10 most significant events of the middle ages

The Fall of Western Roman Empire (476 AD)

476

The fall of Western Roman Empire is considered as the beginning of the Middle Ages. The last Roman emperor was Julius Nepos who was nominated by Eastern Emperor Zeno. Nepo’s rebellion magister militum Orestes dethroned Julius Nepos and declared his own son Romulus Augustus as the new Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.

Charlemagne, the Emperor of Romans (800 AD)

800

Charlemagne or Charles the Great was a Frankish king who expanded the Frankish kingdom and covered almost all of the Western and Central Europe. He was declared as the Emperor of Romans in 800 AD and he enjoyed the empire successfully till his death. He associated his political steps with the Church and encouraged a revival of art, religion and culture with the help of the Church.

Treaty of Verdun (843 AD)

843

An agreement between the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, dividing the Carolingian Empire. This is seen as the beginning of the states of France and Germany.

Foundation of Normandy (911 AD)

911

An agreement between King Charles III and the Viking leader Rollo establishes the Duchy of Normandy as a defence against other Norse raiders. The Normans emerge as a significant group over the next two centuries.

First use of gunpowder (919 AD)

919

The Battle of Langshan Jiang was a naval conflict where gunpowder was used as a flamethrower and proved to be very effective. It would mark the beginning of this technology in warfare.

First Crusade is launched (1095 AD)

1095

At the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II calls upon Christians to undertake a military expedition in support of the Byzantine Empire against the Seljuk Turks. It would lead to the conquest of Jerusalem four years later and a concerted effort by Western Europeans to take control of the Near East.

The Great Famine (1315-1317 AD)

1315

Whole northern Europe suffered the Great Famine in 1315 which prolonged itself till 1317. During these two years of famine, a big portion of the population died of hunger and diseases. During those days of famine, crime rate increased to extreme and there were too many incidences of cannibalism, rapes, and infanticides. The Great Famine brought unrest in peasants and the members of nobility also suffered a setback and as a result, they became more bloodthirsty and gave up the oath of chivalry.

The Hundred Years’ War (1337 AD)

1337

The Hundred Years’ War began in 1337 when the Kingdom of England waged war against the Kingdom of France. While there were many periods of peace and ceasefire between England and France during the period, however, this war was continued again and again in different conflicts till 1453.

The Black Death (1348-1350 AD)

1348

The Black Death or the Black Plague proved to be the most threatening epidemic of the European Middle Ages that significantly weakened the feudal system and the Church of Europe. Huge masses of people met untimely death because of this plague and it significantly reduced the economic and political power of the kingdoms of Europe.

Columbus sails to the Americas

1492

Christopher Columbus leads a voyage westwards on the Atlantic Ocean, hoping to reach Asia. Instead they land in the Caribbean, beginning the period of European settlement and colonization in the Americas.