The Merchant of Venice was written in the late 1590s, most commonly dated to around 1596–1597.

Quick Scoop

  • Most scholars place the play’s composition between 1596 and 1598.
  • It was already well known by 1598, when Francis Meres listed it among Shakespeare’s works, which confirms it had been written and performed by then.
  • The first printed edition (quarto) appeared in 1600, with the title page noting it had been performed “divers times,” supporting a mid‑1590s writing date.

In practical terms, if someone asks “when was The Merchant of Venice written?”, the concise answer used in most references is: around 1596–1597.

TL;DR: The Merchant of Venice was written in the mid‑1590s, usually dated to about 1596–1597, and was in print by 1600.

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