William Shakespeare

  • Apr 25, 1564

    Shakespeare born

    On April 25th 1564, William Shakespeare was born at home in Strateford, England to his mother and father. Stratford England was the place of Shakespeare's birth as well as the place of his death. Surprisingly, Shakespeare's birth date is also his death date.
    source: (Swisher 228)
  • Romeo and Juliet reprinted

    In January of 1587, Shakespears famous tragic play, Romeo and Juliet is reprinted. Romeo and Juliet is a love story based on two teenagers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet,who fall madly in love but are upset to find out they are from rival families. They arrange a secret marriage but Juliet finds out she is supposed to marry a man named Paris. She agrees to it and then takes a herbal concotion that will make her appear dead for exactly 42 hours. When Romeo hears of Juliet's ''death'' he goes
  • Romeo and Juliet reprinted (continued)

    to her grave to spend time with her ''dead'' body. Romeo drinks a poison so he can be with his love. Juliet wakes right after to see her beloved husband dead. She then kills herself with a dagger. The parents are informed of their childrens death and it ends their families feud.
    source:(Shmoop University 1)
  • Spanish Armada defeated

    On this day in January of 1588, The spanish Armada was defeated. The Spanish had a so called ''invincible armada'' but during this year, they were finally defeated by the English naval force. The English naval force was led by Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake. This battle when on for 8 hours, and it was a constant battle. There was a change in wind direction, which forced the Spanish to retreat to the North Sea, meaning the English naval force.
    source:( History Channel website 1)
  • Civil war in France

    During this year, there is a civil war in France. This civil war was between the Protestants and Catholics over religion. The two different groups believed in different things and as a result of it, France broke out into civil war. France displayed homogeneity or belief that one faith, one law, one king. Some people agreed with this and others did not, causing the civil war.
    source:(Holmes, 1)
  • Shakespeare bought new place

    During this year, Shakespeare made the wise decision to buy new place. This was the place that Shakespeare spent his last few years. New place can be descried as a ''pretty house of brick and timber.'' William Shakespeare bought this house in 1597 but did not live in it until he was retired in 1610.
    source:( Jamieson 1)
  • Shakespeare is listed as tax defaulter.

    Shakespeare gets the label as tax defaulter. It is said that during a time of shortage, William illegally hoarded 10 quarters of corn. He was then listed in official records as a tax deafulter. He got this record 4 times between 1598 and 1600. William was also known to give out loans to people, leaving him and his children without much money.
    Source:( )
  • William is named as shareholder in the land for the Globe

    Shakespeare lived in the Globe for some time after purchasing it in 1599, but he may have moved elsewhere. The Globe was the place that Shakespeare performed his plays and wrote other ones too. The destruction of the Globe in 1613, ade Shakespeare sell his share in the theater.
    source:( Trust 1)
  • Tyrone is defeated in Ireland

    During this time, there was a war that was occuring between Tyrone and the Spaniards. Tyrone and his Irish army are at fort Blackwater until the landing of the Spaniards called him off of his force. The Irish lords and their forces were not strong enough compared to the Spaniards, and the Spaniards won.
    source:(Murphy 1)
  • Spaniards surrendered

    During this time there was a Muslim expulsion. The Moorish Kingdom of Granada surrendered to Ferdinand V and Isabella causing the end of Muslim Spain. This also led to large Moorish population in Spain.
    source:(Boase, 1)
  • This is the last record of him acting in a public theater

    By this point in Shakespears life, he had become older but was still writing plays as often as he could. Unfortunetly, during this year is the last recorded record of him performing. It does not mean that he stopped performing altogether but he stopped peforming on a large scale, like performing in the Globe.
    source:(Frye, 56)
  • William is mentioned in accounts of the master of the great wardrobe

    William Shakespeare recieving these colthes was a big honor because these clothes were considered to be royal clothing. Because William got to wear this clothing, it showed that he actually was an intelligent person and the mature writer not everyone thought him to be.
    source:(Mabillard 1)
  • Williams advancement of learning is published

    This was a story written about Shakespeare and how we grew and matured as a person and a writer throughout his life. Because he was poor, Shakespeare was that of as uneducated when in reaility he was intelligent and a very good writer.
    source:(Shmoop 1)
  • Plague (killed 4,000 people) closes theaters

    This plague was first started because of a mild winter which led to the population of rats not dying and the females giving birth to two liters in the Spring. The spread of the plague was easily spread because London was so heavily populated and the poor lived very close to each other, giving each other the germs. This plague killed many people and while the plague was going on, it closed down all theaters.
    source:(England 1)
  • Truce in the netherlands

    During this time in the war between the Dutch and Spain, over religious matters. The Dutch wanted to continue to fight to the death until there was a winner, but Spain was done fighting. The truce happened after the Dutch accepted a bribe from Spain.
    source:(timeline 1)
  • Williams signs his will

    It was at that point in William Shakespeare's life that he knew he did not have much more time to live. He was sick the whole month previous to his death so he signed off his will while he still had time.
    source:(Frye 67)
  • William Shakespeare dies

    On this day in 1616 William Shakespeare takes his last breath. Williams death date is surprising to most people for the fact that it is the same day as his birthday. William Shakespeare only lived to be 52 years of age, but back then not many people lived long lives. William will be remembered for all of his incredible plays and stories, either tragic or humorous.
    source:(Swisher, 228)