1540s

Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century

Decades: 1490s 1500s 1510s 1520s 1530s - 1540s - 1550s 1560s 1570s 1580s 1590s

Years: 1540 1541 1542 1543 1544 1545 1546 1547 1548 1549

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Events and Trends

• 1541 Hernando de Soto is the first European to see the Mississippi River.
• 1542 The first contact of Japan with the West