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The Western Roman Empire collapses when the last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, is overthrown by the Germanic leader Odoacer. This marks the end of ancient Rome and the start of the Middle Ages. -
After defeating Odoacer, Theodoric the Great creates a new kingdom in Italy, blending Roman traditions with Germanic rule. -
Justinian I rises to power in the Byzantine Empire. He reforms laws (Justinian Code) and orders the construction of the Hagia Sophia. -
Muslim armies from North Africa invade Spain, defeating the Visigoths and establishing Islamic rule over most of the peninsula. -
Charles Martel, a Frankish leader, stops the advance of Muslim forces into France, keeping Western Europe mostly Christian. -
Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne, making him ruler of much of Western Europe. This strengthens the connection between the church and state. -
Charlemagne’s empire is split among his three grandsons, leading to the creation of modern France, Germany, and Italy. -
Otto I revives the idea of a Western Empire under the Pope’s blessing, creating what becomes the Holy Roman Empire. -
The Christian Church splits into the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East due to differences in beliefs and leadership. -
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, defeats King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings and becomes King of England. -
At the Council of Clermont, the Pope urges Christians to take back the Holy Land from Muslim control, leading to the Crusades. -
The First Crusade succeeds in taking Jerusalem, but the victory is violent, with many killed in the city. -
This agreement settles a power struggle between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor over who appoints bishops. -
After Muslims reclaim key cities, European leaders launch another Crusade, but it ends in failure. -
Saladin defeats the Crusader army and retakes Jerusalem, leading to the Third Crusade. -
Led by Richard the Lionheart of England, this Crusade tries but ultimately fails to recapture Jerusalem. -
English nobles force King John to sign this document, limiting the king’s power and laying the foundation for democracy. -
This treaty ends a war against heretics in southern France, strengthening the Catholic Church’s control. -
Mongol forces defeat European armies, causing destruction but retreating before conquering the region. -
Simon de Montfort’s Parliament is an early step toward representative government in England. -
This Church council discusses reforms and attempts to reunite Catholics and Orthodox Christians. -
This document claims that the Pope has supreme authority over all Christians, angering European rulers. -
A long period of bad weather and crop failure leads to starvation and social unrest in Europe. -
The bubonic plague spreads through Europe, killing millions and dramatically changing society. -
The Catholic Church splits when multiple Popes claim leadership, weakening its authority. -
Jan Hus, a Church reformer, is burned at the stake for criticizing corruption, inspiring later movements like the Protestant Reformation. -
A single Pope is finally chosen, reuniting the Catholic Church. -
The Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire and marking the rise of the Ottoman Empire. -
Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press makes books cheaper and spreads knowledge faster. -
Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spain, reaches the Americas, starting European colonization. -
Spain and Portugal agree to divide the newly discovered lands of the Americas. -
Luther criticizes the Catholic Church’s corruption, starting the Protestant Reformation. -
The Holy Roman Emperor declares Martin Luther a heretic for refusing to take back his ideas. -
Troops of Emperor Charles V attack Rome, showing the decline of papal power in politics. -
King Henry VIII declares himself head of the Church of England, breaking from the Pope. -
Copernicus proposes that the Earth orbits the Sun, challenging old beliefs. -
The Catholic Church launches the Counter-Reformation to fight Protestant ideas. -
This treaty allows rulers in the Holy Roman Empire to choose between Catholicism and Protestantism -
England defeats Spain’s navy, making England a major naval power. -
A religious and political conflict devastates Central Europe. -
A war breaks out between supporters of the king and Parliament, leading to the execution of King Charles I. -
This treaty ends the Thirty Years’ War and establishes the idea of independent states. -
King James II is overthrown, and England becomes a constitutional monarchy. -
This law strengthens Parliament’s power and protects citizens’ rights. -
England and Scotland officially unite to form Great Britain. -
This treaty ends a major European war and shifts power among nations. -
The death of France’s “Sun King” marks the end of absolute monarchy in France. -
A global conflict reshapes colonial empires, especially in North America. -
New machines and factories begin transforming economies and societies. -
American colonists fight for independence from Britain. -
The United States declares its independence. Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations, shaping economic theory. -
The U.S. officially gains independence from Britain. -
The people of France overthrow their king, leading to major political and social changes. -
Napoleon takes control of France, ending the revolution. -
Napoleon becomes Emperor, showing that his power is independent from the Pope. -
Napoleon is finally defeated, ending his reign. -
Greece starts its fight for independence from the Ottoman Empire