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Period: 224 to Apr 8, 651
Sasanid Empire
The Sasanid Empire was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, succeeding the Parthian Empire. It is considered to be Persia/Iran's most important and influential periods; it influenced Roman civilization, India, China, Africa, and western Europe. It encompassed Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, the Caucasus, Turkey, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, India, and Pakistan. -
Period: 250 to
Maya Civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization known for its writing, art,architecture, math, and astronomy. Theyhad a city centered empire with many independent city-states and were agriculturally intensive and involved in long distance trade. Their most notable monuments are the stepped pyramids. -
Period: 330 to Apr 8, 1453
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was an eastern Roman Empire with one of the most powerful economic, cultural, and military forces in Europe. Its capital was Constantinople and was ruled by emperors in succession to the ancient Roman emperors after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. -
Period: 330 to Apr 8, 1453
Constantinople
Capital of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. Europe's largest and wealthiest city. -
Apr 8, 610
Foundation of Islam
Islam began with Prophet Muhammad spreading his revelations from Allah to the people of Makkah. -
Apr 8, 632
Split between Sunni and Shi'ite
The split occured after the death of Prophet Muhammad, It began with a fight over who should be the new leader. -
Period: Apr 8, 661 to Apr 8, 750
Umayyad Caliphate
Second of the four major Arab caliphates, with capital at Damascus. The empire ruled from Spain to India and was eventually overthrown by the Abbasid Caliphate. It was marked by territorial expansion and administrative and cultural problems that the expansion created. -
Period: Apr 8, 711 to
Muslims conquer Spain
Conquest began with an invasion by an army of Berber Northwest Africans. Disembarked at Gibralter and went northward. After decisive batte, the Visigothic Kingdom collapses and muslims took over. -
Period: Apr 8, 750 to Apr 8, 1513
Abbasid Caliphate
Ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, capital located in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphs. Flourished for two centuries, but slowly declined with the rise to power of the Mamluks. Included the Islamic Golden Age -
Period: Apr 8, 1037 to Apr 8, 1194
Seljuk Turks
They were a Turco-Persian Sunni Muslim dynasty that ruled parts of Central Asia and the Middle East. Ruled the Great Seljuq Empire. Played an important role in the development of the Turko-Persian tradition. Remembered for their art, literature, and language. -
Period: Apr 8, 1095 to Apr 8, 1272
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of military campaigns launched by Christians against the Muslims of the Middle East to restore Christian control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. -
Period: Apr 8, 1174 to Apr 8, 1193
Saladin
Kurdish Muslim, became the Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt and Syria. Led Islamic opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levant, ruled over Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Hejaz, and Yemen. Most notable for leading the Muslims against the Crusaders and eventually recapturing Palestine from the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. -
Period: Apr 8, 1200 to Apr 8, 1573
Inca Civilization
Became the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, Had an intricate social structure which included nobility. known for architecture, developed methods of farming on mountain terrain, had superior bronze weapons. -
Period: Apr 8, 1206 to Apr 8, 1324
Mongol Invasions
Mongol Empire emerged by a series of conquests and invasions throughout Central and Western Asia, reaching Eastern Europe by the 1240s. The territorial gains of Mongols continued into Persia, Russia and India. -
Period: Apr 8, 1206 to Apr 8, 1227
Genghis Khan
Founder of the Mongol Empire, began the Mongol invasions that resulted in the conquest of most of Eurasia, promoted religious tolerance in the Mongol Empire, created a unified empire from the nomadic tribes of northeast As. -
Period: Apr 8, 1206 to Apr 8, 1527
Delhi Sultanate
The term used to cover five short-lived Islamic kingdoms of Turkic origin in India: Mamluk dynasty, Khilji dynasty, Tughlaq dynasty, Sayyid dynasty, Lodi dynasty. Period of Indian cultural renaissance. -
Apr 8, 1215
Magna Carta
"Great Charter". It set down rights which became part of English law and are now the foundation of the constitution of all countries which speak English. Did not grant any new rights, but protected existing rights such as protection of private property, reasonable limits on taxes, and religious freedom. Significant influence on constitutional law. -
Period: Apr 8, 1230 to
Mali Kingdom
West African Empire, founded by Sundiata Keita, known for its wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I. Had many cultural influences on West Africa, allowing the spread of its language, laws and customs along Niger River. -
Period: Apr 8, 1250 to Apr 8, 1517
Mamluk Sultanate
Controlled by Mamluks: soldiers of slave origin. They ruled Egypt and famously beat back the Mongols and fought the Crusaders. -
Period: Apr 8, 1300 to
Renaissance
The cultural movement in Europe that encompassed the resurgence of learning and widespread education reforms. It's well known for its intellectual pursuits, social and political upheavals, and artistic developments. -
Period: Apr 8, 1312 to Apr 8, 1337
Mansa Musa
He was the king of the Malian Empire, most known for his pilgramage to Mecca and his promotion of unity and prosperity in Mali. -
Period: Apr 8, 1325 to Apr 8, 1521
Aztec Civilization
Controlled the valley of Mexico and much of central America, capital city at Tenochtitlan. Human sacrifices, architectural advancements, maize cultivation, calendar, -
Period: Apr 8, 1337 to Apr 8, 1453
Hundred Years War
The Hundred Years War was a conflict between England and France. Conflict started because England wanted to rule France again, but France did not want England to expand their power. -
Period: Apr 8, 1340 to
Songhai Kingdom
State located in western Africa. One of the largest Islamic empires in history. Thriving cultural and commercial center at its peak. Its capital was Gao. -
Period: Apr 8, 1368 to
Ming Empire
Succeeded the Mongols. Also known as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history. Consisted of a vast navy and army, recontruction of the Grand Canal and the Great Wall, and the establishment of the Forbidden City. The Ming rulers restored traditional institutions, which the Mongols had suspended. -
Period: Apr 8, 1370 to Apr 8, 1405
Timur
Turkic-speaking Mongol who conquered Central Asia and built a capital in Samarqand. Founder of the Timurid Empire and Timurid dynasty. Wanted to restore Mongol empire. -
Period: Apr 8, 1405 to Apr 8, 1433
Voyages of Zheng He
Zheng He led seven expeditions to Indian Ocean and brought back many treasures for China. Went to Arabia, Brunei, East Africa, India, Malay Archipelago and Thailand. Gave gifts of gold, silver, porcelain and silk. In return, he got ostriches, ivory, giraffes, etc. -
Apr 8, 1440
Gutenberg Press
Invented by Johannes Gutenberg. He discovered the concept of movable type printing which facilitated the printing press itself. -
Period: Apr 8, 1462 to Apr 8, 1505
Ivan III
also known as Ivan the Great, referred to as the gatherer of the Russian lands, he tripled the territory of his state, ended the dominance of the Golden Horde over the Rus, renovated the Moscow Kremlin, and laid the foundations of the Russian state. One of the longest-reigning Russian rulers -
Establishment of Holy Roman Empire
Charlemagne founded Carolingian Empire, which was divided in 843. The Holy Roman Empire resulted from the eastern portion of this division. Its territory expanded the Eider River in to the Mediterranean coast in the south. The German king was crowned Holy Roman Emperor of these regions in 962. -
Period: to
Sui Empire
It was an imperial Chinese dynasty that unified China in the 6th century. It included the reunification of Southern and Northern China, construction of the Grand Canal, and expanding of the Great Wall. Reforms include the Equal-field system. -
Period: to
Tang Empire
Imperial dynasty of China, most populous city in the world at their time, regarded as a high point in Chinese civilization. Able to raise professional and conscropted armies to contend nomadic power. Cultural influence to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Included development of woodblock printing, Buddhism has a major religion, civil service system, and flourishing chinese culture. -
Period: to Apr 8, 1279
Song Empire
Had the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money and the first Chinese government to establish a permanent standing navy. It was also the first dynasty to use gunpowder and use north in a compass. Was divided into two distinct periods: Northern Song and Southern Song. Followed by the Yuan Dynasty. -
Period: to Apr 8, 1235
Ghana Kingdom
Located in southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. Grew rich from trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt. Consisted of large urban cities and territorial expansion. -
Period: to Apr 8, 1349
Kievan Russia
medieval Slavic state centered around city of Kiev, included most of present-day Ukraine and Belarus and part of northwest Russia. Kievan power and influence grew steadily through the 10-11th century, but later weakened by internal disputes and fell to the Mongols. -
Period: to
Charlemagne
King of Franks and Emperor of the Romans. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that encompassed Western and Central Europe. He conquered Italy and helped define both Western Europe and the Middle Ages.
