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Marks the collapse of Roman authority in Western Europe and the start of the Middle Ages
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Clovis (Frankish King) is baptized as a Christian, starting the influence of the Church on European politics
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A period marked by the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the rise of small kingdoms, and the spread of Christianity across Europe.
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Frankish King Pepin helps Pope Stephen II by defeating the Lombards. The Frankish king is now the military authority of the Church.
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The Church governs, and gains control over small countries in Central Italy.
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Unites much of Western Europe under Christian rule; renews the idea of the Roman Empire.
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Becomes the King of England and defends the land from Viking invasions.
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A time of population growth, strengthened monarchies, the building of grand cathedrals, and the power of the Church at its peak.
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Norman king William the Conqueror defeats Harold II becomes King of England. Normans were a group of Franks and Vikings in northern France
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They see the Seljuk Turks defeating the Byzantine Empire, leading to the loss of significant Byzantine territories in Anatolia. This weakened Byzantine control in the region, impacting the stability of the Holy Land.
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Pope Urban II delivers the speech at the council of Clermont, calling for the First Crusade. This speech urged Christians to take up arms and reclaim Holy Land from Muslim control.
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The Crusaders, after a long and bloody siege, capture Jerusalem during the First Crusade. This leads to the establishment of Crusader states in the Levant.
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The Second Crusade, led by European kings like Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany, ends in disappointment with failed attempts to recapture territories lost to the Muslims.
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The pivotal Battle of Hattin takes place where Saladin's forces defeat the Crusaders, leading to the recapture of Jerusalem. This prompts Pope Gregory VIII to call for the Third Crusade to reclaim the city.
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Philip II of France, Richard I of England (The Lionheart) and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor lead the Third Crusade. They took back many territories from Saladin but failed to win back Jerusalem.
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An era of crisis and change, shaped by the Black Death, wars, and the decline of feudalism leading towards Renaissance.
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Pope Innocent III declares the Forth Crusade to take back Jerusalem
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During the Fourth Crusade, instead of reaching the Holy Land, the Crusaders sack Constantinople, weakening the Byzantine Empire and causing divisions among Christians.
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English nobles force King John to limit royal authority and protect legal rights.
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English Norman rulers fight a series of battles in France because they had a claim on the French throne
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Sparks a communication revolution, spreading learning and literacy.
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Period of major political and religious transformation.
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Breaks from the Catholic Church, marking the start of the English Reformation.