16th century

The years 1501-1600 AD. Major events of the 16th century AD include:
* 1508–1512: Michelangelo paints the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
* 1512-1517. Fifth Lateran Council attempts reform of the Catholic Church. 
* 1517: Martin Luther posts the 95 theses, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, which continues into the next century.
* c. 1520–1660: English Renaissance.
* 1521: Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther, who burns the papal bull. King Henry VIII of England writes the Defence of the Seven Sacraments in response to Martin Luther. Pope Leo X awards King Henry the title of "Defender of the Faith."
* 1527: Sack of Rome ends the Italian Renaissance.
* 1531–32: The Church of England breaks away from the Roman Catholic Church and recognizes King Henry VIII as the head of the Church.
* 1534: Society of Jesus founded.
* April 16, 1541. Martin Luther appears before the Diet of Worms.
* 1543: Nicolaus Copernicus publishes De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres), which argues that the Earth revolves around the sun (heliocentrism) and opens the Scientific Revolution.
* 1545–1563: Council of Trent marks the beginning of the Catholic Counterreformation.
* 1562–98: French Wars of Religion between Catholics and (Calvinist) Huguenots.
* 1580: Publication of the Book of Concord, a compilation of early Lutheran confessional documents.
Category:centuries