History
1655
General
Population: 553 Million*
- Entertainment: Writers include John Cotgrave (treasury of English language), James Shirley The Gentheman of Venice tragicomedy,
William Strode (political drama), Pierre Borel (antiquities of Gaul), William Drummond (politics), Thomas Fuller (churches in Britain),
Thomas Hobbes (philosophy), Thomas Stanley (history of philosophy)
Art includes Jordaens "Presentation in the Temple", Rembrandt "Woman Bathing in a Stream", Velazquez "The Maids of Honor"
- Religion: Death of Pope Innocent X – Fabio Chigi (Siena) becomes Pope Alexander VII
- Technology: Chinese scientist and naturalist Ch'en yuan-lung publishes book on new inventions
- Deaths: Poet Daniel Heinsius, Philosopher Pierre Gassendi, Author Friedrich von Logau, Poet Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac, Pope Innocent X,
Composer Sigmund Gottlieb Staden
Americas
- Jamaica: English capture Jamaica from Spanish
Asia
- Ceylon: Dutch expel Portugese from their trading posts in Ceylon
- China: Dutch begin brief trading stint with China
Europe
- General: Charles X of Sweden invades Poland and the "Great Elector" invades Prussia – outbreak of first Northern War – Swedish army takes Warsaw and Cracow
- England: Cromwell dissolves Parliament and divides England into 11 districts – each with a mojor-general as governor – prohibits Anglican services
Oliver Cromwell readmits Jews into England
Cromwell allows 11 military general appointments – social reforms enforced
Pubs, horse races, etc. banned in England
10% tax "the decimation" on royalists
- German States: First regular newspaper in Berlin
East
- Dutch under Peter Stuyvesant seize Ft. Christina from Swedes on banks of Delaware, start fur trade