Niccolo Machiavelli publishes The Prince

Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, triggering The Reformation.

Nicolaus Copernicus proposes the Earth orbits the Sun, in opposition to the Christian view that the Earth lies at the centre of the universe.

The Edict of Nantes is issued by Henri IV, granting Protestants rights within Catholic France.

Francis Bacon's New Organon is published, proposing a new approach to investigating nature.

Galileo Galilei is excommunicated and imprisoned for life for upholding the theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Rene Descartes writes his Meditations.

The last ruling dynasty of China, the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty, takes power.

The execution of Charles I brings an end to the English Civil War

Thomas Hobbes' great political work, Leviathan, is published.

Isaac Newton begins compiling his notes on 'Certain Philosophical Questions'.

Blaise Pascal's Pensees are published posthumously.

John Locke publishes An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.

Gottfried Liebniz writes New Essays on Human Understanding.

George Berkeley publishes A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge

Britain's first factory opens, accelerating the Industrial Revolution.