AP Euro Religious Timeline

Birth of Islam

610

In 610 a prophet named Muhammad claimed to be visited by the Angel Gabriel and asked to recite the words of Allah. His message was unpopular in Mecca, his hometown, because it was monotheistic and in 622 him and his followers left Mecca and went to Medina. He later returned to Mecca, in 632, conquering the region and establishing it as the center of Islam. This is significant because it signifies the start of the Islamic calendar and this major world religion.

The End of Paganism in Germany

754

In Germany up to about 750, Paganism was the most common religion. People would pray to many gods, such as Odin the god of battle, in open air places which they held sacred. This all came to change, when a English monk named Boniface cut down one of their most sacred trees to show their god didn't exist, and there was no violent repercussions. This signifies the end of paganism in Germany and the rise of Christianity in Northern Europe.

Establishment of the Holy Roman Empire

Dec 25, 800

In 799 Charlemagne was king of the Germanic and Frankish people, while also defending the popes in Rome. This led to the cleary in Rome deciding to declare him the new Roman emperor, in 800, thus establishing the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne took this title and set out to preserve the peace of the empire and restore it to its past grandeur with the rulers being Christian. This religious development signified the combination of church and state that would go on to dominate life in Europe.

First Crusade

1096

In 1095, under Pope Urban II jurisdiction, there was the First Crusades to the Holy land in hopes of recapturing Jerusalem from Muslim control. This first Crusade was one of the most successful Crusades in its ability to take control of the city and reclaim many Christian holy spots. This was a very important event because it not only showed the power of the Church, but also was the catalyst for the exchange of ideas between Europe and the Middle East.

The Start of the Babylonian Captivity of the Popes.

1305

In the 1300s the French kings had become extremely powerful and could force the Popes in Rome, which they controlled, to come live in Avignon, France, where the Kings could keep a closer eye on the Popes. In the end, seven Popes were held “prisoner”, between 1305 and 1377, despite living in a luxurious palace. This event shows the battle for power that existed between the church and state for much of European history.

Beginning of The Renaissance

1400

The Renaissances, beginning around 1400, was a revolutionary time for Europe. Not only did art flourish in parts of Italy, illustrating Bible stories and saints, but humanism spread across Europe.
More people began to read, write, and interpret ideas across Europe, which resulted in closely examining and critiquing religion. This period of time is significant because of the way it impacted the growth of all areas of life, such as religion, across Europe.

Christopher Columbus arrives in the New World

1492

In 1492 Christopher Columbus made his famous journey across the Atlantic to “discover” the Americas and the splendor that lay within it. Sponsored by the catholic monarchs of Spain, Isabel and Ferdinand, Columbus brought extreme wealth to Spain and some consider him to have brought the Christian faith to half the world. This is significant because it marks the beginning of the global shift to the west and the exchange of goods and ideas between Europe and America.

Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses

1517

In 1517 the Church sold indulgences that claimed to help past relatives get to heaven. Infuriated with this practice Martin Luther, a German monk, published a document attacking the Church for this corrupt practice. Known as The 95 Theses it expressed his belief that the Bible is the center of religion and that humans may only reach salvation by their faith and not by their deeds. This sparked the Protestant Reformation which would lead to the development of many offshoots of Catholicism.

Cortez arrives in Mexico and destroys Aztec City

1519

Cortez arrived in Mexico in 1519 seeking Aztec riches and to conquer the savages he had heard about. In a noble battle the Aztecs tried to preserve their traditions of sacrifice while the Spaniards waged a spiritual crusade against them, which they were ultimately successful in. After their victory, the Spanish began the process of converting the Aztecs to Christianity against their will. This is significant because it marks the start of Europeans forcing their will on Native Americans.

The Creation of the Church of England

1533

When King Henry VIII wanted a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and the Roman Catholic Church did not grant him one in 1533, he withdrew his country from the Church and established the Church of England. His new church would allow him to get a divorce and would become the dominant religious force in England. This signifies a major loss for the papacy, in that they would not longer have the backing of the English crown, and the continuation of creating offshoots of Catholicism.