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Period: 711 to 732
Umayyad invasion of Spain
The Umayyad Caliphate, the successor of Mohammed's empire, in 711, invaded the southern part of Spain and took over the territory of the Visigoths. They continued until they met resistance from the King of the Franks, Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours in 732, whcih halted their expansion. This occupation lead to an increase in knowledge and culture, with the Arabs learning and introducing new ideas and objects where ever they delegated. -
Period: 722 to 804
The Saxon Wars
The Saxon Wars is the name given to the conquest of Charlemagne, which encompassed most of central Europe. He conquered Italy for the Pope and challenged the Avars and the Slavs to the East. He then dealt with the Saxons and their chief, Widukind, forcing them to adopt Christianity and was named the new Holy Roman Emperor. Although his reign was fruitful and established power to his empire, after his death, his success crumbled and his empire was divided into Germany, France, and Italy. -
Period: 955 to 973
Rise of Otto the Great and consolidation of the Holy Roman Empire
Otto the Great, successor of Henry, duke of Saxony, followed in his fathers footsteps and drove out the hordes of Magyars into Hungary at the Battle of Lechfeld in 955. With this power he consolidated the Slavic, Bohemian, and Polish under his rule and went on to take Italy. The Pope then crowned Otto the Roman Emperor in 962 as the protector of Christendom. He greatly consolidated further the Holy Roman Empire and continued the legacy of a Germanic King rising to rule. -
1066
Battle of Hasting
William, Duke of Normandy, who was later named the Conqueror, began by consolidating power in Normandy. With his increased power and forces, he then crossed the english channel and invaded England. His reign was mostly plagued by threatening uprisings and problems back in Normandy; however, he was able to establish Nordic nobility and rulers in England and change the construction of the English Clergy. This was the last time a foreign power was able to get on British soil. -
Period: 1095 to 1099
The First Crusade
The First Crusade marked a precedent for more expeditions to follow. Godfrey of Bouillon, a French knight looking to fight for Christianity, set out with an army towards Jerusalem in order to liberate the Holy Land from Arabic control. The forces quickly conquered the kingdom but from unrelenting Muslim assault, failed to hold it. This linked the Christian and Muslim Worlds sending knowledge and goods to a darkened Europe and inspiring the flourish in culture like in Greek and Roman times. -
Period: 1154 to 1174
Emperor Barbarossa's Invasion of Italy
Emperor Barbarossa was a ambitious and passionate leader that set his sights on Italy. He wished to claim money from it's citizens through taxes and did so by taking over Milan. Although he was able to conquer the city, the citizens resisted and would not accept the restriction of their freedoms. This set a theme that the Holy Roman Emperor did not hold dominion over Italy, and that it should remain a free people as under the Normans. This also pushed Barbarossa's focus onto the third Crusade. -
Period: 1189 to 1192
The Third Crusade
The Third Crusade was an attempt to reclaim the Holy Land from the First Crusade, which had been lost to the Ayyubid Sultanate. Barbarossa, after his expeditions in Italy, sought a quest and was joined by King Richard the Lionheart. After fighting, a treaty was made where the Holy land should remain under the Muslim control but Christians could visit as they pleased. This set up further ties with the Islamic world and further prefaced the revival of Europe. -
Period: 1236 to 1291
Mongol Invasion of Europe
The Mongols, lead by Bantu Khan, came through Persia and flowed through Eastern Europe, including Poland and Hungary. They pillaged and killed where ever they touched and were known to wipe out whole populations in the name of the Golden Horde. Although they decimated people and crops they did establish the connection with the Mongolian empire. They spread the Pax Mongolica to Europe where they could flourish of their goods and technologies, but would ultimately suffer from the bubonic plague. -
Period: 1337 to 1453
The Hundred Years War
Because William the Conqueror, who was a Norman, conquered England in 1066, England rulers had ties with the French. When both countries wanted to rule over the other, war ensued, utilizing grand armies instead of a few knights. Ultimately, this war ended somewhat in a stalemate, with France still being the dominant power. However, it has significant impact for drawing the two nations out of the feudal system and increased their nationalism and unified each nation. -
1519
The Conquering of the Aztecs
Hernando Cortez, Leader of a Spanish fleet of Conquistadors stumbled upon the Aztec people when searching for wealth for his country. After viewing Tenochitilan, he murdered all the nobility and turned the leader, Montezuma against his people. He ransacked the city and burned it to the ground. This set the precedent of the Europeans taking advantage of the native people. They destroyed a way of life purely because they desired riches and sought glory for their nation.