Miguel de Cervantes publishes Don Quixote, the first modern novel
Published in two volumes, in 1605 and 1615, Don Quixote is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age and the entire Spanish literary canon
Good News Links
John Napier publicly propounds the method of logarithms
The history of logarithm in seventeenth century Europe is the discovery of a new function that extended the realm of analysis beyond the scope of algebraic methods.
Europeans land in modern-day Australia for the first time ever
The first known landing in Australia by Europeans was by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in 1606. Twenty-nine other Dutch navigators explored the western and southern coasts in the 17th century, and dubbed the continent New Holland.
The Thiên Mụ Pagoda (or Pagoda of the Celestial Lady) is built in Huế, Vietnam
The Pagoda is a historic temple in the city of Huế in Vietnam. Its iconic seven-story pagoda is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the city,[1] and the temple has often been the subject of folk rhymes and ca dao about Huế
The Kingdom of Dahomey flourishes in modern-day Benin
The Kingdom of Dahomey was an African kingdom that existed from about 1600 until 1894. Dahomey developed on the Abomey Platea in the early 17th century and became a regional power in the 18th century.
San Marino officially adopts world’s first constitution
San Marino’s constitution is the world’s oldest, having been first written in the year 1600.
Shakespeare writes Hamlet, one of the most influential pieces of literature in history
Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play, and is considered among the most powerful and influential works of world literature, with a story capable of “seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others”.
The Betsileo kingdoms emerge in Madagascar
The different Betsileo kingdoms (Fandriana, Fisakana, Manandriana, Isandra, etc.) existed independently of each other with oral traditions dating back to the 17th century.
Zacharias and Hans Jansen invent the compound microscope
The microscope was said to have a magnification of 3x when fully closed, and 9x when fully extended.
Macau enters its golden age of trade
Macau’s golden age coincided with the union of the Spanish and Portuguese crowns, between 1580 and 1640. King Philip II of Spain was encouraged to not harm the status quo, to allow trade to continue between Portuguese Macau and Spanish Manila, and to not interfere with Portuguese trade with China.