1604 Facts for Kids

The year 1604 was a special time in history, filled with important events around the world. From new plays being performed to big changes in religion and science, many things happened that shaped the future. It was also a year when explorers discovered new places and countries made peace.

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	16th century – 17th century – 18th century
Decades:	1570s 1580s 1590s – 1600s – 1610s 1620s 1630s
Years:	1601 1602 1603 – 1604 – 1605 1606 1607

Key Events of 1604
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Key Events of 1604

Religious Discussions in England

January 14 – In England, King James I held a meeting called the Hampton Court Conference. He met with leaders of the Anglican Church and a group called the Puritans. They talked about how the church should be run and what rules people should follow.

Major Battles and Peace Treaties

September 20 – After a very long fight that lasted three years, Spanish soldiers led by Ambrosio Spinola finally captured the city of Ostend. This was a big victory for Spain.
England and Spain signed the Treaty of London. This agreement officially ended the war between the two countries, which had been going on for many years. It also meant England was no longer involved in the Eighty Years' War in Europe.

Discoveries in Space and Exploration

October 9 – People observed a huge star explosion in space! This event was called Supernova 1604. It was the last supernova seen in our own galaxy, the Milky Way, for a very long time.
The explorer Luis Váez de Torres became the first European to sail through a narrow waterway now known as the Torres Strait. This strait is located near Australia.

New Colonies and Important Books

France started to settle in a new area of North America called Acadia. This was the first successful French colony in that region.
France also began to settle in French Guiana, a territory in South America.
The holy book of the Sikh religion, called the Guru Granth Sahib, was put together and edited by Guru Arjan. This was a very important moment for the Sikh faith.
The first known English Dictionary was published. What made it special was that its words were organized in alphabetical order, just like dictionaries today!

Famous Plays and New Schools

November 1 – In London, at Whitehall Palace, a famous play by William Shakespeare called Othello was performed for the very first time.
A school called Blundell's School was founded in Tiverton, England, by Peter Blundell.