What is what year is the 16th century?

The 16th century spans from the year 1501 to 1600 and is characterized by significant events such as the Protestant Reformation, the European colonization of the Americas, the Renaissance, and the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. It was a time of great cultural, political, and scientific change, with figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, William Shakespeare, and Galileo Galilei making their mark on history. This century also saw the rise of powerful empires such as the Spanish and Portuguese, as well as the beginning of the colonial era.