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The empire was invaded by Germanic tribes like the Visigoths and Vandals. The last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed in 476 AD. This marked the end of Roman rule in the West and the start of the early medieval period. -
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire , the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) thrived. Under Emperor Justinian , the empire saw territorial expansion and the creation of the Justinian Code.
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This period saw Scandinavian Norsemen exploring, raiding, and settling across parts of Europe. Notable events include the sack of Lindisfarne in, marking the start of Viking raids, and their eventual settlement in areas like England and Normandy.
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In 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne the Emperor of the Romans, thereby extending Charlemagne's power and authority. Some historians believe that Charlemagne was surprised by the coronation and would not have gone into the church that day had he known the pope's plan. -
The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, French, Flemish, and Breton troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conqueror. -
On November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II makes perhaps the most influential speech of the Middle Ages, giving rise to the Crusades by calling all Christians in Europe to war against Muslims in order to reclaim the Holy Land, with a cry of “Deus vult!” or “God wills it!”. -
A series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims for control of the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem. The First Crusade began in 1096, culminating in the capture of Jerusalem in 1099.
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A devastating pandemic that swept through Europe from to , killing an estimated 25-50 million people. This plague significantly impacted Europe’s social structure and economy, leading to labor shortages and societal upheavals.