Middle Ages Review

476 A.D

476

The fall of the Roman Empire. Rome had ruled much of Europe. Now much of the land would fall into confusion as local kings and rulers tried to grab power. This is the start of the Dark Ages or the Middle Ages.

481 A.D

481

Clovis becomes King of the Franks. Clovis united most of the Frankish tribes that were part of Roman Province of Gaul.

570 A.D

570

Muhammad, is born. Becomes prophet of Islam later i his life.

732 A.D

732

The Battle of Tours. The Franks defeated the Muslims turning back Islam from Europe.

800 A.D

800

Charlemagne, King of the Franks, is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Charlemagne united much of Western Europe and is considered the father of both the French and the German Monarchies.

835 A.D

835

Vikings from the Scandinavian lands (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) begin to invade northern Europe. They would continue until 1042.

896 A.D

896

Alfred the Great, King of England, turns back the Viking invaders.

1066 A.D

1066

William of Normandy, a French Duke, conquers England in the Battle of Hastings. He became King of England and changed the country forever.

1096 A.D

1096

Start of the First Crusade. The Crusades were wars between the Holy Roman Empire and the Muslims over the Holy Land. There would be several Crusades over the next 200 years.

1189 A.D

1189

Richard I, Richard the Lionheart, becomes King of England.

1206 A.D

1206

Monghal Empire is founded by Genghis Khan

1215 A.D

1215

King John of England signs the Magna Carta. This document gave the people some rights and said the king was not above the law.

1271 A.D

1271

Marco Polo leaves on his famous journey to explore Asia.

1337 A.D

1337

The Hundred Years War begins between England and France for control of the French throne.

1347 A.D

1347

The Black Death begins in Europe. This horrible disease would kill around half of the people in Europe.

1431 A.D

1431

French heroine Joan of Arc is executed by England at the age of 19

1444 A.D

1444

German inventor Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press. This will signal the start of the Renaissance.

1453 A.D

1453

The Ottoman Empire captures the city of Constantinople. This signals the end of the Eastern Roman Empire also known as Byzantium.

1482 A.D

1482

Leonardo Da Vinci paints "The Last Supper."

1492 A.D

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.