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476
Fall of the Western Roman Empire.
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493
Theodoric the Great establishes the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy.
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527
Justinian I ascends as Byzantine Emperor, later initiating major legal and architectural reforms
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711
The Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula begins.
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732
Battle of Tours – Charles Martel halts the northward advance of Islamic forces.
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800
Coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor by Pope Leo III, uniting much of Western Europe.
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843
Treaty of Verdun divides the Carolingian Empire among Charlemagne’s grandsons.
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962
Otto I is crowned Holy Roman Emperor, reinforcing the idea of a revived Western Empire.
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1054
The Great Schism formally splits Christianity into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox branches
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1066
Norman Conquest of England – William the Conqueror defeats Harold II at Hastings.
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1095
Pope Urban II calls for the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont.
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1099
Crusaders capture Jerusalem during the First Crusade.
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1122
Concordat of Worms resolves the Investiture Controversy between the papacy and the Holy Roman Emperor.
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1147
Launch of the Second Crusade.
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1187
Battle of Hattin – Saladin defeats Crusader forces and recaptures Jerusalem.
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1190
Crusaders capture Jerusalem during the First Crusade.