The Middle Ages

By maryvanslyke
  • 500

    Recognized beginning of Middle Ages

    Official end of Roman Empire and beginning of Middle Ages
  • 520

    Order of Benedictines established

    Established by Benedict in Monte Cassino, Italy. (It was not the first monastary.)
  • Jan 1, 634

    Muslims take Jerusalem

    Between 634-44, Muslim armies conquered Christian Syria, Palestine, and Egypt
  • Jan 1, 711

    Muslims conquer Spain

    711-16
  • Jan 1, 1066

    Battle of Hastings

    William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy) invaded and conquered England and King Harold was killed. He became King and ruled until 1087, when he died (at the age of 50) fighting. His horse fell on him and crushed him.
  • Jan 1, 1071

    Battle of Manzikert

    Seljuk Turks defeat Byzantine forces
  • Jan 1, 1096

    First Crusade

    Crusaders took the city of Jerusalem, but many died.
  • Jan 1, 1099

    Crusaders reconquer Jerusalem

  • Jan 1, 1147

    Second Crusade

    Usually considered to have been a complete failure.
  • Jan 1, 1191

    Acre regained

    The Crusaders recaptured Acre. Richard also captured the island of Cyprus that year. It proved a valuable base for Crusader operations in the future.
  • Jan 1, 1192

    Truce with Saladin

    Saladin had been the ruler of Egypt since 1169. He was constantly harrassing Richard's armies, and had engaged in several battles with him. Saladin recognized Richard's superiority. Their armies were exhausted, and they were both eager for a truce. They agreed that Richard would give the city of Ascalon to Saladin; Saladin would respect the Christian territories along the coast from Tyre to Jaffa, and allow Christian pilgrims safe passage throughout Palestine. Sadly, this truce only lasted 3yrs.
  • Mar 4, 1193

    Death of Saladin

    Saladin died, and much of the unity of the Muslims died with him.
  • Jan 1, 1200

    Third Crusade

    King Richard the Lion-Hearted succeeded in gaining some rights for Christians from Saladin (the ruler of the Turks at the time.)
  • Jan 1, 1202

    Fourth Crusade

  • Jan 1, 1204

    Constantinople sacked

    These Crusaders never reached the Holy Land. They stopped in Constantinople and wreaked havoc throughout the city.They did a lot of damage and broke many of their vows. The Pope excommunicated the whole expedition.
  • Jan 1, 1215

    Magna Carta

    The lords and nobles of England forced King John to sign this document that guaranteed certain rights.
  • Jan 1, 1261

    Byzantine Empire restored

    The Byzantine Empire regains its capital, Constantinople. Byzantium lasts about another 200 years before the Muslims conquer Constantinople and destroy the Byzantine Empire.
  • Jan 1, 1291

    Fall of Acre

    The Crusaders lost the city of Acre to the Muslims.
  • Jan 1, 1300

    Bubonic Plague

  • Jan 1, 1453

    The Byzantine Empire ends

    The Muslim Turks conquered Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire finally came to an end.
  • Oct 31, 1517

    Reformation Day

    Luther published his famous book, The Ninety-five Theses, which began his movement to break away from the Church.
  • Jan 1, 1529

    Muslims besiege Vienna

    The Ottaman Turks besiege Vienna. However, they fail to capture it.
  • Jan 1, 1571

    Battle of Lepanto

    A Holy League of the Papacy, Spain,Venice, Genoa, Savoy and the Knights Hospitaller defeated the Muslim Ottoman Turks in a naval battle near Corinth off Western Greece. Almost 40,000 Christian slaves were freed (from the Ottoman galleys,) and the Mediterranean was safe from Muslim pirates and raiders for a long time after.

  • Charlemange crowned ruler of Holy Roman Empire