Don Quixote-Cervantes Timeline
1510 Spain begins massive extraction of gold from New World
1515 The ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church forbids the printing of
any book without the Church’s permission
1515 Teresa of Avila, mystic Carmelite writer, born (d. 1582)
1516 Beginning of Hapsburg rule of united Spain
c. 1517 The Golden Age of Spanish Literature begins (1517 — 1681)
1517 German theologian Martin Luther nails his “95 Theses” to the door of the
Wittenberg Cathedral.
1519 Cortez lands in Mexico
1522 A Bible was printed in Alcala, Spain, in Hebrew, Greek, Latin and Aramaic.
1529 King Henry VIII of England requires that all books and pamphlets be reviewed
prior to publication; a licensing office established to do so
1533 Michel de Montaigne, French writer and humanist, born (d. 1592)
1534 The English Parliament passes the First Act of Supremacy, making Henry VIII
the head of the Church of England
c. 1540 Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) and followers found the Society of Jesus
(Jesuits)
1542 Juan de la Cruz, Spanish mystic Carmelite poet, born (d. 1591)
1547 Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote de la Mancha,” born (d. 1616)
1551 Theater censorship begins in England
1552 Geography and astronomy books destroyed in England because they are
considered corrupted by magic
1557 The influx of New World silver caused bankruptcies in France and Spain.
1558 Queen Elizabeth I takes the throne after the death of her sister Mary
1562 Félix Lope de Vega Carpio, popular Spanish author of some 1800 plays, born (d.
1635)
c. 1563 Spanish mystic poetry reaches height of popularity
1564 The first “Index of Forbidden Books” is published by the Roman Catholic
Church
1564 Christopher Marlowe, English dramatist and poet born (d. 1593)
1564 William Shakespeare, English dramatist and poet, born (d. 1616)
1569-71 Revolt of Moriscos (converted Muslims in Spain)
1571 Spain, Venice, and papacy defeat Ottoman navy in Battle of Lepanto
(Cervantes loses use of one hand)
c. 1572 John Donne, English Metaphysical poet, born (d. 1631)
1575 Cervantes taken by pirates, enslaved in Algiers for 5 years, released for
ransom
1576 El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos, 1541–1614) settles in Toledo
1577 Sir Francis Drake sails around the world
1584 Cervantes marries Catalina de Salazar y Palacios (no children; leaves wife
soon after)
1588 England defeats the Spanish Armada
1588 Opening of the Vatican Library
1592 William Shakespeare’s first plays performed
1593 London’s theaters closed until early 1594 due to an outbreak of the Plague
1597 Cervantes jailed in Seville for financial impropriety
1599 Devestating plague hits Castile
1599 Velazquez, Spanish painter, born (d.1660)
1600 William Shakespeare’s tragedy “Hamlet” first performed
1602 Cervantes jailed again; starts Don Quixote in prison, according to legend
1602 The Bodleian Library is established in Oxford, England
1603 Heavy outbreak of plague in England
1603 Elizabeth Ist dies. Succeeded by King James VI of Scotland
1604 The Treaty of London is signed between England and Spain, ending England’s
involvement in the Eighty Years’ War
1605 Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quixote,” Part I published
1607 Dutch fleet destroys Spanish fleet at the Battle of Gibraltar
1608 Spanish royal decree legalizes slavery of Chilean natives
1608 John Milton, English poet, author of “Paradise Lost” born (d. 1674)
1609 Edmund Spenser’s epic poem “The Faerie Queen” published
1609 Galileo Galilee demonstrates his first astronomical telescope in Venice
1609-1614 Expulsion of Moriscos from Spain
1611 King James Bible published
1611 Homer’s “Iliad” translated into English by George Chapman, published
1615 Homer’s “Odyssey,” translated into English by George Chapman, published
1615 Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quixote” Part 2 published
1616 Nicolaus Copernicus’ “De revolutionibus” placed on the Index of Forbidden
Books by Roman Catholic Church
1616, April 23 William Shakespeare, English dramatist, dies (b. 1564)
1616, April 23 Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote de la Mancha,” dies
(b. 1547)