The year 1600 was the end of the 16th century and the start of the 17th century. In the Gregorian calendar, it was the first century leap year and the last until the year 2000.

When the London Company sent out its first expedition to begin colonizing Virginia on December 20, 1606, it was by no means the first European attempt to exploit North America.

Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote de la Mancha, the first modern novel. Jamestown, Virginia, established-first permanent English colony on American mainland. Pocahontas, daughter of Chief …

Historical events from year 1600. Learn about 22 famous, scandalous and important events that happened in 1600 or search by date or keyword.

Jul 1, 2025 · Here’s a look at the major events that turned the 17th century into a worldwide crisis. The 1600s brought deep freezes that gripped Europe in the Little Ice Age. The Thames turned solid, …

Mar 16, 2026 · From the telescope and microscope to the first mechanical calculators and steam engines, this century laid the groundwork for the Scientific Revolution and the Industrial Age that …

Learn something new with key events in history, from the American Revolution to pop culture, crime and more.

1600 - In present-day Arizona and New Mexico, members of the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church establish missions in Hopi and other tribal areas under charter from the King of Spain.

Europeans colonize North America in the early seventeenth century, motivated by religious and economic goals.

What happened in the year 1600 in history? Famous historical events that shook and changed the world. Discover events in 1600.