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530
Justinian, emperor of Byzantium
"the sleepless emperor" was a strongwilled ruler who recodified Roman laws into a new Byzantium legal code. He also spent huge amounts of money expanding the capitol of Constantinople and building the Hagia Sophia -
Feb 10, 622
Muhammad makes the first hijra.
Muhammad and his followers made a pilgrimage from Mecca north to the city of Yathrib, which he renamed Medina. This is the point where Islam began to spread out from Muhammad's circle and started to grow as a major world religion. -
Period: Feb 10, 661 to Feb 10, 750
Umayyad Dynasty of Islam
The first Islamic dynasty in the Middle East. Settled the issue of Muhammad's succession and ruled dar-al-islam with a tight grip. Organized a powerful central government ruled by wealthy appointed caliphs and officials. -
Period: Feb 10, 750 to Feb 10, 1258
Abbasid Empire of Islam
Abu al-Abbas led a rebellion and overthrew the Umayyad dynasty, executing its leaders. Not a conquering dynasty, but many local leaders built up armies and expanded the Islamic world further. Administrated by a system of ulamas and quadis. -
Feb 10, 755
An Lushan's rebellion
An Lushan, a military commander for the Tang, led a rebellion and captured the capitol cities of Chang an and Luoyang. Tang were forced to get help from the Uighurs to the north to help put down the rebellion in exchange for huge sums of payment. This weakened the dynasty and led to its collapse -
Feb 10, 1000
Vikings reach America
Leif Ericsson led an expedition party out from Greenland. They arrived at Newfoundland in Canada and set up a temporary settlement. Eventually they left and returned to Iceland. -
Period: Feb 10, 1000 to Feb 10, 1200
Kingdom of Ghana
West African Kingdom between the Senegal and Niger rivers. Enjoyed dominion of the Gold Trade in Africa and became a powerful part of the Saharan trade networks. -
Feb 10, 1054
Christian Split
Due to continued tension and disagreements between the Catholic and the Byzantine Empire, the Christian Pope and byzantine Patriarch both excommunitated each other in 1054. This led to the establishment of the Eastern orthodox church, which exists to this day. -
Period: Feb 10, 1060 to Feb 10, 1492
Reconquista
Christian forces in Catalonia pushed back against the Moors in Iberia. By the thirteenth century they recaptured Lisbon and the Balearic Islands. Granada was the last Muslim settlement in Spain. -
Feb 10, 1096
First Crusade
In response to a request from the Byzantine Patriarch, the Pope and Peter the Hermit sent out a call for strong men from across Europe to fight to take back the Holy Land in Palestine. Jerusalem was captured in 1099. But the Muslims took in back within a century. -
Period: Feb 10, 1200 to Feb 10, 1400
Mali Empire
Lion Prince Sundiata built a powerful empire around Ghana. Mali was able to control and tax almost all trade to West Africa. One of it's leaders Mansa Musa was one of the richest rulers in all of history. -
Feb 10, 1206
Chinggis Khan declared ruler
All Mongol tribes were brought into a single major confederation by Temujin. He was proclaimed grand leader of the Mongols and established a capital at Karakorum. Conquered much of Eurasia by the time of his death. -
Feb 10, 1250
Start of the Inca Empire
The Incas settled at Cuzco, filling the political void left by the downfall of the Moche and Chavin cult. They built a huge north-south empire. Largest state ever built in pre-spanish South America -
Period: Feb 10, 1260 to Feb 10, 1368
Mongol rule of China
Khubilai Khan took over Southern China in 1260 and established a Mongol state. He promoted religious freedom but at the same time tried to supress Chines Confucious culture. -
Feb 10, 1370
Empire of Tamerlane
Timur the Lame modeled his conquests on Ghengis Khan and rose to power by defeating his rival Turkish leaders. He took over Chaghatai in 1370 and then fought numerous wars in Caucasus region against the Golden Horde and attacked Delhi in India. -
Feb 10, 1453
End of Byzantine Empire
After the loss of Anatolia, Byzantium lost its grain supply and was weakened considerably. Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, ending its autonomy and destroying its empire. -
Fall of the Roman Empire
Germanic groups deposed of the last Roman Emperor. Italy was split apart into smaller city-states for the next almost 1000 years. The Roman Catholic Church was the only remaining institution that held the various European groups together and in check during the Postclassical period. -
Otto of Saxony attacks Byzantine empire
Otto of Saxony claimed to be the rightful emperor of the former Roman empire. He attacked the Byzantine held lands in Italy leading to tension between the Catholic European states and the Byzantine empire. -
Sui consolidate hold on China
The Turks appointed Yang Jian to be a duke in Sui in Northern China. He claimed the Mandate of Heaven and led his armies south to reconquer the rest of China. The Sui were controlling like the Qin and engaged in massive building projects. -
Completion of the Grand Canal
Sui emperor Sui Yangdi completed the canal his father started. It made the crops generated by the prosperous Yangzi valley available to the people of Northern China. It also facilitated trade and travel north-south in China. -
Clovis attacks Gaul
Clovis and the Franks attacked the last vestiges of Roman culture in Gaul. After that he established the Franks as a major power in Middle Ages Europe. -
Rule of Charlemagne
An intelligent ruler who inherited the mantle of the Carolingian dynasty after the conquests of his father Charles Martel. Established a capitol at Aachen and expanded Frankish authority to most of western europe. Accepted title of Emperor in 800. -
Period: to Feb 10, 1279
Song Dynasty
More centralized than the Tang. The Song relied more on expanding administrations and education rather than defense. Costs of the government rose and led to further tension. The Jurchen overran the Song and forced them to move the capitol again. -
Period: to
Tang Dynasty
Era of good prosperity and stability in China. Tang rulers grew a system of roads and communicaitons networks out from the grand Canal. One of the first governments to implement a merit based bureaucracty. -
Period: to Feb 10, 1267
Chola Kingdon
Established a nominal rule over southern India. Didn't have a powerful centralized government and promoted trade by having a powerful navy to dominate Ceylon and the South China sea. -
Period: to Feb 10, 1150
High point of Tula
The Toltecs in Tula had a powerful yet compact empire in Mexico. Attackes by other nomadic groups forced the Toltecs to move south and form the Aztec Empire.