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313
Edict of Milan
Issued by Constantine, it officially tolerated the existence of Christianity. -
Period: 313 to 414
Middle Ages
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400
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the eastern section of the Roman Empire. It was ruled by Justinian (527-565) who created the Code of Law. Justinian's codification of Roman law became the basis of imperial law in the Byzantine Empire until its end in 1453. A major city in this empire was Constantinople. It was the largest city in Europe in the Middle Ages. -
530
Corpus Juris Civils
Roman law, meaning Body of Civil Law -
530
Rule of Benedict
The Rule of Benedict were rules for monastic life. These rules stating that prayer, manual labor, poverty, obedience, and chastity were expected from the monks. -
570
Life of Muhammad
Muhammad's teachings formed the basis for the Islamic religion. When his religion wasn't accepted in Mecca, he moved to Medina to become a religious and political leader. Born in 570, Hegira near 620 and death around 630 -
Jan 1, 660
Umayyad Empire
The Umayyad Empire was established by Muawiya. This dynasty moved the capital of the Muslim empire from Medina to Damascus in Syria. This caused a split in Islam between the Shi'ites and the Sunnites. The Umayyad dynasty at Damascus ruled an enormous empire. -
Jan 1, 732
Battle of Poitiers
Between the Franks and the Umayyads. The Franks were led by Charles Martel and won the battle. -
Jan 1, 750
Abbasid Empire
The Abbasid Empire was the capital of Baghdad. This dynasty made a distinction between the Arab and the non-Arab. The Abbasid Empire also established a new cultural orientation; steering from the warrior identity and more in the direction of judges, merchants, and administrators. -
Jan 1, 1000
Climate change at the turn of the milennia
At the turn of the milennia, the climate became warmer causing a longer growing season. This change in the weather had many positive consequences such as population growth and an increase in agricultural production. -
Jan 1, 1000
Development of the carruca
The carruca is a iron wheeled plow. This new invention made developments in the agricultural methods. Some examples of these developments would be new horse collar, water and wind mills, and the three-field system. -
Jan 1, 1066
William of Normandy
William of Normandy required all subvassals to swear loyalty to him as their king and liege lord. This meant that all subvassals owed their primary loyalty to the king rather than to their immediate lords. -
Jan 1, 1075
Investiture controversy
A series of popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of church officials such as bishops. -
Jan 1, 1088
Founding of the University of Bologna
The University of Bologna was the first European University in Bologna, Italy. Most students at this university were administrators to kings who were eager to learn more about law to apply to their jobs. The University of Bologna remained that greatest law school in Europe throughtout the Middle Ages. -
Jan 1, 1095
Crusdaes
The First Crusade started with warriors of western Europe. These warriors made their way east taking down the cities as they traveled the coast. After conquest of Palestinian lands, four crusader states were organized. -
Jan 1, 1100
Charter or libertires, commune
The charter of liberites was the bequeath of goods and sell property. It was also the freedom from military obligation and written law for residency freedome. Commune is an association of townspeople bound together by a sworn oath for the purpose of obtaining basic liberties from the lord of the territory in which the town was located. -
Jan 1, 1120
Era of Romanesque cathedrals
The romanesque style had rectangular shape and a barrel vault ceiling. This style also had massve thick walls and a dark interior. -
Jan 1, 1140
Era of Gothic cathedrals
The gothic style had pointed arches and ribbed vaults which created an impression of upward movement. These cathedrals also had stained glass windows and flying buttress. A flying buttress is a heavy arched pier of stone built onto the outside of the walls. -
Jan 1, 1200
Innocent III
Innocent II was the pope of Europe. He believed that he was the supreme judge of Euproean affairs. Innocent III did an interdict. In the interdict he forbade priests to dispense the sacraments of the church in the hope that people would exert pressure against their ruler. -
Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
In 1215, King John was forced to assent to Magna Carta the "great charter" of fedual liberties. The Magna Carta was aimed at limiting government practices that affected relations between the king and his vassals on the one hand and between the king and the church on the other hand. -
Jan 1, 1295
Beginning of English Parliament
Edward I started the English Parliment in 1295. He did this by inviting two knights from every county and two residents from each city and town to meet with the Great Council to consent to new taxes. -
Jan 1, 1300
Beginning of French Estates General
Philip IV brought a French parliament into being by summoning representatives of the church, nobility, and townspeople to meet with him inaugurating the Estates-General the first French parliament. The Estates-General came to function as an instrument to bolster the king's power because he could ask representatives of the major French social classes to change the laws or grant new taxes. -
Jan 1, 1305
Avignon Papacy
The residency of popes in Avignon led to a decline in papal prestige. The city of Rome was traditional capital of the universal church. The popes began to construct a stately palace in Avignon. Over the years of the Avignonese papacy 113 or 134 cardinals were French -
Jan 1, 1337
Hundred Years War
In the Hundred Years War, the French attacks the English Gascony.Isabella led a revolt against her husband, overthrew him and ruled England until her son Edward III took control. -
Jan 1, 1350
Black Death
A devasting pandemic in Europe. This plague was thought to be spread by fleas living on rats. The Black Death killed many people in Europe, estimated to 30%-60% of its population. -
Jan 1, 1380
Great Schism
The cardinals were threatened to choose a Roman or Italian as pope (Urban VI won). The French cardinals withdrew from Rome, and later issued a manifesto stating that they were coerced and that Urban's electrion was null and void. The Frechman then voted Clement VII and returned to Avignon, resulting in 2 popes. The Great Schism lasted for about 40 years. -
Jan 1, 1414
Council of Constance
Cardinal from both sides met to depose the 2 popes and elect a new one. Alexander V was elected pop but the 2 deposed popes refused to step down, resulting in 3 popes. Leadership in convenin a new council now passed to the Holy Roman Emperor, Sigismund. In his efforts. a new ecumenical church council met at Constatnce. After the 3 competeing popes either resigned or deposed a new conclave elected Cardinal Oddone Colonna as Pope Martin V. This ended the Great Schism -
Clovis
Clovis was a German King who converted to Christianity. He used Catholic faith to expand and established a powerful Frankish kingdom. -
Treaty of Verdun
When Louis the Pious died his empire was split into three parts among his three sons. Charles the Bald received the west, Lothair received the middle section and Louis the German got the east. -
Crowning by Pope Leo III
Pope Leo III (795-816) crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in 800. -
Visogoth Sack of Rome
Alaric, the leader of the Visogoths, moved his soldiers through the Balkans and then into Italy. When the city of Rome refused Alaric's demands he charged the city causing senate to agree to pay 5,000 pounds of gold. Frustrated that the Visogoths be part of northern Italy, Alaraic sacked Rome for 3 days. -
Vladimir's Conversion to Christianity
Vladimir married the Byzantine empeor's sister and officially accepted Christianity. He believed an established church would be helpful in developing and organized state. -
Reign of Charlemagne
The reign of Charlemagne is known as the Carolingian Empire. This empire became the largest unity of Eupore since the Roman Empire. Concerning Charlermagne's governing, there was a lack of structure. This empire did not have a tax system, and relied on personal power of Charlemagne. His reign ended in 814.
