Early Modern
Dutch Revolt and the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648)
The seven northern provinces became the independent Dutch Republic, recognised by Spain in the Peace of Münster in 1648; the southern provinces remained under Spain.
Region
Europe
Early Modern
Selimiye Mosque in Edirne: Sinan's Architectural Masterpiece
Sinan created his most unified domed space, and the mosque and its complex became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
Early Modern
Mercator Projection (1569): Gerardus Mercator's World Map
Mercator published an 18-sheet world map on a new conformal projection that showed lines of constant compass bearing as straight lines; it became the standard for nautical charts and later for web maps.
Early Modern
Rising of the North (1569): Catholic Earls Revolt in England
The rising collapsed without a major battle; several hundred rebels were executed and the power of the great northern Catholic families was broken.
Early Modern
Union of Lublin (1569): The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Born
Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania became a single Commonwealth with one elected monarch and a common Sejm, while keeping separate laws, armies and treasuries.
Early Modern
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570): Ortelius and the First Atlas
Ortelius produced the first systematic collection of uniform printed maps bound as a book, which became a bestseller and set the model for the modern atlas.
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.
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
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
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
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.