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476
Fall of the Roman Empire and start of Middle Ages
The fall of the Roman Empire. Rome had ruled much of Europe. Now much of the land would fall into confusion as local kings and rulers tried to grab power. This is the start of the Dark Ages or the Middle Ages. -
Period: 476 to Jan 1, 1500
Middle Ages
The fall of the Roman Empire to the start of the High Renaissance -
Jan 1, 605
China begin work on Grand Canal
China begins work on the Grand Canal. -
Jan 1, 1054
The Great Schism
The Great Schism of 1054 was the split between the Eastern and Western Christian Churches. In 1054, relations between the Greek speaking Eastern of the Byzantine empire and the Latin speaking Western traditions within the Christian Church reached a terminal crisis. This crisis led to the separation between the Eastern and Western churches and is referred to as the Great Schism of 1054. The Christian Church split along doctrinal, theological, linguistic, political, and geographic lines. The split -
Jan 1, 1066
William of Normandy
William of Normandy, a French Duke, conquers England in the Battle of Hastings. He became King of England and changed the country forever -
Oct 1, 1066
Battle of Hastings
The English Army prepare their defences at Senlac - which is where the actual Battle of Hastings was situated -
Oct 15, 1066
End of the Battle of Hastings
Both the Normans and the Saxons bury their dead. William the Conqueror had defeated the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings -
Jul 14, 1077
Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry is not actually a tapestry at all - it is an embroidery! Coloured wool was used to embroider important scenes which led up to the Norman invasion of England and the Battle at Hastings in 1066. The Bayeux tapestry consists of eight long strips of unbleached linen which have been sewn together to form a continuous panel - this linen forms the background of the Bayeux tapestry. The Bayeux tapestry is about 20 inches high and 230 feet long. -
Jan 1, 1086
Domesday Book
The first draft was completed in 1085 and the document was completed by 1086. The book was a survey, or census, commissioned by the Norman Conqueror King William I, of his newly conquered lands and possessions in England. It was intended to document "What, or how much, each man had, who was an occupier of land in England, either in land or in stock, and how much money it were worth". This great survey enabled the Normans and William the Conqueror to administer England and levy taxes. -
Aug 15, 1096
First Crusade
August 15, 1096 is the set day it started. The Crusades were wars between the Holy Roman Empire and the Muslims over the Holy Land. There would be several Crusades over the next 200 years
It was launched on 27 November 1095 by Pope Urban II
Ended 1099 -
Jan 1, 1144
Second Crusade
Crusaders prepared to attack Damascus. 2nd crusade led by Holy Roman Emperor Conrad III and by King Louis VII of France.
Ended 1155 -
Jan 1, 1187
Third Crusade
3rd Crusade led by Richard the Lionheart of England, Philip II of France, and Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I. Richard I made a truce with Saladin
Ended 1192 -
Jan 1, 1202
Fourth Crusade
4th Crusade led by Fulk of Neuil French/Flemish advanced on Constantinople
Ended 1204 -
Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
King John of England signs the Magna Carta. This document gave the people some rights and said the king was not above the law. -
Jan 1, 1217
Fifth Crusade
The 5th Crusade led by King Andrew II of Hungary, Duke Leopold VI of Austria, John of Brienne
Ended 1221 -
Jan 1, 1228
Sixth Crusade
1228 The 6th Crusade led by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II
Ended 1229 -
Jan 1, 1248
Seventh Crusade
The 7th Crusade led by Louis IX of France
Ended 1254 -
Jan 1, 1270
Eighth Crusade
The 8th Crusade led by Louis IX -
Jan 1, 1271
Ninth Crusade
The 9th Crusade led by Prince Edward (later Edward I of England)
Ended 1272 -
Jan 1, 1271
Marco Polo
Marco Polo leaves on his famous journey to explore Asia. -
Jun 4, 1337
Hundred Years War
The Hundred Years War was fought between England and France and lasted from 1337 to 1453. The war was a series of battles with long periods of peace in between.
Small disputes and battles had been going on between the French and the English for years. However, in 1337, King Edward III of England claimed that he was the rightful king of France. -
Jun 5, 1381
Peasants Revolt
The peasants who survived the Black Death (1348-1350) believed that there was something special about them – almost as if God had protected them. Therefore, they took the opportunity offered by the disease to improve their lifestyle. Feudal law stated that peasants could only leave their village if they had their lord’s permission. But many lords were short of desperately needed labour for the land that they owned. After the Black Death, lords actively encouraged peasants to leave the village wh -
May 30, 1431
Death of Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc is best known for leading the French against the English in the Hundred Years War at a young age
French heroine Joan of Arc is executed by England at the age of 19. May 30, 1431 Rouen, France -
Jan 1, 1434
The Medici
1434 - The Medici family becomes the head of the city-state of Florence.The Medici are most famous for their patronage of the arts. Patronage is where a wealthy person or family sponsors artists. They would pay artists commissions for major works of art. The Medici patronage had a huge impact on the Renaissance, allowing artists to focus on their work without having to worry about money.
The Medici didn't just support the arts and architecture. They also supported science. They supported the fa -
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Jan 1, 1444
Invention of the Printing Press
German inventor Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press. This will signal the start of the Renaissance. -
Jun 3, 1453
End of Byzantiom
The Ottoman Empire captures the city of Constantinople. This signals the end of the Eastern Roman Empire also known as Byzantium. -
Jun 3, 1453
Capture of Constantinople
The Ottoman Empire captures the city of Constantinople. This signals the end of the Eastern Roman Empire also known as Byzantium. -
Jun 4, 1453
End of the Hundred Years War
The French were inspired by Joan of Arc's leadership and sacrifice. They continued to fight back. They pushed the English army out of France taking Bordeaux in 1453 signaling the end of the Hundred Years War. -
Jun 4, 1455
The Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses was a civil war fought in England. It lasted for just over 30 years from 1455 to 1485, however, the battles were mostly small and sometimes were years apart.
The "War of the Roses" comes from the symbols, or badges, of the two warring houses: the House of Lancaster was represented by a red rose and the House of York by a white rose. The reasons behind the wars were complex. Both houses claimed to have a right to the English throne as descendents of King Edward. -
Jun 3, 1482
"The Last Supper"
Leonardo Da Vinci paints "The Last Supper" -
Jan 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Explorer Christopher Columbus discovers the Americas. -
Vikings Invade!
Vikings from the Scandinavian lands (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) begin to invade northern Europe. They would continue until 1042. -
Reconquista and Islam in Spain
The Reconquista is the name given to a long series of wars and battles between the Christian Kingdoms and the Muslim Moors for control of the Iberian Peninsula. It lasted for a good portion of the Middle Ages from 718 to 1492. -
Muslim conquest of Sicily
The Muslim conquest of Sicily began in 827 and lasted until 902, when the last major Byzantine stronghold on the island, Taormina, fell. Isolated fortresses remained in Byzantine hands thereafter, but the island was henceforth under Muslim rule until conquered in turn by the Normans in the 11th century. -
Vikings Attack!
Vikings from Denmark renew their raids on England, attacking Chester and Southampton. This period of invasions will continue through 1016. -
New Zealand
New Zealand discovered by Maori -
Chinese Printers
Chinese printers adapt Wood-block printing to mass produce classical books. -
First Assylum for Abandoned Infants
Datheus, archbishop of Milan, founded the first asylum for abandoned infants. Quoted saying- "As soon as the child is exposed at the door of the church, it will be received in the hospital and confided to the care of those who will be paid to look after them."
