Here's why:
* First performance: The first recorded performance of Hamlet was in 1602.
* Internal evidence: References to events and contemporary figures in the play suggest a date around the turn of the 17th century.
* Stylistic analysis: The play's language and themes align with Shakespeare's works from this period.
So, while we don't have a precise date, 1599-1601 is the most likely timeframe for Hamlet's creation.