History
1548
General
Population: 498 Million*
- Entertainment: Writers include John Bale Kynge Johan (first English historical poem), Ignatius Loyola Spiritual Exercises,
Art includes Tintoretto "St. Mark Rescuing a Slave", Titian "Charles V on Horseback",
- Deaths: Sigismund I of Poland, Gonzalo Pizarro (son of Francisco),
Americas
- Mexico: Silver mines of Zaatecar Mexico mined by Spanish
- Peru: Gonzalo Pizarro son of Francisco Pizarro defeated at Battle of Zaquizaguane (Peru) by Pedro de la Gasca and executed
Asia
- Japan: Francis Xavier founds a Jesuit mission in Japan
- Sri Lanka: Catholicism reaches Sri Lanka
Europe
- England: Sir Thomas Gresham founds seven professorships in London – though U of London not founded until 1828
Guinea pepper plant grown in England
- France: First roofed theater opens in Paris – Hotel de Bourgogne
Royal edict forbids performance of "mysteres" in Paris
- Holland: HRE Charles V annexes Netherlands
- Italian States: University of Messina founded
- Poland: Death of Sigismund I king of Poland, son Sigismund II Augustus rules
- Scotland: Mary Queen of Scots at age six betrothed to the Dauphin – lands in France
Middle East
- General: Turks occupy Tabriz, Persia