérez was mysteriously transported from the Philippines to Mexico City.
Playwright Thomas Kyd's accusations of treason led to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe, who was his roommate.
Pope Innocent IX was elected.
The town of Chartres in France surrendered to King Henry IV.
Scottish schoolmaster Dr. John Fian who had 'a pact with the devil,' was found guilty of witchcraft.
