History
1684
General
Population: 608 Million*
- Entertainment: Writers include John Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress part 2, Alexander Olivier Esquemeling History of the Buccaneers of America,
Giovanni Paolo Marana (Spy story), Literary review in Rotterdam, Increase Mather Remarkable Provinces, Japanese poet Saikaku composes 23,000 poems in 24 hours
Art includes Sir Godfrey Kneller "Duchess of Portsmouth"
- Exploration: German explorer Engelbert Kampfer travels to Persian Gulf, Java and Japan,
- Science: Giovanni Cassini writes regarding astronomy
Lebniz publishes system of Calculus (although Newton created independently)
Newton publishes theory of gravitation
- Deaths: Dramatist Pierre Corneille, Artist Adriaen van Ostade, Musician Nicolo Amati,
Americas
- Bermuda: Becomes crown colony
Asia
- Japan: Takemoto Gidayu begins puppet theater in Tokyo (Joruri)
Economic hardship follows Buddhist-inspired reforms of the shogun Tsunayoshi
Japanese poet Saikaku composes 23,000 poems in 24 hours
- Siam: Siamese embassy arrives at court of Louis XIV at Versailles
Europe
- General: Emperor HRE and Poland and Venice conclude Holy League of Linz against Turks
Holy League of Linz formed by Pope Innocent XI – Venice Austria (HRE Leopold) and Poland united against Turkey
- England: First attempts in London to light streets
King Charles II is received into Roman Catholic Church on deathbed - brother James will rule
- France: Louis XIV marries Mme. De Maintenon after death of Queen Maria Theresa
93 Jewish families expelled from Bordeaux
- German States: "Great Elector" offers French Huguenots refuge in Brandenburg
- Holy Roman Empire: Peace with France
East
- Massachusetts: Court at Chancery in England annuls charter of MA (Salem) - becomes royal colony and charter restored, but instability ensued
South
- Louisiana: La Salle plants French colony at base of Mississippi