History
1553
General
Population: 503 Million*
- Entertainment: Writers include Hans Sachs Tristan und Isolde, Domingo de Soto De justice et jure, Sir Thomas More A Dialogue of Comfort Against Trigulation (posthumous),
Thomas Wilson The Arte of Rhetorique,
Art includes Palladio creates the Villa Pisana at Montagnanam, Titian paints "Danae",
Music: The violin in its present form begins to develop
- Exploration: Richard Chancellor's expedition to Russia via Archangel
- Religion: Michael Servetus executed for criticism of doctrine of the trinity and opposition to infant baptism
Pope doesn't allow expansion overseas of anyone but Spain
- Deaths: Edward VI of England, Writer François Rabelais, Vasili III "Sovreign of all Russia", Theologian Michael Servetus (executed as heretic),
Artist Lucas Cranach the Elder,
Americas
- Mexico: Cyclone hits Veracruz sinking Spanish ships
University of Mexico established
- Peru: Pedro de Cieza de Leon describes the potato in his "Chronicle of Peru"
University of Lima established
Europe
- England: Duke of Northumberland persuades Edward to nominate Lady Jane Grey as heir (preserving Protestantism)
Death of Edward VI of England – Lady Jane Grey proclaimed Queen of England by Duke of Northumberland – deposed 9 days later and Mary I rules
Protestants persecuted under England's Queen Mary
Flemish woman introduces starched linen to England
England creates the Muscovy company to trade with Russia
- Italian States: Veronese creates ceiling of Doge’s Palace in Venice
- Russia: Death of Vasili III the "Sovereign of All Russia"
Hugh Willoughby discovers Novaya Zemlya and dies while wintering on Kola Peninsula
Middle East
- Ottoman Empire: Sultan Suleiman I makes peace with Persia