-
456
The beginning of middle ages
The most commonly given starting point for the Middle Ages is around 500, with 476—the year the last Western Roman Emperor was deposed—first used by Bruni. For Europe as a whole, 1500 is often considered to be the end of the Middle Ages, but there is no universally agreed-upon end date. -
Jan 1, 651
Islamic conquest of Persia
After about 20 years of warfare, the Sassanian Empire collapses, allowing the Islamic caliphate to take control of most its territory. This is one of the most important events in the expansion of Islam. -
Period: Jan 1, 661 to Jan 1, 750
Abbasid Revolution
The Abbasid Revolution, also called the Movement of the Men of the Black Raiment. Was the overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750 CE), the second of the four major Caliphates in Islamic history -
Period: Jan 1, 1096 to Jan 1, 1099
First Crusade is launched
Four armies of Crusaders were formed from troops of different Western European regions, led by Raymond of Saint-Gilles, Godfrey of Bouillon, Hugh of Vermandois and Bohemond of Taranto (with his nephew Tancred). These groups departed for Byzantium in August 1096. -
Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
A charter agreed to by King John of England and his rebellious barons, the document would come to be seen as the beginning of legal limits on the power of monarchs -
Jan 1, 1320
Dante Alighieri completes the Divine Comedy
Considered one of the greatest works in literary history, it was written by an Italian poet. -
Period: Jan 1, 1324 to Jan 1, 1325
Pilgrimage to Mecca by Mansa Musa
Musa I, ruler of the Mali Empire, is considered one of the wealthiest persons in history. In 1324 he began a pilgrimage to Mecca, bringing with him 60,000 people. His trip would have economic consequences for North Africa and Arabia that would last decades. -
Jan 1, 1337
Beginning of the Hundred Years’ War
The Kings of England and France begin a war – fought off and on – that would last until 1453. -
Period: Jan 1, 1347 to Jan 1, 1351
Black Death
One of the largest pandemics in human history, it crossed through Eurasia and killed as many as 200 million people. -
May 29, 1500
End of the middle ages
Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, fell to the hands of the invading Ottoman Empire on May 29, 1453. This day, many believe, marks the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the 15th-century Renaissance.