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The most important people who contributed to Medieval Europe and forging the world we know today.
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Justinian was the Byzantine Emperor from the years 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Roman Empire and reconquer the lost western half of the Empire. His reign also marked the begining of Byzantine culture, and his building program yielded such masterpieces as the church of Hagia Sophia, which was to be the center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity for many centuries.
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The Battle of Tours was fought in north central France. The battle was between the Franks and the Umayyad Caliphate. The Franks won the battle. Most historians see this battle as a landmark battle that marked the high tide of the Muslim advance into Europe. However, there is little dispute that the battle helped lay the foundations of the Carolingian Empire and Frankish domination of Europe for the next century.
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East-West Schism was the medieval division of Chalcedonian Christianity into Eastern and Western branches, which later became commonly known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church
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The Norman conquest of England was the invasion and occupation of England by an army of Normans and French led by William II. William defeated King Harold II on 14 October 1066, at the Battle of Hastings (which the bayeux tapestry is depicting), was crowned king on Christmas Day, He then settled many of his followers in England, introducing a number of changes to the government and the society. This conflict would later cause the Hundred Years' War between England and France.
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The University of Bologna is believed to be the oldest university in the world. The institution began to take shape in Bologna at the end of the eleventh century, when masters of Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic began to devote themselves to the law. In the nineteenth century a committee of historians, led by Giosuè Carducci, attributed the birth of the University to the year 1088.
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Eleanor of Aquiaine was one of the most powerful and wealthiest woman in Western Europe. As Queen Consort of France, she participated in the unsuccessful Second Crusade. After the Crusade, Eleanor sought an annulment of her marriage, and then married King Henry II of England in 1154. She bore Henry eight children: five sons, three of whom would become kings. However Henry imprisoned between 1173 and for supporting the French.
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The magna Carta was the first great charter. It is seen as a great step into modern law and politics.
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Marco Polo was an Italian merchant and traveler who embarked on a journey to Asia. He came back after 24 years and brought back many things with him, including gun powder which would become the future of warfare. His stories also inspired Christopher Columbus to go on his journey and discover the new world.
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The Hundred Years' War was a conflict waged between England and France as well as their various allies, between the years 1337 and 1453. This was a result of the early conflics of William the Conqueror, who became king of England in 1066. The result of this was a French victory.
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Johan Gutenberg was a German blacksmith, and goldsmith. He introduced liturature to Europe by inventing the printing press, an idea he modified from the chinees. He is seen by many people to be the most important person in history as his invention started what we today know as "the information age."
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Joan of Arc was a French teenaged girl who beleived that she had received devine influence, telling her to go to fight off the English during the 100 year war. She became a very successful general despite the fact she was a woman. Eventually she was captured be the English and was burned alive at the age of 19.
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The fall of Constantinople was the capture of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos. The siege lasted from Friday, 6 April 1453 until Tuesday, 29 May 1453, when the city was conquered by the Ottomans.
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Clovis was the first king to unite the Franks under one ruler. He was also the first Christian king to rule Gaul. The united Franks would become the French people we know today.
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The Vikings (Norse) Explored all over Europe by its oceans and rivers. They traveled as far as Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland. THe Vikings did start to invade and Raid Europe. During this time, the Vikings were portrayed as very violent brutish people. This didnt change until the 17th century when Vikings became recognized for their experties, craftsmanship, and their incredible boating skills.
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Charlemagne was the King of the Franks from 768, the King of Italy from 774 and the first Roman Emperor in Western Europe since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire three centuries earlier. It is said that he is one of the most influential people towards the medieval age.
