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476
The Fall of the Western Roman Empire
This event is considered the beginning of the Middle Ages. This happened because of Rome's small weaknesses, like having inadequate defense. These effects led to the city being easily overrun by barbarians. -
525
Anno Domini Calender invented
Dionysius Exiguus, a monk, created a new calendar to understand the date of easter. He wanted to make 1 AD the birth of Jesus. However, his calculations were incorrect, and he was born earlier. This calendar became widespread, and is used all over the world to this day. -
541
Plague of Justinian
A plague that terrorised the Middle East and the Mediterranean. This killed around 25 million people. -
651
Islamic conquest of Persia
Although it took 20 years of warfare, the Sassanian Empire finally fell, allowing the Islamic to capture this land. -
691
Buddhism becomes the state religion of China
Buddhism became very popular, and was one the largest religions in the world -
717
Siege of Constantinople
The Umayyad Caliphate started a one year siege on the Capital of the Byzantine Empire. This siege ended when the Umayyads withdrew from the battle. The siege of Constantinople is often thought to be one of the most important battles, as it caused many changes in the Islamic world -
919
Gunpowder is first used
Gunpowder was first used in a Naval conflict called the Battle of Langshan Jiang. It was used as a flamethrower and was very effective. This is sometimes thought as the beginning of technology in war. -
979
China is reunited with the Song Dynasty
The reunited China is ruled through the Middle ages for around 300 years and is the start of many technological growths. -
1054
Great Schism
A permanent split occurs between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This still affects today's world -
1095
First Crusade begins
Pope Urban II urged Christians to support the Byzantine Empire against the Seljuk Turks. The Christians managed to take Jerusalem and killed many Muslims and Jews -
1135
Gothic buildings are built
A new form of architecture is created in Medieval Europe. It was used with the work of the French abbot, Suger, who was working on the Basilica of St Denis in Paris. -
1206
Genghis Khan becomes the ruler of the Mongols
A man named Temüjin unites many nomadic tribes and ends up claiming much of Asia and Europe, continued by his descendants. -
1258
Siege of Baghdad
The Mongols besiege this city, which ends the Abbasid Dynasty -
1291
Siege of Acre
The last Crusader stronghold is attacked and captured by the Mamluks, and is considered the end of the crusades. -
1337
The Beginning of the Hundred Years' War
England and France have a war that's on and off, which goes on until 1453. -
1347
Black Death
Considered one of the worlds biggest pandemics, killing around a third of the European population and also affecting parts of Asia -
1368
Yuan Dynasty is overthrown
The Chinese people remove the Mongol government and create the Ming dynasty which rules until 1644 -
1401
Florence Baptist Competition
A door designing competition is held in Florence which is won by Lorenzo Ghiberti. This is considered one of the most important events in the beginning of the Renaissance -
1453
Siege of Constantinople... again
The Ottomans attack and capture the capital of the Byzantine Empire, making them a strong international power. -
1492
Christopher Columbus sails to the Americas
Christopher Columbus sails west, in order to find Asia. Instead, they found the Americas and settled there. This is the beginning of European settlement in America and considered the event that ended the Middle Ages