1602
Dutch East India Company Founded
The States-General of the Netherlands merged a half dozen squabbling spice-trade ventures into a single joint-stock leviathan with the right to wage war, coin…
Matteo Ricci Presents a World Map to the Ming
In Beijing the Jesuit polymath Matteo Ricci unveiled an updated world map, the Kunyu Wanguo Quantu, printed on six enormous panels.
Safavid Shah Abbas Recaptures Bahrain
Shah Abbas I, having spent a decade rebuilding Persia's military with the help of English adventurers, wrested the island of Bahrain from the Portuguese…
Galileo Studies the Pendulum
In Padua, Galileo Galilei timed the swings of a chandelier in the cathedral against his own pulse and noticed something strange…
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1602?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1602. The most significant is Dutch East India Company Founded.
What era was 1602 part of?
1602 falls within the Renaissance (1501-1650). Reformation, conquest, and the world drawn whole.
Which regions saw notable events in 1602?
The events from 1602 span Europe, East Asia and Middle East.