1550
Mid-sixteenth century
The number 1550, or a year in the mid-sixteenth century.
As a date, it falls during the Renaissance and the early modern period—a time of religious reformation, European exploration, and the consolidation of colonial empires.
Paintings from around 1550 show the influence of Titian.
Mechanical text reproduction device
- astrolabeAncient altitude-measuring instrument
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
- cartographyCreating geographic representations
- musketMuzzle-loaded infantry firearm
arquebus · cannon · shipbuilding · navigation · metallurgy · windmill · waterwheel · loom
European cultural reawakening
- TudorSixteenth-century English ruling family
- ReformationReligious movement splitting Christianity
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- sixteenth-centuryThe years 1500-1599
colonial · Habsburg · Mughal · Ottoman · Ming · dynasty · monarchy · exploration
printing press
Mechanical text reproduction device
- astrolabeAncient altitude-measuring instrument
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
- cartographyCreating geographic representations
musket · arquebus · cannon · shipbuilding · navigation · metallurgy · windmill · waterwheel · loom · forge
Renaissance
European cultural reawakening
- TudorSixteenth-century English ruling family
- ReformationReligious movement splitting Christianity
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
sixteenth-century · colonial · Habsburg · Mughal · Ottoman · Ming · dynasty · monarchy · exploration · conquest
doublet
Fitted Renaissance jacket
- ruffPleated historical neckpiece
- codpieceOrnamental groin covering
- farthingaleHooped petticoat framework
hose · breeches · jerkin · velvet · brocade · lace · corset · Tudor · courtly · Renaissance
midpoint
Exact center between two
- halfwayAt the midpoint
- approximateNearly accurate but inexact
- estimateInformed guess at quantity
round number · between · range · circa · roughly · about · ballpark · median · middle · average
1550modern times
The contemporary era
contemporary · postmodern · high-tech · industrial society · futuristic