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The Western half of the Roman Empire collapsed, overrun by nomadic invaders. The Eastern half survived as the Byzantine Empire
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This was the big divide between the Christian Church, with the patriarch in Byzantium and the pope in Rome mutually excommunicating each other and then both going their separate ways.
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Decisive defeat of Byzantine forces by Seljuq Turks marked the beginning of the decline of Byzantium culture that would culminate in the capture of Constantinople.
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Declared by Pope Urban II, the First Crusade led to many Christians in Europe gathering together to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslims, which they did, temporarily, until Saladin reorganized the Muslim forces and expelled the Christians for good.
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Most dynamic Mongol leader, broke up tribes and remade the Mongol political system into Khanates, conquered much of Afro-Eurasia, bringing it into the largest empire the world has ever seen.
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"The Lion Prince", Sundiata built the powerful Mali Empire in Africa after returning from eile. Known for diplomtic skills and courage in battle, he assemblefd a large army dominated by powerful cavalry.
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Another very prolific leader of the Mongol Empire, Kubilhai Khan extended Mongol rule throughout China, bringing down Song dynasty. Also experienced a vast amount of cross-cultural interaction with Europle, including meetings with emissaries of the pope and Marco Polo.
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The Yuan Dynasty was started by Kubilhai Khan after his Mongol forces ended the powerful Song dynasty that had been ruling.
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Ibn Buttuta was a Islamic judge that traveled worldwide enforcing Islamic law in the regions he visited. He was known for his strict interpretation of Islamic law and his published his travels afterwards.
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Grand-newphew of Sundiata, leader of the Mali Empire, Mansa Musa was the richest person in the world ever. He prolifically converted to Islam, and made an incredibly important prilgrimage to Mecca
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Took a gargantuan caravan, with thousands of soldiers and attendants, and famously a hundred camels laden with gold. He took his time, and spent his money very freely in the cities he stopped in, Oftentimes, he spent so much money that he caused runaway inflation in the cities that he visited.
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The Hundred Years War was an ongoing conflict between England and France for control of the French throne. The French "won" if it can be called that, keeping control of the French throne with the House of Valois.
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The Ming dynasty was a traditional Chinese dynasty based on Confucian education and civil service systems, and they also worked hard to eliminate all traces of the previous Mongol-led Yuan Empire. They are also well known for thei highly beautiful and intricate works of pottery.
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The Aztecs were the most powerful civilization in Mesoamerica for a time, building the massive city of Tenochtitlan, site of modern-day Meico City. Their society put a strong value on sacrifice, bloodletting, and war,
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A powerful and sophisticated South American state, the Inca Empire utilized a variety of very tehcnologies to great use, including trepanation and quipu. They were conquered by Francisco Pizarro.
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Sultan Mehmed II and the Ottoman Tuks captured Constaniople, ending the reign of the Byzantine Empire and renaming the city to it's present day name of Istanbul.
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Christopher Columbus was the first contemporary European to establish contact with the Americas, lading among the Caribbean islands, and murdering the native islanders in scores. He was one of the people that began the rush of Euopean explorers to travel to America and find their riches in supposed "gold"
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The Spanish arrived in the Amnericas looking for gold, and bloodily wiped out the Aztecs and then the Incas in their hunt for treasure. This was the ominous beginning to a tradition of destroying indigenous American cultures in search for precious metals.
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Coronation of Otto I as the first Holy Roman Emperor, beginning the Holy Roman Empire
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Temporarily united the Germanic peoples in centralized rule
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Most dynamic ruler of the Carolignian Empire, aggressively expanded borders, temporarily re-established centralized rule in Europe, maintained diplomatic relation with the Abbasid Caliphate, crowned Emperor by Pope Gregory
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One of the lesser-known American societies, the Toltecs preceded the Aztec and Inca and built a centralized state.