History
1618
General
Population: 542 Million*
- Entertainment: Writerss include John Fletcher, Robert Balfour (Aristotle), John Stow and E. Howes (summary of English Chronicles)
Art includes Bernini, Jacob Jordaens "Adoration of the Shepherds",
- Science: Bartin Bohme writes about veterinary science
Kepler starts writing third law of Planetary motion
Johann Hakob Scherchzer writes "Natural History of Swiss Landscape"
- Sports: James I writes "Book of Sports" – Puritans object
- Deaths: Composer Giulio Caccini, Explorer Sir Walter Raleigh (beheaded), Prince Philip William of Orange, Dramatist Gerbrand Adriensz Bredero,
Emperor Matthias I, Chief Powhatan
Africa
- East: Drought at horn of Africa
- North: French explorer Paul Imbert reaches Timbuktu
- West: Founding of Dutch West African Company and English West African Company
Europe
- General: Killer avalanches in Alps
Start of 30 Years' War in Europe - mostly between Catholic Bourbons and Protestant (somewhat) Habsburgs in Germany
Peace of Madrid ratified – ending war between Venice and Austria
End of Polish intervention in Russia
- Belgium: Van Dyck becomes member of the Antwerp guild of painters
First pawn shop opens in Brussels
- Czechoslovakia: Count Matthias von Thurn leads Bohemians to revolt against Catholic policy of the Regents in Prague – start of 30 Years' War
War begins with Defenestration in Prague – Imperial regents Jaroslav von Martinitz and William Slawata are thrown down from windows in Hradcany Palace by the rebels
- England: Francis Bacon created Lord Chancellor, Sir Robert Naunton made chief secretary of state
Building of Aston Hall in Birmingham
Sir Walter Raleigh returns to England and is executed
- France: Richelieu ordered into exile at Avignon for intriguing with Queen Mother Maria dé Medici
Marquise de Rambouillet starts her literary salon in Paris
- German States: Duke Albert of Prussia dies – possessions pass to the Electorate of Brandenburg
Ferdinand deposed and Frederick elected king of Bohemia
Count Mansfield occupies Pilsen for Protestant Union
End of Duchy of Prussia as renamed Brandenburg-Prussia
- Holy Roman Empire: Imperial Army inder Count Karl Bucquoi enters Bohemia to suppress rebels
Matthias I (HRE) dies and Ferdinand elected HRE
- Hungary: Ferdinand of Styria crowned King of Hungary
- Italian States: Landslide in Chiavenna - killer avalanches in Alps kill 2427
Teatro Farnese opened at Parma
Diptheria outbreak
- Netherlands: Death of Prince Philip William of Orange – succeeded by brother Maurice of Nassau
- Poland: Poland signs two-year truce with Sweden – 14-year truce with Turkey
- Switzerland: Attempts to return to normal end
Middle East
- General: End of Holy War between Persia and Turkey
General
- Natives: Chief Powhatan dies