1601
1601 is the year of the English Poor Law.
- Odd
- Prime
Where 1601 fits
Why 1601 is special
It made each parish responsible for its own poor, funded by a local rate. The framework lasted until 1834 and is the origin of the idea that relief is a public obligation rather than charity.
Same number, different meanings
How 1601 is understood across different contexts — never implying one meaning because of another.
- Mathematics
It made each parish responsible for its own poor, funded by a local rate. The framework lasted until 1834 and is the origin of the idea that relief is a public obligation rather than charity.
- History
In 1601, the Poor Law Act established parish responsibility for poor relief, a framework lasting over two centuries (England).
- Law & regulation
The 1601 Poor Law made parishes legally responsible for their poor, financed by compulsory local taxation. Whatever its failings, it established that destitution was a public responsibility.
1601 is part of
Factors & digit properties
- Divisors (2)
- 1, 1601
- Prime factorisation
- 1601
- Digit sum
- 8
- Digital root
- 8
Representations
- Decimal
- 1601
- Scientific notation
- 1.601 × 10^3
Roman numerals
M D C I
Binary
1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
1 × 1,024 + 1 × 512 + 0 × 256 + 0 × 128 + 1 × 64 + 0 × 32 + 0 × 16 + 0 × 8 + 0 × 4 + 0 × 2 + 1 × 1 = 1,601
Octal
3 1 0 1
3 × 512 + 1 × 64 + 0 × 8 + 1 × 1 = 1,601
Hexadecimal
6 4 1
6 × 256 + 4 × 16 + 1 × 1 = 1,601
Read as powers of two: 1,024 + 512 + 64 + 1 = 1,601.
In historical numeral systems
Egyptian
1 lotus, 6 coils of rope, 1 stroke
1 × 1,000 + 6 × 100 + 1 × 1 = 1,601. The signs are simply repeated and added; where they sit on the line is a matter of layout, not value.
Babylonian
2 corner wedges + 6 vertical wedges (sixties place), 4 corner wedges + 1 vertical wedge (units place)
26 × 60 + 41 = 1601. Places are separated by a space on the tablet, with the higher place written first.
Systems that simply cannot reach this value are left out. Where a script needs a font most readers do not have, the reading is given instead of the glyphs — see number systems for each system in full.
Other mathematical patterns
- Deficient number
- Sophie Germain prime
Related numbers & connections
1601 is a year in the 17th century, in the 1600s.
Numbers Around Us
- appears inHistorical years
why?
Strength 0.50, confidence "high".
History
In 1601, the Poor Law Act established parish responsibility for poor relief, a framework lasting over two centuries (England).
DocumentedHistoryGeography: EnglandPeriod: 1601
Law & regulation
The 1601 Poor Law made parishes legally responsible for their poor, financed by compulsory local taxation. Whatever its failings, it established that destitution was a public responsibility.
DocumentedLaw & regulationGeography: EnglandPeriod: 1601
Common questions
Is 1601 a prime number?
Yes, 1601 is prime — it has exactly two positive divisors: 1 and itself.
What are the factors of 1601?
The factors of 1601 are 1, 1601.
What is 1601 in Roman numerals?
1601 in Roman numerals is MDCI.
About this page's data
Mathematical facts:computed directly from the number's value — nothing to source or verify externally.
Contextual records: 2 reviewer-confirmed records, sourced and reviewed before publication.
Last reviewed: 15 July 2026