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Top Events of the Middle Ages

  • The Fall of the Western Roman Empire
    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.
  • Anno Domini Calender invented
    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.
  • Plague of Justinian
    541

    Plague of Justinian

    A plague that terrorised the Middle East and the Mediterranean. This killed around 25 million people.
  • Islamic conquest of Persia
    651

    Islamic conquest of Persia

    Although it took 20 years of warfare, the Sassanian Empire finally fell, allowing the Islamic to capture this land.
  • Buddhism becomes the state religion of China
    691

    Buddhism becomes the state religion of China

    Buddhism became very popular, and was one the largest religions in the world
  • Siege of Constantinople
    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
  • Gunpowder is first used
    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.
  • China is reunited with the Song Dynasty
    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.
  • Great Schism
    1054

    Great Schism

    A permanent split occurs between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This still affects today's world
  • First Crusade begins
    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
  • Gothic buildings are built
    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.
  • Genghis Khan becomes the ruler of the Mongols
    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.
  • Siege of Baghdad
    1258

    Siege of Baghdad

    The Mongols besiege this city, which ends the Abbasid Dynasty
  • Siege of Acre
    1291

    Siege of Acre

    The last Crusader stronghold is attacked and captured by the Mamluks, and is considered the end of the crusades.
  • The Beginning of the Hundred Years' War
    1337

    The Beginning of the Hundred Years' War

    England and France have a war that's on and off, which goes on until 1453.
  • Black Death
    1347

    Black Death

    Considered one of the worlds biggest pandemics, killing around a third of the European population and also affecting parts of Asia
  • Yuan Dynasty is overthrown
    1368

    Yuan Dynasty is overthrown

    The Chinese people remove the Mongol government and create the Ming dynasty which rules until 1644
  • Florence Baptist Competition
    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
  • Siege of Constantinople... again
    1453

    Siege of Constantinople... again

    The Ottomans attack and capture the capital of the Byzantine Empire, making them a strong international power.
  • Christopher Columbus sails to the Americas
    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