The Kingdoms of the Middle Ages

GERMANIC TRIBES: Tacitus' Germania

100

A monograph on the german tribes, Germania compared and showed how far the Romans had fallen, by raising up the barbarians.

EARLY CHRISTIAN: Edict of Milan

313

The Edict of Milan, created by Constantine Augustus legalised Christianity in the Roman Empire. This stopped Christians from being persecuted and allowed Christianity to expand.

EARLY CHRISTIAN: Nicaean Creed

325

The Nicaean Creed was created by the First Council of Nicea, and it stopped the fighting caused by different controversies of Christianity.

ENGLAND: The Legions Depart

410

The Roman legions leave and this results in the Anglo-Saxons invading Britain

GERMANIC TRIBES: The Sacking of Rome by Alaric

410

Alaric had gone to the authorities in Ravenna and demanded a place for his people to stay, and when they refused, they besieged Rome. In the middle of the night, a group of slaves opened the gate and the the city was sacked.

BYZANTINE: Constantinople

413

Theodosius II builds a great wall around Constantinople, establishing it as the center of the new Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire)

ENGLAND: Anglo Saxon Invasion

450

The Anglo Saxons, who were comprised of Germanic tribes invaded Britain. The Anglo Saxons traveled to England across the North Sea because they had been invited to keep away invaders. Their land was also very hard to cultivate.

FRANCE: The Merovingian Dynasty

Period: 457 to Dec 25, 751

The Merovingians were a powerful Frankish dynasty.

MIDDLE AGES: Reign of Clovis

Period: 481 to 511

Clovis was a Frankish king. He converted to Christianity after winning a battle in which he prayed to God.

FRANCE: The Salic Law

511

The Salic Law was a collection of laws to prevent bloodshed. The main goal of Germanic Legal codes was to stop wergeld.

BYZANTINE: Justinian

527

Justinian becomes the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Justinian was an ambitious emperor who wanted to regain the West and join it with the East.

BYZANTINE: Nika Revolt

532

The populace revolted against Justinian after he refused to pardon two young Blue and Greens. As a result of crushing the revolt, Justinian was able to create Hagia Sophia, that was originally a church but then became an Islamic mosque.

FRANCE: Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

596

This document was the history of the Franks, and was strongly biased towards Christianity.

ISLAM: Foundation of Islam

Dec 24, 622

Muhammed leaves Mecca to migrate with his followers to Medina.

ISLAM: Muhammed Conquers Mecca

Dec 24, 624

Muhammed leads a holy war to conquer Mecca. Muhammad tells his followers that if they die in battle, they get to go to paradise.

ISLAM: Sunni/Shia split

Dec 24, 661

Ali is murdered, creating Sunni/Shia split

ISLAM: The Umayyad Dynasty

Period: Dec 24, 661 to Dec 25, 750

The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the Arab caliphate established after the death of Muhammad.

ENGLAND: The Venerable Bead's Writing

Period: Dec 24, 673 to Dec 25, 735

Also known as Saint Bead, he was one of the most influential Anglo Saxon writers. He is best known for writing "The Ecclesiastical History of the English People." It gives a historical background on the English people.

ISLAM: Dome of the Rock

Dec 24, 687

The Dome of the Rock houses the rock which is said to be the rock on which Muhammad ascended to heaven on.

ISLAM: The Abbasid Empire

Period: Dec 24, 720 to Dec 25, 1268

The Abbasid Caliphate was the third caliphate that was established after the death of Muhammad. It spanned from 720 to 1268.

FRANCE: The Battle of Tours and Charles Martel

Oct 10, 732

The Franks, led by Charles Martel were able to defeat a force of Moorish muslims near Poitiers.

FRANCE: The Carolingian Dynasty

Period: Dec 24, 750 to Dec 25, 887

The Carolingians was composed of a Frankish high class family. The Carolingians included Charles Martell, Pepin the Short and Charlemagne.

MIDDLE AGES: Pepin the Short

Dec 24, 751

Pepin the Short was born in 714 AD. He was the first Carolingian king. He was the father of Charlemagne. He became king in 751.

FRANCE: Charlemagne is crowned by the Pope

Dec 25, 800

The Pope crowns Charlemagne as the King of the Franks because Charlemagne had reinstated him.

ENGLAND: Alfred the Great

Period: Dec 24, 849 to Dec 25, 899

Alfred the Great was the king of Wessex. He defended his people against the Vikings. He was also often compared to Charlemagne.

GERMANIC TRIBES AND EARLY CHRISTIANITY: Beowulf

Dec 24, 1000

A heroic narrative concerning the deeds of a Scandinavian prince named Beowulf. The date of when Beowulf was written is important, as it was written in the Middle Ages when Christianity was growing.

MIDDLE AGES: Population Growth

Period: Dec 24, 1000 to Dec 25, 1250

Because of the rise in temperature, the ice age ended, and agriculture and economics grew.

The Seljuk Dynasty

Period: Dec 24, 1037 to Dec 25, 1192

They took control of the Holy Land in 11th century. They were not as different from the precious dynasties.

BYZANTINE: Schism - Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic-

Dec 24, 1054

The Church splits into Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic.

ENGLAND: Norman Invasion of England

Dec 24, 1066

The Norman Invasion of England, as explained by the Bayeux Tapestry was the story of William the Conquerer and Harold, the Earl of Wessex. The Norman Invasion ended with William as the victorious one and was crowned king of England.

MIDDLE AGES: Pope Urban's Speech

Dec 24, 1095

This speech was important because it was what started the First Crusade. It was given by Pope Urban II in the Council of Clermont. The five reasons that he gave for starting the crusade were:
1, The Muslims were a threat to safety
2. Reclaim holy land
3. Expansion because of the growing population
4. Get land from the Muslims for the Christians
5. Clean sins and move the knights

MIDDLE AGES: Christians take Jerusalem

Jul 15, 1097

The crusaders breeched the walls of Jerusalem and slaughter 70,000 Muslims, and all the Jewish people were forced into a synagogue which they then burned to the ground/

MIDDLE AGES: Third Crusade

Period: Dec 24, 1189 to Dec 25, 1192

After Saladin's capture of Jerusalem 1187, the Christians formed the Third Crusade. This crusade was able to siege and capture Acre.

GERMANIC TRIBES AND EARLY CHRISTIANITY: Prose Edda

Dec 24, 1200

The Prose Edda was the plot lines of Norse mythology. The author, Snori Sturlson emphasizes that man has lost the name of God because they had stopped God's name when "a evil passed". Thor was depicted as a strong, angry and warlike and brash warrior.

MIDDLE AGES: Fourth Crusade

Period: Dec 24, 1202 to Dec 25, 1204

Called Pope Innocent II, the Fourth Crusade was able to capture Constantinople, and place Alexius IV. Alexius V kicked the crusaders out of Constantinople, which consequently resulted in the recapture and plunder of Constantinople.

MIDDLE AGES: Children's Crusade

Dec 24, 1212

The Children's Crusade consisted of thousands of young people sent to recover Jerusalem from the Muslims. It was a failure.

MIDDLE AGES: Fifth Crusade

Period: Dec 24, 1213 to Dec 25, 1221

The Fifth Crusade's goal was to reacquire Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land by defeating the Ayyubid state.

MIDDLE AGES: Sixth Crusade

Period: Dec 24, 1228 to Dec 25, 1229

Like the Fifth Crusade, the Sixth Crusade attempted to conquer Jerusalem.

MIDDLE AGES: Eighth Crusade

Period: Dec 24, 1270 to Dec 25, 1272

Launched by Louis IX, the Eighth Crusade's motive was to attack the Hafsid kingdom in Tunis.

MIDDLE AGES: Ninth Crusade

Period: Dec 24, 1271 to Dec 25, 1272

The Ninth Crusade was started by Prince Edward and was a battle in the holy land.

ISLAM: Ibn Battuta

Dec 24, 1325

Ibyn Battuta left on pilgrimage to Mecca.

MIDDLE AGES: Ottoman Empire

May 29, 1453

Constantinople finally fell to the Ottoman Empire under Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II.