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The Vulgate (Biblia Vulgata) is composed by Jerome, an early church father in the late 4th century. The Vulgate will become the official Latin translation of the Roman Catholic Church for centuries. -
German King Odoacer wins the Battle of Ravenna. Romulus Augustulus surrenders his crown, making this the culminating event in the fall of Rome. -
Code of Justinian is published, which will become the foundation for all civil law in continental Europe and Latin America. -
Arab trader and military leader Muhammad founds the religion of Islam on the Arabian Peninsula. -
Muslim armies expanded the control of the Islamic State from the Arabian Peninsula. They conquered the Persian and Byzantine empires, North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula.
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The siege of Jerusalem began is 636 and within 6 months, the Patriarch Sophronius agreed to surrender. in 638, the Caliph Umar traveled to Jerusalem to receive the official surrender. -
Iconoclasm is instituted in the Byzantine empire, destroying many religious icons. Iconoclasts (those imposing), objected to the practices of honoring icons with candles and incense, and by bowing before and kissing them.
(smarthistory.org) -
French King Charles Martel stops the advance of the Muslim army from the Iberian Peninsula.
The French Army was undermanned, but lost only 1,000 men as opposed to the Muslim army losing ~12,000 -
The official birth of the Holy Roman Empire is established with the Pope's crowning of French King Charlemagne. Charlemagne would be called the "Father of Europe" as he united the western continent for the first time since the fall of Rome. -
Viking leader Rollo, successfully defends his position in northern France with a wall built of slaughtered livestock. French King Charles ended the stand-off between Rollo and Burgundy forces by granting Rollo the County of Rouen. Today it is known as Normandy. -
After 200 years of Viking raids, Anglo-Saxons under Alfred the Great and began to drive away the Danes. In 927 his grandson, Athelstan conquered the Vikings at York. Athelstan becomes recognized as the first King of England. -
Viking sailor Leif Eriksson establishes short-lived settlements in North America. Areas are believed to be in Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. -
Michael Cerularius is excommunicated, splitting the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox faiths. Roman Pope Leo III excommunicated the entire Eastern church, and the Eastern church returned the favor. The two churches have never reunited. (More...) -
The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims started primarily to secure control of holy sites considered sacred by both groups. In all, eight major Crusade expeditions,varying in size, strength and degree of success
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There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096,making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in continuous operation. -
King John of England signs the fist document of its kind, limiting his own power and laying the groundwork for modern-day democracy. -
Immediately following the Middle Ages and conventionally held to have been characterized by a surge of interest in Classical scholarship and values, the Renaissance ("rebirth") saw radical changes in art, architecture, governance, science, and discovery.
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The Black Death, a horrible plague, washes across Europe and killed somewhere between 20% and 40% of the population. -
Johannes Gutenberg invents a printing press, allowing for the quick publication of literature in Europe. -
Christopher Columbus departs Spain for the New World in his historic voyage. Meanwhile, Christian armies completely expel Muslims from Spain.