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Period: 871 to 899
The Reign of Alfred The Great
Alfred the Great of England rules (871 - 899 A.D.). Alfred the Great defeats the Danes (Vikings) in 878. In 886 he captures London. He signs a treaty, splitting England between him and the Danes. As a ruler Alfred encourages education by establishing schools. http://www.historytoday.com/barbara-yorke/alfred-great-most-perfect-man-history -
900
Farming in the Middle Ages
Improved equipment lead to agriculture growth development. Heavy plowing, horse collar and horse shoes improved the system. A wider use of water mills and an introduction of the wind mills lead in the 12th Century to an improvement to the field system. Going form a two-field system to a three-field system increased the agricultural yield by 16.7%
http://www.thefinertimes.com/Middle-Ages/farming-in-the-middle-ages.html http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/west/10/FC63 -
Feb 2, 962
OttoThe Great is crowned King
Otto I, traditionally known as Otto the Great, was German king from 936 and Holy Roman Emperor from 962 until his death in 973. He was the oldest son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda. He was the most powerful western European ruler after Charlemagne. He organized a strong German state and expanded his authority over Burgundy and Italy. Otto I was the son of King Henry I (the Fowler) of Germany.
http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/otto-great-crowned-emperor-romans -
Sep 28, 1066
1066 The Norman Conquest The Battle of Hastings
Claiming his right to the English throne, William, duke of Normandy, invades England at Pevensey on Britain’s southeast coast. His subsequent defeat of King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings marked the beginning of a new era in British history.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-the-conqueror-invades-england -
1096
The Begining of The Crusades 1096
Religious people go on pilgrimages to visit sacred Biblical sites. When the Seljuk Turks rule, they forbid visits to the Holy Land. The Pope calls for a crusade against the Seljuks. Eventually the crusaders take the city of Jerusalem. There will be nine crusades in all between now and1272.
http://www.history.com/topics/crusades -
Period: 1137 to 1152
The Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine (1137-1152) was one of the most powerful and influential figures of the Middle Ages. Inheriting a vast estate at the age of 15 made her the most sought-after bride of her generation. She would eventually become the queen of France, the queen of England and lead a crusade to the Holy Land. She is also the mother of two English Kings John and Richard the Lionheart.
http://www.history.com/topics/british-history/eleanor-of-aquitaine -
1150
Henry 11: England Establishes Common Law
After the Norman conquest. The term "common law" originally derives from the 1150s and 1160s, when Henry II of England established the secular English tribunals. ... The type of procedure practiced in common law courts is known as the adversarial system; this is also a development of the common law.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/henryii_law_01.shtml -
Period: 1199 to 1216
The Reign of King John
John (b.1167-d.1216) was king of England from 1199 to 1216. The Magna Carta, or Great Charter, was issued during his reign. Born on Dec. 24, 1167, John was the youngest son of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval-england/king-john/ -
1209
The Excommunication of King John
An argument with Pope Innocent III led to John's excommunication in 1209, a dispute finally settled by the king in 1213. John's attempt to defeat Philip in 1214 failed due to the French victory over John's allies at the battle of Bouvines. http://www.timeref.com/episodes/excommunication_of_king_john.htm -
Period: 1214 to 1270
The Reign of Louis iX
Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), commonly known as Saint Louis, was King of France and a canonized saint. Louis was crowned in Reims at the age of 12, following the death of his father Louis VIII the Lion, although his mother, Blanche of Castile, ruled the kingdom until he reached maturity https://www.britannica.com/biography/Louis-IX -
Jun 15, 1215
The Magna Carta is signed
Magna Carta, meaning ‘The Great Charter’, is one of the most famous documents in the world. Originally issued by King John of England (r.1199-1216) as a practical solution to the political crisis he faced in 1215, The Magna Carta remains a cornerstone of the British constitution. https://www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/magna-carta-an-introduction -
1244
Louis ix Starts The Seventh Crusade
Seventh Crusade. The Seventh Crusade was a crusade led by Louis IX of France from 1248 to 1254. His troops were defeated by the Egyptian army led by the Ayyubid Sultan Turanshah supported by the Bahariyya Mamluks led by Faris ad-Din Aktai, Baibars al-Bunduqdari, Qutuz, Aybak and Qalawun and Louis was captured
http://www.medievalchronicles.com/the-crusades/seventh-crusade/ -
1337
The Hundred Years War
The name the Hundred Years’ War has been used by historians since the beginning of the nineteenth century to describe the long conflict that pitted the kings and kingdoms of France and England against each other from 1337 to 1453. -
Period: 1347 to 1350
The Black Death
A plague reaches the shores of Italy around 1347, believed to have been carried by merchant ships. Large black boils, oozing with blood and pus, are seen on the victims, who also have fevers, diarrhea, vomiting, and chills. The disease spreads quickly. About 1/3rd of the population dies.
http://www.history.com/topics/black-death -
1381
Surfdom: The Beginning of the End
The lords of many manors were willing (for payment) to manumit ("release") their serfs. ... In England, the end of serfdom began with the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval-england/peasants-revolt/ -
1431
The Death of Joan of Arc
A peasant girl living in medieval France, Joan believed God had chosen her to lead France to victory in its long war with England. Joan convinced the embattled crown prince Charles of Valois to allow her to lead a French to a momentous victory over the English and their French allies, the Burgundians. After seeing the prince crowned King Charles VII. She was later tried for witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake in 1431, at the age of 19
http://www.history.com/topics/saint-joan-of-arc -
1440
Movable Type
Johannes Gutenberg of Mainz, Germany invents a printing press with movable type that can copy a page multiple times. There is no need to copy books by hand anymore. In 1455, the first printed Bible is made. The Middle Ages will be remembered as a time of transitions as old empires fell away, and new nations emerged, leading to a need for fresh ideas and innovations. http://www.juliantrubin.com/bigten/gutenbergmovable.html -
Guilds in the Middle Ages
Guilds in the Middle Ages were associations or groups of craftsmen. Each guild focused on a specific trade such as the candlemaker's guild or the tanner's guild. Why were guilds important? Guilds in the Middle Ages played an important role in society. They provided a way for trade skills to be learned and passed down from generation to generation. Members of a guild had the opportunity to rise in society through hard work. http://www.ducksters.com/history/middle_ages_guilds.php
