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Period: 476 BCE to 476
Fall of the Western Roman Empire.
The last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, is deposed by Odoacer, a Germanic leader, marking the end of Roman rule in the West. -
Period: 493 to 493
Theodoric the Great establishes the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy.
After defeating Odoacer, Theodoric establishes a government in Italy that blends Roman and Gothic traditions. -
Period: 527 to 527
Justinian I ascends as Byzantine Emperor, later initiating major legal and architectural reforms.
His rule is notable for compiling the Corpus Juris Civilis, the foundation of European law, and for constructing the magnificent Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. -
Period: 711 to 711
The Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula begins.
Muslim forces establish Al-Andalus after defeating the Visigoths. -
Period: 732 to 732
Battle of Tours – Charles Martel halts the northward advance of Islamic forces.
Charles Martel halts Muslim expansion in Western Europe. -
Period: 800 to 800
Coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor by Pope Leo III, uniting much of Western Europe.
Marks the revival of a Christian empire in the West. -
Period: 843 to 843
Treaty of Verdun divides the Carolingian Empire among Charlemagne’s grandsons.
Divides Charlemagne’s empire, shaping modern France, Germany, and Italy. -
Period: 962 to 962
Otto I is crowned Holy Roman Emperor, reinforcing the idea of a revived Western Empire.
Reinforces the idea of a Western Roman revival under a feudal structure. -
Period: 1054 to 1054
The Great Schism formally splits Christianity into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox branches.
Christianity splits into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox branches. -
Period: 1066 to 1066
Norman Conquest of England – William the Conqueror defeats Harold II at Hastings.
William the Conqueror reshapes English society and governance. -
Period: 1095 to 1095
Pope Urban II calls for the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont.
Begins a series of religious wars to reclaim the Holy Land. -
Period: 1099 to 1099
Crusaders capture Jerusalem during the First Crusade.
Limits the power of the monarchy and lays the foundation for constitutional governance. -
Period: 1122 to 1122
Concordat of Worms resolves the Investiture Controversy between the papacy and the Holy Roman Emperor.
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Period: 1147 to 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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Period: 1190 to 1190
Beginning of the Third Crusade, led by figures such as Richard the Lionheart.
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Period: 1215 to 1215
Signing of the Magna Carta in England, laying foundations for constitutional governance.
Limits the power of the monarchy and lays the foundation for constitutional governance. -
Period: 1229 to 1229
End of the Albigensian Crusade with the Treaty of Paris, curbing heresy in southern France.
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Period: 1241 to 1241
Mongol forces invade Eastern Europe (e.g., Battle of Legnica), affecting European political dynamics
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1265
Simon de Montfort’s Parliament in England becomes an early model of representative government.
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1274
Second Council of Lyons discusses Church reforms and attempts at reuniting Eastern and Western Christianity.
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Period: 1302 to 1302
Pope Boniface VIII issues the papal bull Unam Sanctam, asserting papal supremacy
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Period: 1315 to 1315
The Great Famine begins in Europe, severely impacting population and society.
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Period: 1347 to 1347
Outbreak of the Black Death in Europe, drastically reducing the population.
Kills a third of the population, triggering social and economic change -
Period: 1378 to 1378
Beginning of the Western Schism, splitting the Catholic Church with rival popes.
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Period: 1415 to 1415
Execution of Jan Hus at the Council of Constance, sparking early reformist movements.
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Period: 1417 to 1417
The Western Schism comes to an end with the election of a single pope.
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Period: 1453 to 1453
Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire
Ends the Byzantine Empire and marks Ottoman expansion. -
Period: 1455 to 1455
Gutenberg prints the first Bible, revolutionizing the spread of knowledge with movable type.
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Period: 1492 to 1492
Christopher Columbus’s voyage leads to the European discovery of the Americas.
Starts European colonization and reshapes global history. -
Period: 1494 to 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas divides the New World between Spain and Portugal.
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Period: 1517 to 1517
Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, sparking the Protestant Reformation.
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Period: 1521 to 1521
The Diet of Worms condemns Martin Luther’s teachings.
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Period: 1527 to 1527
Sack of Rome by the troops of Charles V, symbolizing the decline of papal political power.
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Period: 1534 to 1534
Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy establishes the Church of England.
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Period: 1543 to 1543
Copernicus publishes On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres, marking a shift in scientific thought.
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Period: 1545 to 1545
The Council of Trent commences, launching the Counter-Reformation within the Catholic Church.
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Period: 1555 to 1555
The Peace of Augsburg establishes the principle of cuius regio, eius religio in the Holy Roman Empire.
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Period: to
The Spanish Armada is defeated by England, altering the balance of naval power in Europe.
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Period: to
The Defenestration of Prague sparks the Thirty Years’ War across Central Europe.
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Period: to
The English Civil War begins, leading to significant shifts in power and governance.
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Period: to
The Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years’ War and lays the groundwork for modern state sovereignty.
Ends the Thirty Years’ War and establishes modern state sovereignty. -
Period: to
The Glorious Revolution in England establishes a constitutional monarchy.
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Period: to
The English Bill of Rights is enacted, reinforcing parliamentary power and individual rights.
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Period: to
The Acts of Union unite England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain.
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Period: to
The Treaty of Utrecht ends the War of Spanish Succession, reshaping the balance of power in Europe.
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Period: to
Death of Louis XIV marks the end of an era of absolute monarchy in France.
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Period: to
The Seven Years’ War begins, a global conflict that reconfigures colonial empires.
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Period: to
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham decisively influences the fate of New France in North America.
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Period: to
The approximate beginning of the Industrial Revolution, heralding vast economic and social changes.
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Period: to
The American Revolutionary War begins.
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Period: to
The American Declaration of Independence is adopted. Adam Smith publishes his
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Period: to
The Treaty of Paris ends the American Revolutionary War.
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Period: to
The French Revolution begins, radically transforming French society and politics.
Overthrows the monarchy and promotes democracy and human rights. -
Period: to
The French National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
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Period: to
Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power in France during the coup of 18 Brumaire.
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Period: to
Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of the French.
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Period: to
The Battle of Austerlitz results in a decisive Napoleonic victory
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Period: to
The British Parliament passes the Slave Trade Act, abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire.
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Period: to
The Mexican War of Independence begins against Spanish colonial rule.
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Period: to
Napoleon invades Russia, a campaign that ultimately weakens his army.
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Period: to
Napoleon abdicates, and the Congress of Vienna convenes to redraw the map of Europe
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Period: to
The Battle of Waterloo marks Napoleon’s final defeat and ends the Napoleonic Wars.
Ends the Napoleonic Wars and reshapes Europe. -
Period: to
The Greek War of Independence begins; simultaneously, the Mexican War of Independence concludes
Mexico gains independence from Spain; Greece begins its fight against Ottoman rule.