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732
Battle of Tours
During the rise of the Muslim caliphates, the Muslims wanted to expand (by conquest) further into Europe. They were stopped at Tours, in present-day France, where Charles Martel was able to fight back against the Muslims. This event is significant because it signified the limit of Muslim expansion during the caliphate era; without this battle, perhaps Islam may have expanded further into Western Europe. -
Dec 25, 800
Charlamagne Becomes Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
Charlamagne the Great was already hailed as the king of the Franks before this, but by the time he was crowned as the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, he had united most of Western Europe. This is significant because it was the first time that Western Europe was united since Rome, and brought back the idea of having a strong king, not just a figure-head. -
1066
The Battle of Hastings
When William the Conqueror and the Normans were invading the British Isles, they engaged in the famous battle. It is very significant becausre it led to the unlitmate rivalry between Britain and France,culminating in events such as the 100 Years War. -
Jun 15, 1215
The Magna Carta
A charter that was issued in England which gave more rights to the citizen as a result of angry rebels and an unpopular king. It set the framework for Constitutional Government. One special sign of its influence is the Constitution of the United States of America, which uses concepts from the Magna Carta as precedent. -
1270
Marco Polo Helps to Establish an Overland Trade Route to China
Marco Polo went on a voyage to China, opening up overland trade between it and Western Europe. The route he traveled ultimately became known as the Silk Road. This is significant because it opened up the Far East to Europe, creating a major trading route between the two, since China had been the epicenter of goods and services. -
1300
The Black Death
As a result of being exposed to fleas on rats, people became infected with a terrible disease. This was significant because it wiped out a substantial amount of the population, which meant that output from farms and factories dropped off, which meant that those areas that were untouched became more powerful than those whose populations were decimated. There were also fewer people to fight wars. It also meant that European societies had to restructure their civilizations in order to adapt. -
May 29, 1453
The Fall of Constantinople
The city of Constantinople, the capital of the once great Byzantine Empire, was overtaken by the Ottoman Empire, a pluralistic Muslim empire. This is significant because the Byzantine Empire was also the Eastern Roman Empire; when this city finally fell, it signified the end of the Roman Empire. Essentially, once this city was gone, so was the once all-powerful Roman empire. -
1486
Vasco Da Gama Sails Around the Cape of Good Hope
Vasco Da Gama sailed south from Portugal and rounded the south of Africa, which became the Cape of Good Hope, and sailed into the Indian Ocean, reaching India. This is significant because it extended the Portuguese Empire in trading, creating a hitherto undiscovered trade route between Western Europe and India. This also resulted in the exchange of goods. It also served as evidence that the world was round. -
1492
Columbus Discovers America
Italian explorer Christopher Columbus was hoping to travel to the West Indies, but instead found another continent and establish his dominance there. Although others found this continent before him, his exploration is worth noting and has significant weight because his exploration resulted in the Colonial Period of European History, in which many Western European countries wished to colonize in this new continent; Columbus led the charge in the new colonialization -
Oct 31, 1517
The Nailing of the 95 Theses
Martin Luther, a renowned monk in Wurttemberg, was very angry with the handing out of indulgences within the Catholic church. As a result, he wrote 95 Theses addressing his grievances and nailed them onto a grand cathedral. This event is significant because it essentially was a direct cause of the Protestant Reformation, for people recognized the problems with Catholicism and needed a shake-up.
