History
1696
General
Population: 632 Million*
- Entertainment: Writers include Colley Cibber, Jean-François Regnard, Christian Reuter (adventure), Thomas Southerne (tragedy),
Nicolas Antonio (Spanish biography), William Nocolson (English historical library), John Bellers (education of children)
Music includes Johann Kuhnau,
- Science: Naturalist John Ray first describes peppermint
- Deaths: Writer Mme. De Sevigne, Ivan of Russia
Asia
- China: Dzungar forces under Galdan are crushed at Ulan Bator
- India: Building of Fort William in Calcutta
Europe
- General: William III campaigns in Holland against French
- England: New coinage carried out by John Locke and Isaac Newton
Habeas Corpus act suspended
Board of Trade and Plantations founded
Strike of hatter journeymen in England – London weavers riot in protest against cheap cloths from India
"Lloyd's News" published by Lloyd's coffeehouse
First English property insurance company founded
- German States: Kunstakademie in Berlin founded
- Poland: End of John Sobieski's reign
- Russia: Ivan of Russia died, leaving brother Peter as sole ruler
Peter the Great takes Black Sea port of Asov from Turks
Peter sends 50 young Russians to study shipbuilding and defense in England Netherlands and Venice
Middle East
- Ottoman Empire: Russia takes Black Sea port Kamchatka