publishes his theory that the Earth and the other planets revolve around the Sun 1545: Theory of complex numbers is first developed by Gerolamo Cardano of Italy. 1558: Camera obscura is first used in Europe by Giambattista della Porta of Italy. 1559–1562: Spanish settlements in Alabama/Florida and Georgia confirm dangers of hurricanes and local native warring tribes. 1565: Spanish settlers outside New Spain (Mexico) colonize Florida's coastline at St. Augustine. 1565: Invention of the graphite pencil (in a wooden holder) by Conrad Gesner. Modernized in 1812. 1568: Gerardus Mercator creates the first Mercator projection map. 1572: Supernova SN 1572 is observed by Tycho Brahe in the Milky Way. 1582: Gregorian calendar is introduced in Europe by Pope Gregory XIII and adopted by Catholic countries. c. 1583: Galileo Galilei of Pisa, Italy identifies the constant swing of a pendulum, leading to development of reliable timekeepers. 1585: earliest known reference to the 'sailing carriage' in China. 1589: William Lee invents the stocking frame. 1591: First flush toilet is introduced by Sir John Harrington of England, the design published under the title 'The Metamorphosis of Ajax'. 1593: Galileo Galilei invents a thermometer. 1596: William Barents discovers Spitsbergen. 1597: Opera in Florence by Jacopo Peri. See also Entertainment in the 16th century References Further reading Langer, William. An Encyclopedia of World History (5th ed. 1973); highly detailed outline of events online free External links Timelines of 16th century events, science, culture and persons Centuries Early Modern period 2nd millennium