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1598 CE

This year falls in the Early modern period (c. 1500–1800). European ships link the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia into one trading world, and the conquest of the Americas and the Atlantic slave trade follow. Large land empires, among them the Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal and Qing, rule much of Asia, while printing and the Scientific Revolution change how knowledge spreads in Europe.

Within fifteen years

Philosopher · Early modern period · FranceRené Descartes1596–1650French thinker, mathematician, and soldier who founded modern rationalism. Starting from I think, therefore I am, he rebuilt knowledge on reason in the Meditations of 1641. He lived 1596 to 1650 and died at Stockholm.

Ruler · Early modern period · SwedenGustavus Adolphus1594–1632King of Sweden from 1611 to 1632, born in 1594, who made Sweden a great power and turned the Thirty Years' War. Landing in Germany in 1630, he smashed the Catholic armies at Breitenfeld in 1631 and saved the Protestant cause. He was killed at Lutzen in 1632, leading a cavalry charge.

Philosopher · Early modern period · EnglandThomas Hobbes1588–1679English thinker whose Leviathan of 1651 founded modern political philosophy on the social contract. Men in the state of nature live in war of all against all, so they surrender power to a sovereign. He lived 1588 to 1679.