Monthly Archives: February 2021

Key developments of 1570

This is the 50th anniversary edition of the Project 500 Years daily bulletin. I have completed 10% of my self-assigned task! To mark the occasion I shall shortly– today or tomorrow– be issuing “Communique #2” for the project. But for now, this fascinating daily grind must continue. Readers: the main developments of 1570 CE: Ottoman … Continue reading Key developments of 1570

Key developments of 1569, & a note on world geography

1568 was a pretty busy year. And I snuck a quick peek ahead at 1570, which is also action-packed. But 1569? Not so much. Setting aside the perennially fractious French, a little English-Scottish thing continuing, and all the items I usually do set aside anyway, today’s theme will be… geography! But first, a newsflash, since … Continue reading Key developments of 1569, & a note on world geography

Key developments of 1568

On a world-historical level, the major event of 1568 CE was something that happened in India. But other interesting things were happening concerning the post-Suleiman Ottoman state– and as usual, lots of quarreling among various powers in Europe, much of it cloaked in (or stemming from?) intra-religious differences. Here we go: Mughal Emperor Akbar captures … Continue reading Key developments of 1568

Key developments of 1567

Last year, 1566, one main big thing of world-historical importance happened. This year, 1567 CE, lots of things happened! I shall try to bring order out of a degree of global chaos: In China, the Jiajing Emperor dies Uproar & uprising in the Spanish Netherlands Conquistadores found key settlements in Americas Many adventures for Mary … Continue reading Key developments of 1567

The key development of 1566

I’ll interrupt my normal procedure here of picking out a few bullet-points (or headlines) from the events of the year, to focus on a single theater of world affairs in which two big things happened simultaneously in 1566 CE. This was Szigetvár, a fortified city in the south of today’s Hungary, which was captured– after … Continue reading The key development of 1566

Key developments of 1565

Lots going on in 1565 CE– and a slightly new format here. Headlines and even an index. Click away! Ottomans besiege Crusader-remnant Knights in Malta Spanish Conquistador forces a “Treaty” on Rajah in today’s Philippines Another Conquistador attacks French & indigenes in today’s Florida Portuguese & Japanese battle at Fukuda Bay Key Ming military planner … Continue reading Key developments of 1565

Key developments of 1564

Back to the New World (and a couple other places) this year. Here were the main  developments of world-historical impact in 1564 CE: In Chile, the Mapuche continued their resistance to Spanish settler-colonialism though they continued to suffer grievously from Spanish violence. In March 1564, a conquistador captain called Lorenzo Bernal  fought a battle at … Continue reading Key developments of 1564

Key developments of 1563

1562 was such a big year for this project. 1563 CE seems, by contrast, to be very quiet. I am certain that over here in the Americas, the Spanish and Portuguese settlers were continuing their genocidal activities and in London the Queen and various very rich dudes around her were planning their next investment in … Continue reading Key developments of 1563

Key developments of 1562

Omg, 1562 CE, the year of the first instance of officially-backed English involvement in the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans. (A few other globally significant things happened, too.) Here goes: John Hawkins was a 30-year-old mariner from the southwest England port town of Plymouth, when this happened (per WP): “Hawkins received commission from Queen Elizabeth … Continue reading Key developments of 1562

Key developments of 1561

The single most interesting development of 1561 CE was the renewed outbreak of an anti-colonial uprising in today’s Chile. But Suleiman the Magnificent was also getting on in years and his sons had been circling around for the succession… Anyway, read on! First Chile. 1561 saw the outbreak of the Second Great Mapuche Rebellion in … Continue reading Key developments of 1561