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The year when the Roman Empire fell, after ruling a large part of Europe. This led to chaos in many regions as local kings and leaders competed for power, beginning what we now call the Dark Ages or the Middle Ages. -
The Anno Domini calendar is invented. The Anno Domini (AD) calendar is a system used to count years from the estimated birth of Jesus Christ. -
The Battle of Tours. The Franks defeated the Muslims turning back Islam from Europe. -
Vikings from the Scandinavian lands (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) begin to invade northern Europe. They would continue until 1042. -
William of Normandy, a French Duke, conquers England in the Battle of Hastings. He became King of England and changed the country forever. The Battle of Hastings, 14th October 1066. -
The First Crusade commences, marking the beginning of a series of conflicts known as the Crusades. These wars were fought between the Holy Roman Empire and the Muslims. Over the following two centuries, multiple Crusades would take place. -
King John of England signs the Magna Carta, granting certain rights to the people and establishing that the monarch was above the law. -
The Black Death begins in Europe. This horrible disease would kill around half of the people in Europe. The Plague was an epidemic that spread across Europe from 1346 to 1351. -
German inventor Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press. This will signal the start of the Renaissance. It marked a revival of interest in art, literature, science, and learning antiquity, leading to significant advancements in various fields. -
The start of the Protestant Reformation. This happened after Martin Luther, a German Catholic, nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. This event marked the start of a movement that aimed to reform the Catholic Church and led to the establishment of Protestantism as a separate Christian denomination.