Medieval Europe

Battle of Hastings

Oct 14, 1066

The Battle of Hastings was against William the Conqueror and Harold Godwinson and started 1066. The battle brought feudalism and Europe's customs to England. Harold defeated William with his foot soldiers

Crusades

Feb 24, 1096

The Crusades began when a pope said "It is the will of God, it is the will of God." The Crusades began in 1096 and ended in 1204. The reason for Crusades was to regain the Holy Land, Pope Urban 2 influenced people going on the crusade, transferred military technology. Constantinople was then ravaged, benefited Europe by expanding trade, many Jews and Muslims were killed, and encouraged the Church to spread Christianity.

Song of Roland

Feb 26, 1100

The Song if Roland is a heroic epic about a brave knight named Roland who fights for Charlemagne against the Muslims written in about 1100. Roland sounds his horn for Charlemagne to help him, but it is too late for him too be saved. The epic is, " The Count Roland, with sorrow and with pangs, and with great pain sounded his horn: out of his mouth the clear blood leaped and ran, about his brain the very temples cracked. Loud is its voice, that horn he holds in hand; Charlemagne hath heard,....

English Common Law

Mar 17, 1154

The English Common Law, King Henry 2 utilized law courts for power: set up juries and courts. He established body of common law: set up grand juries and trial laws. This increased king's power which lead to less chaos.

Inquisition

Feb 24, 1184

The Inquisition is a kind of Church court and was established 1233-1250. The Inquisition was used to help stop heresy. People who stopped believing in church teachings people were punished or tortured. When they confessed they were punished and then allowed to return the the Church. The Inquisition turned them over to political leaders, who would execute them.

Manga Carta

Jun 15, 1215

The Magna Carta was document of rights that was forced to be signed by King John, an awful leader. The document took away some of the king's powers. He could no longer collect taxes unless the Great Council agreed. Freemen accused of crimes had the rightly fair trials by their peers, or equals. So in the end the Magna Carta created the basis for the concept of universal human rights, like trial by jury, no forced marriages, and limited power to kings.

Thomas Aquinas

Feb 23, 1225

Thomas was born in 1225 and died 1274. He was born in his family's castle between Rome and Naples, Italy. At age five, Thomas began school at Monte Cassino, a Benedictine monastery where his uncles was the abbot. He studied at University of Naples when he was older. Aquinas joined the Dominican friars around 1244, against the wishes of his family. He studied in Paris under Albertus Magnus, or Albert the Great. He wrote about the Bible, groups within the Church, and the ideas of philosophers.

Hundred Years War

Feb 24, 1346

The Hundred Years War started when Edward declared himself king and angered the French by doing so. The war started in 1346 lasting 100 years to 1453. The battle took place in Crecy. The English archers defeated the French army and the French was forced to give up some of his kingdom. Then England gained control of northern France. So the war then settled the argument of who controlled France.

Black Plague

Feb 24, 1346

The Black Plague was an awful disease that killed 38 million people that started in 1346 and ended 1353. The disease started with fleas that would eat rats and start a disease in the house that the rat lived and would spread from there. People would run from the disease but it makes it worse because then the disease stays with them and spreads even further. People who traded had the disease sailing with them. The disease spread throughout India, China, Arabia, Europe, and Asia.

Spanish Inquisition

Feb 24, 1478

The Spainsh Inquisition was set up by Isabella of Castile and her husband Ferdinand in 1478-1501. They started the Spaish Inquisition because they both wanted everyone to be Catholic so Jews became Christian to avoid persecution. Then in 1492 they forced Jews to convert or leave Spain. After the Jews, they turned to the Muslims. in 1492 Spain's armies conquered Granada. Ten years later Muslims had to either convert or leave. So the Spanish Inquisistion toetured people who weren't Christian.