The world in
What happened in 1598?
11 events across 4 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
Scientific RevolutionIn the 16th and 17th centuries, a Scientific Revolution took place in Europe, with breakthroughs in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology, and chemistry, altering the human understanding of nature. It marked the emergence of modern science, breaking with Greek traditions, embracing a mechanistic worldview, integrating mathematics, and emphasizing new evidence.
Outbreak of the Protestant ReformationIn 1517, the Protestant Reformation broke out in Western Christianity. Initiated by theologians like Martin Luther, the movement posed a religious and political challenge to the papacy and Catholic authority, seeking to return to the roots of Christianity. It marked the beginning of Protestantism, the end of the Middle Ages, and the start of the early modern period.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: 95Thesen.jpg : User:Shizhao derivative work: 6birc ( talk ) / Public domain ↗
- Nine Years' War
The Nine Years' War took place in Ireland from 1593 to 1603, fought between a confederacy of Irish lords led by Hugh O'Neill and Hugh Roe O'Donnell and the English government forces. Centered in Ulster but spreading nationwide, it was part of the Tudor conquest of Ireland and linked to the Anglo-Spanish War and European wars of religion. The 1603 Treaty of Mellifont ended the war; the Irish lords' defeat led to the Flight of the Earls and the Plantation of Ulster.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Signing of the Peace of VervinsOn 2 May 1598, representatives of Henry IV of France and Philip II of Spain signed a peace treaty under the mediation of Pope Clement VIII in the small town of Vervins, northern France. The treaty ended the Franco-Spanish War that began in 1595, leading Spain to withdraw its troops, cease support for French Catholic factions, and recognize Henry IV as king.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Gillot Saint-Evre / Public domain ↗
Edict of Nantes signedIn 1598, King Henry IV of France signed the Edict of Nantes, granting Huguenots religious freedom and marking the first modern edict of religious tolerance. It ended decades of religious war but was revoked in 1685, prompting Huguenot emigration.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Henry IV of France . / Public domain ↗
Anglo-Spanish War breaks outIn 1585, England launched a military expedition to the Spanish Netherlands under the Earl of Leicester, in support of the Dutch rebellion, initiating an undeclared, intermittent conflict with Spain that lasted until 1604.
Founding of São Bento PalaceThe São Bento Palace was founded in Lisbon in 1598 as a Benedictine monastery. It later became the seat of the Portuguese parliament after the Liberal Wars, serving as the centre of the country's legislative activity.
East Asia
Japanese invasions of Korea break outIn 1592, Japan under Toyotomi Hideyoshi invaded Korea, prompting Ming China to intervene on behalf of Joseon. The conflict lasted until 1598, devastating the Korean Peninsula.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
Construction of Morioka CastleMorioka Castle is a hirayama-style Japanese castle in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture. It was built by the Nanbu clan and served as the seat of Morioka Domain. Also known as Kozukata Castle, its name is thought to refer to its strong fortifications. The castle became the Nanbu clan's center of power during the Edo period and is now a nationally designated historic site.
West Asia
Naqsh-e Jahan Square Laid OutIn the late 16th century, the Safavid dynasty laid out Naqsh-e Jahan Square in the center of Isfahan, a vast urban space over 500 metres long and 160 metres wide.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Arosha-photo(Reza Sobhani) / CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
North America
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El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro establishedIn 1598, the Spanish colonial authorities established El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, a route of approximately 2,560 km linking Mexico City to San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, primarily used for transporting silver from Zacatecas and other mines, as well as mercury imported from Europe.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Bureau of Land Management / Public domain ↗
Around 1598
These are known only to the century, not to the year. They are listed separately so a rough date is never mistaken for an exact one.
- Russian conquest of Siberia
- Beginning of the Columbian Exchange
- Beginning of the Renaissance
- Construction of the Badaling Section of the Great Wall
- Formation of the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
- Founding of Varlaam Monastery
- Completion of the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge
- Construction of Villa d'Este begins