History
1603
General
Population: 541 Million*
- Entertainment: Writers include Francisco Gomez de Quevedo (picturesque novel), Philip Henslowe (theatrical diaries), Samuel Daniel (defense of ENglish poetry),
Nudozersky Standard Grammar (Czech language), Johannes Althusias (language of politics), Thomas Craig Jus feudale, Jan Gruter (Roman inscriptions),
Richard Knolles (Turkish history)
Music includes Jean-Baptiste Besard (lute music), Monteverdi (fourth book of madrigals), Thomas Robinson (book "School of Musicke")
- Medicine: Fabricio di Acquapendente discovers valves in human veins
- Science: Federico Cesi Duke of Aquasparta establishes first formal scientific research organization
- Deaths: Queen Elizabeth I of England, Composer Thomas Morley, Sultan Mohammed III of Turkey, Scientist William Gilbert
Africa
- Sudan: Start of decline of Bornu Empire
Americas
- Canada: Samuel de Champlain explores Canada along St. Lawrence river
Asia
- India: Benedito de Goes (a lay Jesuit) sets out for India in search of Cathay
- Japan: Tokugawa family under Ieyasu obtains shogunate in Japan and sets capital at Edo (Tokyo) though Kyoto still nominal capital
Kabuki theater becomes popular
Europe
- General: War between England and Spain ends
- England: Death of Elizabeth I of England, throne passes to cousin James Stuart (VI) of Scotland – renamed James I and moves to London
Plot against James to set up Arabella Stuart on throne
Sir Walter Raleigh arrested for suspected complicity in the "Main Plot" which sought to dethrone James I – sentenced to imprisonment
Heavy outbreak of plague
Puritans present Milenary Petition to reform Church
- France: Henry IV recalls Jesuits to France
King Henry IV prohibits export of gold and silver
- Hungary: Revolts in Transylvania against Rudolf II
- Ireland: Amnesty granted
Famine and plague end
- Italian States: Carlo Maderna builds façade at St. Peter's Rome
Pallazo Rospigliosi in Rome erected
Founding of Accademia dei Lincei in Rome
Middle East
- Ottoman Empire: Death of Mohammed III Sultan of Turkey – succeeded by Ahmad I (Ahmet)
- Persia: Persia conquers Tabriz, Erivan, Shirvan, and Kars