Early Modern
Potato Arrives in Europe (c. 1570): From the Andes to Spain
The potato reached Europe via the Canary Islands and Spain by the 1560s-1570s, remained a curiosity for decades, and became a staple across much of Europe in the 18th century.
Era · c. 1500 – 1800
Early Modern
Voyages of exploration, the Reformation and the age of revolutions that reshaped Europe and the wider world.
Early Modern
Regnans in Excelsis (1570): The Pope Excommunicates Elizabeth I
Elizabeth was declared a heretic and deposed in the eyes of the Church; England responded with treason laws that made Catholicism increasingly dangerous to practise.
Early Modern
Siege of Famagusta (1570–71): Ottoman Conquest of Cyprus
Famagusta surrendered on 1 August 1571, completing the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus; Venice formally ceded the island in 1573.
Early Modern
Fatehpur Sikri: Akbar's Short-Lived Red Sandstone Capital
Akbar built a planned imperial city that served as his capital until 1585; it was then largely abandoned and survives as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Early Modern
Battle of Lepanto (1571): The Holy League Defeats the Ottomans
Decisive tactical victory for the Holy League; most of the Ottoman fleet was captured or destroyed, but Venice still lost Cyprus.
Early Modern
Siege of Mount Hiei (1571): Nobunaga Destroys Enryaku-ji
Nobunaga's forces burned Sakamoto and much of the Enryaku-ji complex, killing an estimated 1,500 to 4,000 people and ending the monastery's military power.
Early Modern
Founding of Spanish Manila (1571): Legazpi Claims the Philippines
Legazpi established a Spanish city council at Manila, which became the capital of the Spanish Philippines and the Asian end of the Manila galleon trade.
Early Modern
Fall of Vilcabamba (1572): Execution of Túpac Amaru
Spanish forces occupied the abandoned Inca capital of Vilcabamba, captured the last Sapa Inca Túpac Amaru and beheaded him in Cusco, ending the independent Neo-Inca State.
Early Modern
St Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572): Slaughter in Paris
Coligny and many Huguenot leaders were killed along with thousands of Protestants; the Wars of Religion resumed and grew more bitter.
Early Modern
Zhang Juzheng's Reforms (1572-1582): Saving the Ming Treasury
Zhang restored Ming finances and administrative discipline, but after his death in 1582 he was disgraced and much of his programme lost momentum.
Early Modern
Wanli Emperor (1572-1620): The Longest Ming Reign and Its Decline
The longest reign of the Ming dynasty began with fiscal recovery but ended with a paralysed government, an empty treasury and a new threat from the Manchus.
Early Modern
Siege of Leiden (1574): The Dutch Flood Their Land to Win
The Spanish army withdrew after rebel ships reached the city across flooded land; Leiden was relieved on 3 October 1574.