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Barbaric tribes come into the Roman lands to steal and to find better places to live. Such groups include the Anglo-Saxons, the Vandals, the Visogoths, and the Huns. Some keep moving to new areas. Some settle and make their conquered lands their home.
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Emperor Constantine I has made Constantinople his capital in 330. About 412, protective walls are built to keep the city safe from invaders. Justinian I rules from 527- 565. He wants to reunite the western and eastern empires, but cannot do so.
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The fall of Rome marks the beginning of the Middle Ages. In 476 AD emperor,Romulus Augustulus, is deposed by the barbarian general Odoacer. This event marks the end of one period,and the beginning of another.
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Along with barbarians from the north, Muslims begin to conquer lands from the south. Charles Martel, the Frank king, stops the Muslims' northward push in 732.
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Rome, Florence, Venice, and other Italians towns become city-states. The feudal system begins. Kings give sections of land called fiefs to lords in exchange for help during wars. The lords can give land to knights. The peasants work the land in exchange for food and protection.
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Religious people go on pilgrimages to visit sacred Biblical sites. When the Seljuk Turks rule, they forbid visits to the Holy Land. The Pope calls for a crusade against the Seljuks. Eventually the crusaders take the city of Jerusalem. There will be nine crusades in all between now and1272.
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St. Denis Abbey in Paris is rebuilt in the Gothic style, the first church to use this design. The church also uses stained glass windows. By this time there are many Catholic monasteries in France. Some monks spend their days hand-copying holy books and drawing beautiful designs along the borders.
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Rebels oppose King John of England. But they have no ruler to take his place. Instead they have him sign a document, the Magna Carta, stating that there is no divine right of kings.
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In italy the Black Plague was a disease that people thought came from the merchant ships. Almost any one who catched it died from the lack of tools.
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To stop the Scots raiding the northern borders of England Henry took an army into Scotland. The Scottish king Robert III did not concede defeat and Henry had to resort to minor raids of his own without any real outcome for either side.
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Richard II died some time between the 9th and 17th of February 1400 while being imprisoned at Pontefract Castle. The cause of his death is not known. He died at the age of 33.
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What started as a land dispute between Owen Glendower, a wealthy land owner in Wales and his rival Lord Grey of Rutin quickly escalated to a revolt when the English King Henry IV sided with Rutin and awarded him the land.
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Glendower's revolt spread and he proclaimed himself the Prince of Wales. He was joined by the Tudor brothers from Anglesey and began guerrilla warfare against the English in the North of Wales and the Marcher Lords in the centre.
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Henry IV moved into North Wales to try and stop the rebellion but he was not able to deal with the Welsh rebels who were more skilled at fighting in the terrain.
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Joan of Arc wins the Battle of Orleans for France during the Hundred Years War. She continues to fight, encouraging her troops in their war against the English, until she is captured. Falsely accused of being a witch, she is tried and then sentenced to death. She is burned at the stake.
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Edward III (a england) declared war on france since he felt like he should be king too. This lasted many years.
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The Renaissance Period (1350-1550) was the transition period between the Medieval Era and the modern world. The word renaissance means "revival" or "rebirth". The Renaissance began in Florence and spread to the rest of Europe. It took place in the Late Middle Ages, and spanned the 14th to the 17th century.
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Charles Martel's grandson, Charlemagne, becomes the new Frank king. He desires to spread Christianity. As he conquers land, he extends his faith. He is crowned "Emperor of the Romans" in 800 by Pope Leo III. Charlemagne dies in 814. The first castles are built around this time.
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After Charlemagne's son dies, the kingdom is split into three. Raids into western Europe increase. In order to protect themselves, kingships are created.
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Alfred the Great defeats the Danes (Vikings) in 878. In 886 he captures London. He signs a treaty, splitting England between him and the Danes. As a ruler Alfred encourages education by establishing schools.
