1543

Nicholas Copernicus dies, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (geocentric system) published (May 24)

1546

Tycho Brahe born

1564

William Shakespeare born (April 23)

1564

Galileo Galilei born

1571

Johannes Kepler born (December 27)

1572

Brahe observes a supernova, demonstrating the heavens are not unchanging

1582

Shakespeare marries Ann Hathaway (November 27)

1583

Shakespeare's daughter Susanna born (christened May 26)

1585

Shakespeare's twins, Hamnet and Judith, born (christened February 2)

1585

Shakespeare leaves Stratford-upon-Avon to avoid prosecution for poaching

1591

Shakespeare writes his first play, Henry VI

1599

Shakespeare's acting company, The King's Men, builds the Globe Theater

1601

Brahe dies

1601

Shakespeare's father dies

1601

Shakespeare writes Hamlet

1609

Kepler publishes Astronomia nova (first two laws of planetary motion)

1609

Galileo publishes Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messanger), announces discovery of mountains on the Moon and moons of Jupiter.

1616

Shakespeare dies (April 23)

1619

Kepler publishes Harmonices mundi (third law of planetary motion)

1620

Kepler's mother put on trial for being a witch

1630

Kepler dies

1642

Galileo dies (January 8)