Timeline for the Middle Ages (CE) By kilatheodora 500 Eastern Roman (Byzantine Empire) at its peak 600 Teotihuacan civilization is flourishing in Mexico 600 Rise of Islam 700 Mayan civilization at its height in Central America 700 Feudal system begins in Europe; peasants serve a lord in exchange for protection 711 Moors invade Spain 750 Abbasid dynasty is founded; Arab Empire at its peak 800 Charlemagne crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 900 Rise of Toltec civilization in Mexico 1000 Vikings land in North America 1095 Muslim Turks take Jerusalem and ban Christian pilgrims from the city Period: 1096 to 1270 Crusades try to rescue Jerusalem from the Muslims 1215 Genghis Khan and the Mongols invade China 1271 Marco Polo travels to China from Italy 1300 Renaissance begins in Europe 1325 Aztecs established Tenochtitlan near modern day Mexico City 1368 Foundation of the Ming dynasty in China