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476
The fall of Rome
The fall of Rome marks the beggining of the Middle Ages. In 476 AD emeror Romulus Augustulus is deposed by the barbarian gerneral Odoacer. This event marks the end of one period and the beggining of another. -
Dec 14, 700
Vikings
The viking were expert sailors, raiders and independent farm owners ruled by land owning cheiftains. They came out of Scandinavia looting and buring communities along the coast and rivers of Europe. In the year 1000 they set up a viking colony in North America. Vikings opened trade routes that linked Northern Europe to Mediterranean lands. -
Dec 14, 732
muslim invasion comes to an end
Muslims as well as the barbarian began to conquer land from the south. Charles Martel,the Frank king stops the muslims' northward push. -
May 22, 1000
Change in agriculature
Peasants started adapting to new farming technology that made their fields more productice and made work easier. This was the start of an agricultural revolution that transformed Europe. -
Dec 14, 1000
Feudalism begins
Rome, Flourence, Venice, aswell as other Italian towns became city-states. Kings gave sections of land called fiefs to lords in exchange for help during the war. The lords were able to give land to the knights and vassals in exchange for their service. The peasants worked the lands in exchange for food and protection. -
Dec 14, 1100
Travel and Trade
Warfare and Invasion declined so people felt like it was safe to travel again. The Crusaders brought luxury goods. Wealthy nobles desired goods and peasants wanted iron for farm tools. Therefore, traders began to crisscross Europe to satisfy the demand for goods. -
Dec 16, 1135
Gothic Style
St. Denise Abbey in paris is rebuilt in the Gothic style. The church started to use stained glass window. Also some Monks spent their days hand copying holy books andd drawing beautiful borders and the sides. New architercture and structure was developed. -
Dec 14, 1200
New Formations
The German towns along the Baltic Sea established the Hanseatic League to protect their trading interest. It dominated trade in Northern Europe for more than 150 years. It took action against robbery and pirates. Also it built lighthouses and trained ships' pilots. -
Dec 14, 1215
The Magna Carta is signed
Rebels did not like king John of England. But they did not have anyone else to take his place. Instead, they made him sign a document, the Magna Carta, stating that there is no divine right of kings. It restricted the powers of the king and proved the importants of constitution. -
Dec 16, 1295
Marco Polo
He was an Italian merchant who traveled to Asia to trade new goods. He later was imprisoned and told his stories to his cell mate who recorded his stories. It was Marco's stories that helped Eastern Europe gain popularity. -
Dec 14, 1300
Use of Money
Feudal Lords needed money to buy goods. Therefore, many peasants began selling farm products to townspeople and paying their rent to their lord in cash instead of labor.They became tenant farmers who paid rent for their land or hired farm laborers. -
Dec 14, 1337
The hundred years war
Edward III of England declared war on france because he felt like he should be the king of that country. This fighting continued off and on until 1453. -
Dec 14, 1347
The Black Death
A plague reached Italy around 1347. Some say the disease was carried by merchant ships. The passengers had fevers diarrhea,vomiting,and chills. The disease started to spread rapidly due to many reason. In the end 1/3 of the population died. -
Dec 14, 1440
The printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg from Germany invented the printing press with movable type that could copy a page multiple times. In 1455 the first printed Bible was made. This time period marked the transition of innovation and fresh ideas in the middle ages. -
Dec 9, 1500
The renaissance
The Renaissance period begins in Europe. It marks the end of the Middle Ages. The Renaissance was a term coined by Petrarch which measns a rebirth of classical Greek and Roman ideals. -
Charles Martel's grandson becomes the kind of the Franks
Like his grandfather he was also called Charles and became known as Charles the Great or Charlemagne. He spent most of his 46 year reign fighting Muslims in Spain, Saxons in the north, Avars and Slavs in the East, and Lomards in Italy. He also briefly united Western Europe and built an empire that reached across present day France, Germany, and parts of Italy. -
Clovis conquered Roman province of Gaul
It later became the kingdom of France. He ruled the land in Frankish costoms but still kept the Roman Legacy. Clovis converted to Christianity which got him respect frm the people of Gaul and he became great allies with the pope. -
The Church Dominates
The church made a huge achievment of converting the diverse people of Western Europe into Christianity. Missionaries were sent to spread their faith among Germanic tribes. Pretty soon Western Europe had become a Christian civilization. If someone did not belong to the church community they were viewed with suspicion. -
charlemagne dies
Charles ends up dieing and his son, Louis takes the thrown. In 843 Louis drew up the Treaty of Verdun, which split the empire into 3 regions. -
Alfred the Great
Alfred defeated the Danes (Vikings) and he captured London in 886. He signed a treaty seperating England between him and the Danes. He also encouraged education by establishing schools.
