1560

1560 was a leap year in the Julian calendar, placing it in the middle of the 16th century's transitions in religion, statecraft, and learning. The era saw continued religious reform, territorial realignments, and expanding global connections.

Europe remained unsettled by the Protestant–Catholic divide. In Scotland, the Reformation Parliament acted to abolish papal authority and to establish the Church of Scotland under a Protestant framework. France and the Holy Roman Empire were contending in the broader Wars of Religion or its aftershocks, while several principalities pursued their own shifts in allegiance and policy.

Beyond Europe, Iberian powers extended their reach in the Atlantic and across the Indian Ocean, establishing settlements and trade routes that would shape global commerce for decades. The Ottoman Empire continued to be a major political and military power, carrying out campaigns in Europe and the eastern Mediterranean as part of its long contest with Christian monarchies.

Intellectual life in 1560 was marked by the continued spread of Renaissance humanism, the vitality of printing, and the work of scholars and artists in major cultural centers. These currents contributed to lasting changes in education, religion, and governance that characterized the era.