<Ul> <Li> 1550s </Li> <Li> 1560s </Li> <Li> 1570s </Li> <Li> 1580s </Li> <Li> 1590s </Li> </Ul> <Tr> <Th> Categories: </Th> <Td> Births--Deaths Establishments--Disestablishments </Td> </Tr> <P> The 16th century begins with the Julian year 1501 and ends with either the Julian or the Gregorian year 1600 (depending on the reckoning used; the Gregorian calendar introduced a lapse of 10 days in October 1582). </P> <P> The 16th century is regarded by historians as the century in which the rise of the West occurred . During the 16th century, Spain and Portugal explored the world's seas and opened worldwide oceanic trade routes . Large parts of the New World became Spanish and Portuguese colonies, and while the Portuguese became the masters of Asia's and Africa's Indian Ocean trade, the Spanish opened trade across the Pacific Ocean, linking the Americas with Asia . </P>

When did the 16th century begin and end