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European Happenings
European wars brought an influx of continental refugees into England, exposing the Englishman to new cultures.
London where Shakespeare lived and worked was at the heart of all this. in the 16th century underwent a transformation. Its population grew 400% during the 1500s, swelling to nearly 200,000 people in the city proper and outlying region by the time an immigrant from Stratford came to town. -
Willian Shakespeare is born in Straford-upon-Avon to John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. He was the fourth of eight children
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Baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratord
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It is assumed that Shakespeare started at King's New School in around the age of five. However, no official record exists to document this.
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Sir Francis Drake completes his circumnavigations of the globe becoming an English hero.
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The Bishop of Worcester issues a marriage license to 18-year-old William Shakespeare and 26-year-old Anne Hathaway.
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Six months after their marriage, William and Anne's first child is born.
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While the exact date of Hamenet and Judith's birth is uncertain, it is known that the twins were named after Shakespeare's close friends, Hamnet and Judith Sadler.
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Mary, queen of Scots was one of the most fascinating and controversial monarchs of 16th century Europe. She was executed to ensure the power of the Protestant Queen Elizabeth.
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Lord Charles Howard and Sir Franis Drake work together to help the English Navy defeat the Spainish Armada establishing England as a global super power.
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Shakespeare writes Henry VI, Part One, however, the precise year of its authorship is now unclear. Also that year, Shakespeare leaves Stratford to begin work as a playwright and actor in london. His family remains in Straford.
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We know that by 1592 Shakespeare was doing at least realatively well in London's Theatre scene because the Playwright Robert Greene, who was educated at university, goes out of his way to write a a review where he calls Shakespeare an "upstart cow."
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London theaters are closed due to an outbreak of bubonic plague that eventually kills about5% of the city's residents. Shakespeare uses the break to write poetry.
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Dedicated to his patron the Earl of Southampton,Shakespeare publishes "Venus and Adonis," his first long published poem.
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Shakespeare's popularity continues to grow as his troupe, the Chamberlain's Men, continue to perform even recieving invitations to perform at the royal court of Queen Elizabeth.
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Shakespeare's only son dies of unknown causes
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Shakespeare buys the second largest home in Stratford for his family.
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Shakespeare is praised in a review by Fransis Mere. We know that by now he has writen at least 12 plays including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Love's Labors Lost, Richard II and Titus Andronicus.
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The Globe Theater is built and would be were plays such as Othello, King Lear, and Hamlet are premiered. Shakespeare is also believed to have written Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Julius Caesar, and The Merry Wives of Windsor in 1599 as well.
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British East India Company Recieves its charter From Queen Elizabeth
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Hamlet is writen after the death of Shakespeare's Father and Shakespear's patron is sentenced to death (eventually repreieved). Other plays writedn at this time have a darker tone as well.
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Queen Elizabeth dies and King James takes the throne.
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The Nine Years War ends with the Irish surrendering to the English
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The Chamberlain's Men become the King's Men and wWould perform for King James 11 times between November 1604 and October 1605
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Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh sent colonists eastward in search of profit establishing the first English Colony in America.
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Shakespeare's plays, such as Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale, and The Tempest, show a shift to a ligter tone and The Kings men start performing indoors at the BlackFriars Theater.
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154 of Shakespeares Sonnets are published by Thomas Thorpe
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Sometime between 1610 and 1603, Shakespeare return to his wife in Stratford. His daughters are now married.
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It is believed that Shakespeare wrote his final plays in 1613 this includes: Henry VIII, Two Noble Kinsmen, and the now-lost Cardenio—in collaboration with John Fletcher, replacement playwright for the King's Men.
This same year the Globe burns down during a performance of Henry VIII. -
Shakespeare dies on his 52nd birthday from and unknow illness. He leaves his "second-best bed" to his wife and £10 to the poor.
He is burried in the church where he was baptized and his marker curses those who disturb his grave,
