Medieval Timeline

Fall of Roman Empire

476

St. Benedict Established the First Monastery

520

He established the monastery in Monte Cassino, Italy. He set up rules for the monks, which included vows of obedience and poverty.

Arab Forces Conquer Most of the Byzantine Territories

Feb 6, 650

They were formerly occupied by the Persians.

The Arabs Attempt to Conquer Constantinople but Fail

Feb 6, 677

Charlemagne Became Ruler of the Roman Empire

Feb 6, 800

This act symbolized a union of church and state.

Charlemagne Dies

Feb 3, 814

He dies without leaving competent successors to continue the glory of the Carolingian dynasty. The Carolingian Empire falls apart

William the Conqueror invades England

Feb 3, 1066

He asserts his right to the English throne at the Battle of Hastings. The Norman Conquest fuses French and English cultures because William is both the King of England and the Duke of Normandy. William brought feudalism and culture from France to England William achieves political stability in England with the introduction of the feudal system.

The Crusades

Period: Feb 18, 1096 to Oct 21, 1291

King John of England was forced to sign the Magna Carta

Jan 3, 1215

The Magna Carta gave some basic rights to the people and also said that the king was not above the law.

The Black Plague swept Europe and England

Feb 3, 1348

❤❤❤Spread by fleas which infested a huge rat population, the disease is characterized by the victim turning dark purple in the last hours of life due to respiratory failure, hence the name, black plague.

Joan of Arc Takes Control to Liberate France

Sep 18, 1429

Joan of Arc, a peasant girl in France, seeks out the French leader and relates her divinely-inspired mission to drive the English out of France. She takes control of the French troops.

Joan of Arc is Captured

Feb 6, 1430

Joan of Arc is captured and taken to England. The English accuse her of being a witch and condemn her for heresy. Joan is publicly burned in the city of Rouen.

The Medicini Family Dominate the French Government

Feb 6, 1434

The Medici banking family dominates the government of Florence.

Ottoman Turks take Constantinopole

Feb 6, 1453

Ottoman Turks take Constantinople and end Byzantine civilization.

Italy is Divided into Four Regions

Feb 6, 1454

Italy is divided into five major regions: Venice, Milan, Florence, the Papal States and the southern kingdom of Naples.

Henry VI of England wages the War of the Roses

Feb 6, 1455

Henry VI of England wages the Wars of the Roses. The two sides of the war are the red rose (Henry's family at Lancaster) and the white rose (the house of York). Yorkist Richard III gains the kingship for a short amount of time.

Ferdinand of Aragon marries Isabella of Castile

Feb 6, 1469

Ferdinand of Aragon marries Isabella of Castile, and the two Spanish kingdoms end their conflicts but remain separate powers.

The End of the Wars at the Roses

Feb 6, 1485

The end of the Wars of the Roses in England, the Tudor dynasty replaces Richard III. Henry VII, the first Tudor king, rules for twenty-four years and revives the English throne. He reestablishes royal power over the aristocracy, ends funding of foreign wars and reforms finances. Parliament also becomes a stable part of the governmental system.

Ferdinand and Isabella Seek Expansion and Expel

Feb 6, 1492

Ferdinand and Isabella annex Granada, expel all Jews from Spain and seek overseas expansion (for example, as patrons of Christopher Columbus). The flow of American gold and silver through Spain, the conquest of Mexico and Peru and superiority on the battlefield make Spain the most powerful state in Europe.

Henry VIII Succeeds the English Crown

Feb 6, 1509

Henry VIII succeeds his father, Henry VII, for the English crown.

Elizabeth I Succeeds the Throne of England

Feb 6, 1558

Elizabeth I succeeds the throne of England.

Elizabeth I Dies

Feb 6, 1603