Observing with his own telescope, Galileo Galilei discovers the moons of Jupiter, publishing them in Sidereus Nuncius in 1610 in support of heliocentrism.
Johannes Kepler publishes Astronomia nova, stating his first two laws of planetary motion, including elliptical orbits.
An assembly of the land elects Michael Romanov as Tsar, ending the Time of Troubles; the Romanovs rule Russia until 1917.
Miguel de Cervantes publishes the first part of Don Quixote, often regarded as one of the first modern novels.
Shakespeare dies in Stratford-upon-Avon, leaving some 39 plays and 154 sonnets.
Beginning with a revolt in Bohemia, the conflict spreads across Central Europe, drawing in the major European powers and causing enormous loss of life.
Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci is permitted to reside in Beijing, becoming a bridge of science and culture between Europe and China.