Middle Ages

By alexmdrake7
  • 285

    EARLY CHRISTIAN, Rome is split into two regions by Diocletian.

    As it appears, the Empire was split. The West began to fall.
  • 313

    EARLY CHRISTIAN, Edict of Milan

    Christianity was now acceptable; property was restored to those of the faith.
  • 324

    BYZANTINE, Theodosius II builds walls of Constantinople

    Constantinople's walls were built and would hold up for the next several hundred years until Renaissance. Became new major city of the Empire.
  • 325

    EARLY CHRISTIAN, Nicene Creed

    Council of Nicaea takes place; Christian views are combined into one statement.
  • 410

    EARLY CHRISTIAN, The Sack of Rome

    Western Rome falls at the hands of Germans; the city is overrun and destroyed and for some marks the end of the empire.
  • 440

    EARLY CHRISTIAN, Peterine Doctrine

    Christians become divided, as the papacy begins at last. East snubs the West for worshiping the pope. Meanwhile, papacy becomes leading power in vacuum of Europe.
  • Period: 457 to Apr 27, 751

    FRANCE, Merovingian Dynasty

    Franks unified; most notable leaders were Clovis and Charles Martel.
  • Period: 481 to 511

    FRANCE, Merovingian Dynasty, Reign of Clovis

    This king unified the Franks, laying the foundation for Charlemagne who would later come.
  • 527

    BYZANTINE, Justinian Becomes Emperor

    Justinian and Theodora built up the Byzantine Empire to its peak.
  • 532

    BYZANTINE, Hagia Sophia

    Justinian and his wife build one of the largest and most renowned Orthodox churches in existence. It served to make his power as joint head of church and state secure.
  • Apr 24, 630

    ISLAM, Muhammad Conquers Mecca

    Killing off hundreds of his kinsmen, Muhammad takes Mecca, but shows clemency, only requesting his religion be followed, crushing the shrines inside the Kabba
  • Apr 24, 661

    ISLAM, Split between Sunnis and Shias.

    Ali is murdered, leading to a difference in opinion about leaders of the Islamic empire. They split into sects. Sunnis follow other leaders, Shias believe in heirs to Ali.
  • Period: Apr 26, 718 to Apr 27, 741

    FRANCE, Merovingian Dynasty, Charles Martel and the Battle of Tours

    This ruler, the most successful since Clovis, but much less despotic, kept Islam out of Europe, demonstrating Frankish power.
  • Apr 26, 732

    ISLAM, Umayyad Empire, Battle of Tours

    Islam at this point had spread nearly halfway around the Mediterranean. They could have kept going into Europe, but Charles Martel defeated them and ensured Frankish power in Europe.
  • Period: Apr 26, 742 to Apr 27, 814

    FRANCE, Carolingian Dynasty, Charlemagne and the Renaissance

    The king was an intellectual and attempted to spark Europe with learning.
  • Period: Apr 26, 751 to Apr 27, 815

    FRANCE, Carolingian Dynasty

    This, following the death of its namesake, Charles Martel, led up to the birth of a miniature Renaissance.
  • Apr 26, 762

    ISLAM, Abbasid Empire, Baghdad

    Baghdad, a young city, was chosen as the capital of the empire, and its location and resources made it an ideal location to house the power of Islam.
  • Apr 26, 798

    FRANCE, Carolingian Dynasty, Diplomatic Relations with Harun Al Rashid

    Charlemagne was endorsed by this Islamic figure, who commissioned him an elephant. This put the king in contact with the people who held the keys to the knowledge he cherished.
  • Apr 26, 803

    FRANCE, Carolingian Dynasty, Agreement with Byzantine Empire to recognize Charlemagne

    The patriarch of Byzantium and Charlemagne, after continued disputes, put them to rest as Charlemagne was recognized for his grand status by the East.