Century
16th Century BCE
What happened in the 16th Century BCE.
DisasterEcological Collapse and Deforestation of Rapa Nuic. 1600 CE · Rapa Nui (Easter Island), ChileOverexploitation of resources leads to deforestation and societal transformation on Rapa Nui.
WarEscalation of Inter-Tribal Warfare in New Zealandc. 1600 CE · North Island, New ZealandIntensified warfare leads to the construction of massive pā and the development of new weapons like the taiaha.
ReligionRise of the Birdman Cult on Rapa Nuic. 1600 CE · Orongo, Rapa NuiThe Birdman cult replaces moai worship as the central religious and political institution on Rapa Nui.
DisasterMinoan Eruption of Thera (Santorini)c. 1600 BCE · Santorini (Thera), Aegean SeaA massive volcanic eruption devastates the Minoan civilization and alters the Mediterranean climate.
DisasterVolcanic Ash Burial of Akrotiri on Therac. 1600 BCE · Akrotiri, Thera (Santorini), GreeceThe city of Akrotiri is perfectly preserved under volcanic ash from the Minoan eruption.
WarHideyoshi's First Invasion of Korea (Imjin War)1592 CE · Seoul (Hanyang), KoreaToyotomi Hideyoshi launches a massive invasion of Joseon Korea to conquer Ming China.
WarBattle of Nagashino: Introduction of Massed Firepower1575 CE · Nagashino, JapanOda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu use rotating arquebus volleys to defeat Takeda cavalry.
WarOda Nobunaga's Battle of Okehazama1560 CE · Okehazama, Aichi, JapanOda Nobunaga defeats a massive army of Imagawa Yoshimoto in a surprise attack.
PoliticsTran and Le Dynasties Split Vietnam (North-South Division)1533 CE · Hanoi / Hue, VietnamThe Mac Dynasty usurps the throne, leading to a prolonged civil war between North and South.