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Ancient Rome's Eastern Empire collapses, starting a period in Europre known as the Middle Ages.
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Gupta Empire in India is destroyed by the Huns, starting a period of chaos in India.
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Muhammad begins to record the most important religious text in Islam---the Qur'an; he died 22 22 years later, in 632CE
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Polynesians colonise New Zealand.
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William the Conqueror leads a Norman army to deafeat the Anglo-Saxons and win control of England.
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European Christians begin the first Crusade---a military expedition to reclaim the city of Jerusalem from Muslims. There were another seven Crusades over the next 200 years.
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Inca civilisation emerges in South America.
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Khmer King Suryavarman II starts building the Angkor Wat temple in today's Cambodia.
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Japan comes under the rule of its first shogun (a military leader); shoguns rule Japan for the next 400 years.
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Genghis Khan unites Mongol tribes for the first time.
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Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan) is declared 'Great Khan' and becomes a powerful Mongol leader.
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Under the leadership of Kublai Khan, the Mongols defeat the Sung Dynasty in China and set up the Yuan Dynasty. For the first time, China is ruled by foreigners.
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The Ottoman Empire founded under the rule of Osman I.
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First evidence in Europe of the outbreak of the pandemic known as the Black Death.
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Aztec Empire founded in central Mexico.
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Italian explorer Christopher Colombus reaches the Americas.
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Spanish forces destroy the Aztec Empire in central America.
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The Moghul Empire is established in India.
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Emperor Charlemagne founds the Holy Roman Empire; he was the greatest ruler of Western Europe during the Middle Ages.
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Vikings first attack England, starting a 200-year regime of terror for ENgland and Europe.
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Angkor/Khmer Empire founded by King Jayavarman II; under his leadership the Khmers adopt Hinduism.
