-
476
Fall of the Western Roman Empire
-
493
Establishes
Theodoric the Great establishes the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy. -
527
Byzantine Emperor
Justinian I ascends as Byzantine Emperor, later initiating major legal and
architectural reforms. -
711
Islamic conquest
The Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula begins. -
732
Battle of Tours
Battle of Tours – Charles Martel halts the northward advance of Islamic forces. -
800
Charlemagne as Emperor
Coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor by Pope Leo III, uniting much of Western
Europe. -
843
Treaty of Verdun divides the Carolingian Empire among Charlemagne’s grandsons.
-
962
Otto Holy Emperor
Otto I is crowned Holy Roman Emperor, reinforcing the idea of a revived Western
Empire -
1054
Orthodox branches
The Great Schism formally splits Christianity into Roman Catholic and Eastern
Orthodox branches. -
1066
Norman Conquest of England
Norman Conquest of England – William the Conqueror defeats Harold II at
Hastings. -
1095
Pope Urban II calls for the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont.
-
1099
Crusaders capture Jerusalem during the First Cru
-
1122
Investiture Controversy
Concordat of Worms resolves the Investiture Controversy between the papacy
and the Holy Roman Emperor. -
1147
Launch of the Second Crusade.
-
1187
Battle of Hattin
Saladin defeats Crusader forces and recaptures Jerusalem. -
1190
Beginning of the Third Crusade
Beginning of the Third Crusade, led by figures such as Richard the Lionheart -
1215
Carta Magna
Signing of the Magna Carta in England, laying foundations for constitutional
governance. -
1229
End of the Albigensian Crusade
End of the Albigensian Crusade with the Treaty of Paris, curbing heresy in
southern France. -
1241
Mongol forces invade Eastern Europe
Mongol forces invade Eastern Europe (e.g., Battle of Legnica), affecting European
political dynamics. -
1265
England becomes an early mode
Simon de Montfort’s Parliament in England becomes an early model of
representative government. -
1274
Second Council of Lyons
Second Council of Lyons discusses Church reforms and attempts at reuniting
Eastern and Western Christianity. -
1302
Pope Boniface VIII
Pope Boniface VIII issues the papal bull Unam Sanctam, asserting papal
supremacy. -
1315
The Great Famine begins in Europe
The Great Famine begins in Europe, severely impacting population and society. -
1347
Reducing the population.
Outbreak of the Black Death in Europe, drastically reducing the population. -
1378
Catholic Church with rival popes.
Beginning of the Western Schism, splitting the Catholic Church with rival popes. -
1415
Execution of Jan Hus at the Council of Constance
Execution of Jan Hus at the Council of Constance, sparking early reformist
movemen -
1417
: The Western Schism comes to an end with the election of a single pope.
-
1453
Fall of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks, marking the end of the Byzantine
Empire. -
1455
Gutenberg prints the first Bible
Gutenberg prints the first Bible, revolutionizing the spread of knowledge with
movable type. -
1492
Discovery of the Americas
Christopher Columbus’s voyage leads to the European discovery of the Americas -
1494
Treaty of Tordesillas divides the New World between Spain and Portugal.
-
1517
Martin Luther
Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, sparking the
Protestant Reformation. -
1521
: The Diet of Worms condemns Martin Luther’s teachings
-
1527
Charles V
Sack of Rome by the troops of Charles V, symbolizing the decline of papal political
power -
1534
Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy establishes the Church of England.
-
1543
Copernicus publishes On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres
Copernicus publishes On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres, marking a shift
in scientific thought. -
1545
Counter-Reformation
The Council of Trent commences, launching the Counter-Reformation within the
Catholic Church. -
1555
The Peace of Augsburg establishes the principle of cuius regio
The Peace of Augsburg establishes the principle of cuius regio, eius religio in the
Holy Roman Empire. -
The Spanish Armada is defeated by England
The Spanish Armada is defeated by England, altering the balance of naval power
in Europe. -
The Defenestration of Prague sparks the Thirty Years’ War across Central Europe.
-
Civil War begins
The English Civil War begins, leading to significant shifts in power and
governance. -
The Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years’ War
The Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years’ War and lays the groundwork for
modern state sovereignty. -
The Glorious Revolution in England establishes a constitutional monarchy.
-
The English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights is enacted, reinforcing parliamentary power and
individual rights. -
The Acts of Union unite England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain.
-
The Treaty of Utrecht ends the War of Spanish Succession
The Treaty of Utrecht ends the War of Spanish Succession, reshaping the balance
of power in Europe. -
Death of Louis XIV marks the end of an era of absolute monarchy in France.
-
The Seven Years’ War begins, a global conflict that reconfigures colonial empires.
-
The Battle of the Plains
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham decisively influences the fate of New France
in North America. -
The approximate beginning of the Industrial Revolution
The approximate beginning of the Industrial Revolution, heralding vast economic
and social changes. -
The American Revolutionary War begins.
-
The American Declaration of Independence is adopted
The American Declaration of Independence is adopted. Adam Smith publishes his
magnum opus ‘An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations’
. -
The Treaty of Paris ends the American Revolutionary War.
-
The French Revolution begins, radically transforming French society and politics.
-
The French National Assembly
The French National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of
the Citizen. -
Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power in France during the coup of 18 Brumaire.
-
Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of the French.
-
The Battle of Austerlitz results in a decisive Napoleonic victory.
-
The British Parliament passes the Slave Trade Act
The British Parliament passes the Slave Trade Act, abolishing the slave trade in
the British Empire. -
The Mexican War of Independence begins against Spanish colonial rule.
-
Napoleon invades Russia, a campaign that ultimately weakens his army.
-
Napoleon abdicates, and the Congress of Vienna convenes to redraw the map of Europe
-
The Battle of Waterloo marks Napoleon’s final defeat and ends the Napoleonic Wars.
-
The Greek War of Independence begins; simultaneously, the Mexican War of Independence concludes