History
1661
General
Population: 562 Million*
- Entertainment: Writers include Molière, Joseph Glavnil The Vanity of Dogmatizing, John Eliot translates Bible into Algonquin,
Georg Praetorius (palmistry), Robert Boyle Skeptical Chymist
Art includes Rembrandt "The Syndics of the Cloth Hall", Jacob van Ruisdael "Landscape with Watermill", Jan Steen "Easy Come Easy Go"
Music includes Edward Lowe composes to revive organ accompaniment suppressed during Commonwealath
- Science: Robert Boyle writes "The Skeptical Chymist" with definitions of chemical elements - shift from alchemy to chemistry
John Evelyn writes early attack on air pollution
- Technology: Christian Huyghens invents the manometer for ascertaining elastic force of gases
- Deaths: Regent Cardinal Jules Mazarin (the Italian) of France, Mohammed Kiuprili of Turkey
Americas
- Mexico: Mexico Cathedral finished
Asia
- China: Reign of the Kangxi emperor in China beings which expands territory and scholarship
- Formosa: Chinese pirate Zheng Cheng-gong (Koxinga) captures Fort Zeelandia on Taiwan (Formosa) from the Dutch
- India: Famine and drought in Punjab India (lack of rain since 1659)
English East India Company gains base at Bombay
Europe
- General: Peace of Kardis between Russia and Sweden ends Northern war
End of war between Dutch and Portugal
- Denmark: Kongelige Bibliothek in Copenhagen founded
- England: Coronation of Charles II – Royal accoutrements recreated
Clarendon Code – Cavalier Parliament passes laws against nonconformists
Lincoln's Inn Theater opens in London by Sir William Davenant – Hamlet performed as first play there
Charles II receives Tangier Bombay and 300,000 pounds from Portugal as dowry of Catherine of Braganza
Matthew Locke made court composer to Charles II
Peter Lely made court painter to Charles II
- France: Death of Cardinal Mazarin – Louis XIV reigns personally
Philip Duke of Orleans marries Henrietta sister of Charles II
Jean Baptiste Colbert becomes French minister of finance – French revenue shows deficit of 22 million francs
Academie Royale de Danse founded by Louis XIV
Louis Le Vau makes Galerie d'Apollon in Louvre Paris
- Holy Roman Empire: Turkey and Empire at war to 1664
- Scotland: Bishops restored in Scotland
- Sweden: First banknotes issued in Stockholm
Middle East
- Ottoman Empire: Mohammed Kiuprili the Grand Vizier of Turkey dies and is succeeded by son Ahmed Kiuprili
Turkey and Empire at war to 1664
General
- Natives: John Eliot translates Bible into Algonquin language
East
- Massachusetts: Pastor John Eliot founds first church for Native Americans
South
- Virginia: Slavery granted recognition