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570
Muhammad is born
Muhammad was born in what is now Mecca, Saudi Arabia. -
Jan 1, 600
Two South American Cultures Begin to Decline
Over sixty years, the western coast of South America had been hit with great climate changes; droughts and flooding from El Nino both happened in that time span. The Moche and the Nazca cultures lived on the west coast, and could not fully recover from these natural disasters. Thus began their demise. -
Jan 1, 600
Smallpox Arrives in Europe
The disease smallpox reached Europe for the first time; before then, it was in Africa and Asia. Historians are not sure from where the disease came from. One theory is that the Antonine plague was a variation of smallpox, while the other common one is that Arab soldiers carried it to the south part of Europe, and it spread from there. -
Jan 1, 610
Muhammad sees the Angel Gabriel
Muhammad often went to meditate in the caves of Mount Hira. On once such visit, in the year 610, he came back to Mecca, claiming the Angel Gabriel had visitied him and given him the Koran. He was unsure of what he saw, and kept his vision a secret that only him and his family knew. -
Oct 4, 610
Heraclius becomes Emporer of Eastern Rome
Heraclius overthrew the then current Emporer Phocas, and took over the Eastern Roman Empire. His first decree was to change the official language from Latin to Greek, as it was the msot common language in the area. 610 is also where historians stop calling this region the Easter Roman Empire, and start calling it the Byzantine Empire. -
Jan 1, 613
Muhammad begins spreading Islam
Muhammad was wary to spread Islam when he first recieved the vision, but after a few years, he started taking his message public. He built up a small following of followers. They were often ridiculed though, for not following the traditional tribal ways. -
Jan 1, 622
Muhammad Emigrates to Medina
Due to the persecution and other mistreatment, Muhammad sends his followers to the oasis of Medina. He later joins them in 622, and together, they build the first all Muslim city. -
Mar 1, 624
Battle of Badr
The Meccans were not pleased with the growing Muslim area, and decided to squash it. The first major battle in a series of skirmishes, the Battle of Badr, was won by the Muslims. -
Mar 1, 625
The Battle of Uhud
The second major battle between the Meccans and Muslims was lost by Muhammad and his followers. -
Apr 1, 627
The Seige of Medina
The Meccans eventually managed to lay seige to the Muslim city of Medina. The seige was long and drawn out, but the Muslims out lasted the Meccans. -
Dec 12, 627
Battle of Nineveh
The Byzantine Empire and the Sassanids (who followed the Persians) had been battling since 92 ACE. The final battle, the Battle of Nineveh, was the final one. The Romans had been gaining a long line of defeats over the Sassanids, and after winning this one Sassanids had given up. They overthrew their king, and placed in a new one that signed a treaty with the Byzantine Empire. -
Jan 1, 630
Conquest of Mecca
The Muslims had gained power over their years- which meant power was taken away from the Meccans. During their march to take over Mecca, the Muslims were joined by various tribes that agreed with their cause. When they reached Mecca, they took the city with out spilling blood. The Meccans realized they could not win the fight, and joined them. -
Jan 1, 630
Serbs and Croats Settle in the Balkans
Emporer Heraclius is back again, this time inviting Serbs and Croats to settle in the Balkans. While this doesn't seem significant, Serbs and Croats came to hate each other, which provided grounds for conflict in later years. -
Jun 8, 632
Muhammad's Death
Muhammad came down with a sickness for a few days, before pasing on at the age of sixty three. -
Muslim/Meccan Peace Treaty Signed
The Muslims and the Meccans signed a peace treaty to end their fighting. This treaty also recognized the Muslims as a true group of people, and were allowed to live in Arabia. -
First Written Mention of Toilet Paper
The Chinese had invented toilet paper before this date, but this was the first written mention. Interesting fact: when the Arabs and Europeans learned of this, they thought it was terribly unsanitary to use paper instead of water. -
Suevi Empire Falls
The Suivi were a germanic tribe that was living in the Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal). Until 585, they lived in the area with other Germanic tribes, though the others were slowly being conquered by the Visagoths. Eventually, it was just the Suivi and Visagoths. The Goths attacked over the course of the year, and the Suivi Empire fell to them. -
St. Augustine travels to England
Augustine of Canterbury was sent, along with other Roman monks, to England by the Pope to christianize an Anglo-Saxon king. His travels were slow, but when he reached the island in 597, the king allows himself to be turned. Augustine is credited with founding the Church of England, and was given sainthood.
