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600
The Dark Ages
The fall of the Roman empire in 476 and the proceeding "Dark Ages" strengthened a widespread belief in and reliance on religion among the masses because they believed God was their only salvation. Christian monks in particular would travel in search of uneducated peoples to which they could preach the Gospel, believing that they must do good rather than just be good. -
610
The Prophet Muhammad
A man by the name of Muhammad in Mecca, after having visions of Archangel Gabriel in which he asked him to read and pray, realizes that he must carry out and share the word of Allah. He thus gained a massive following, although there was also much opposition, and became the foundation of the Islamic faith. -
1078
The Investiture Controversy
A dispute between Henry VI and Pope Gregory VII about secular and religious power. It ended with the Concordat of Worms, in which emperors were restricted in their power to select bishops (a predominantly papal victory). -
1096
The First Crusades
Under the leadership of Godfrey of Bouillon, an army of Frenchmen dubbed "crusaders" set out to take back Jerusalem as it was the city in which Christ's cross had once stood. The Frenchmen slaughtered the Muslims they encountered in the name of their God and eventually founded the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem. -
1170
The Age of Chivalry
Beginning during the reign of Henry IV, in countries such as Germany, Italy, and France, kings would bestow land upon noblemen, and these noblemen would bestow land to their stewards. Whenever the king declared war, his corresponding noblemen and stewards would fight alongside him as knights, believing that their first duty was to fight for God and Christendom. -
1215
The Magna Carta
When King John refused to follow Pope Innocent III's orders, Innocent III decided to excommunicate him and prohibit any priest to celebrate Mass in England. King John's people were thus furious that he had gone against their will and made him sign a charter called the Magna Carta in which the English people were granted certain untouchable rights. -
1220
Emperor Frederick II
Emperor Frederick II was one of the few emperors that was not only religiously tolerant but genuinely welcoming to those of the Islamic faith as well as those of Christianity, which was his own faith. He was beloved by his people, but his acceptance of Muslims greatly angered Pope Innocent III, threatening to excommunicate if he didn't partake in a crusade (which he eventually did). -
1305
Babylonian Captivity of the Popes
French kings were becoming more and more powerful on account of the fact that they kept their land rather than giving it to noblemen, ultimately becoming the most powerful sovereigns. Eventually, the French were able to force the pope to leave Rome and stay in a palace in Avignon, keeping the popes as effective prisoners. -
1420
The Renaissance
Beginning in the prosperous city of Florence, people began to value knowledge, skill, and beauty over religious belief. Thus, the Renaissance began, and people began to seek the revival of Greek and Roman culture through art and individual growth. -
1517
Martin Luther's 95 Theses
In the early 16th century, the sale of indulgences was common in St. Peter's church. Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, decided to raise awareness of the irreligious customs of the church and nailed a poster with his complaints on the door of the church, making way for the eventual development of the Protestant faith.
