16th-century diarists

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish transatlantic voyages in the name of the Catholic Monarchs, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions were the first known European contact with the Caribbean and Central and South America.

emperor of Japan

Italian historian (1466-1536)

Korean official (1454-1504)

Japanese calligrapher (1565-1614)

French diarist and writer (1546–1611)

Dutch naval officer

Swiss physician, traveller and writer (1574-1628)

German diplomat

French writer

Japanese samurai (1555–1600)

German writer (1518–1597)

Italian apothecary and diarist (1436–1516)