• Galileo Galilei becomes the first to turn a telescope to the heavens, using it to observe the moons of Jupiter.
• The Dutch Revolt takes a hiatus as Spain and the Netherlands agree to the Twelve Year Truce.
• In Japan the Shimazu clan, lords of Satsuma domain, conquers the Ryukyu Islands with the tacit approval of the Tokugawa shogunate.
• William Shakespeare writes his allegorical poem "The Phoenix and the Turtle."
• Claudio Monteverdi publishes his first opera, Orfeo.

These people were born in 1609:

• English poet John Suckling.

These people died in 1609:

• Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius.
• English poet Barnabe Barnes.

1608 - 1609 - 1610

17th century

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