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Period: 224 to Apr 8, 661
Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire was recognized as one of the two main powers in Western Asia and Europe. Sassanid rule and the system of social stratification were reinforced by Zoroastrianism, which became the state religion. -
Period: 250 to Apr 11, 1547
Maya Civilization
Civilization extended from southern Mexico through the Yucatán Peninsula. Had the only fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, and also noted for its advanced art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Classical Period ended in 900 and the Post Classical period continued until 1547 when they were conquered by the Spanish. -
Period: 330 to Apr 11, 1453
Byzantine Empire
Empire was centered on the capital of Constantinople. The empire was one of the most powerful economic, cultural, and military forces in Europe. In 1071 much of the Empire's heartland was lost to the Seljuk Turks. -
Period: 330 to Apr 11, 1453
Constantinople
Throuought most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city. Founded by the Roman emperor Constantine. Restored the unity of the Empire. -
Apr 8, 600
Foundation of Islam
Foundation begins with the prophet Muhammad and his declaration that Allah is the only god. A series of caliphs, commonly called the Four Orthodox Caliphs, were chosen after Muhammad's death. -
Apr 8, 632
Split between Sunni and Shi'ite
Shi'ites believed that direct descendants of the prophet should take up the mantle of the caliph – the leader of the world's faithful. The Sunnis thought that any worthy man could lead the faithful, regardless of lineage, and favored Abu Bakr, an early convert to Islam who had married into Muhammad's family. The Shiites were the eventual losers in a violent struggle for mastery that lasted decades. -
Period: Apr 9, 661 to Apr 9, 750
Umayyad Caliphate
Umayyad history tells a tale of weak caliphs. Umayyads saw a great expansion in Islamic empire, and they could be brilliant both militarily and politically.Umayyads brought many changes in Islamic government, such as the adoption of Byzantine administrative and financial systems. -
Period: Apr 11, 711 to Apr 11, 1492
Muslims conquer Spain
Present under the rule of Arabs and al-Andalus. The area that is today Spain and Portugal was one of the great Muslim civilizations, reaching its summit with the Umayyad Caliphate in the 10th century. Islamic rulers imposed restrictions on building new churches and synagogues for exsisting Christians and Jews. -
Period: Apr 9, 1060 to Apr 9, 1307
Seljuk Turks
A tribe of Tartars from Central Asia who established a powerful empire in persia in the 11th century. Seljuk Turks were the first people to invade Anatolia completely. Played a major role in defending the Islamic world against the Crusaders, and conquering large parts of the Byzantine Empire. -
Period: Apr 11, 1095 to Apr 11, 1291
Crusades
A series of religiously sanctioned military campaigns, waged primarily by the Holy Roman Empire and France, against Muslims who occupied the Holy Land and Jerusalem. -
Period: Apr 9, 1138 to Mar 4, 1193
Saladin
A Kurdish Muslim who became the sultan of Egypt and Syria. Led Islamic opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders. Eventually recaptured Palestine from the Kingdom of Jerusalem after his victory at the Battle of Hattin. -
Period: Apr 11, 1162 to Apr 11, 1227
Genghis Khan
Founder and ruler of the Mongol empire which became the largest empire in history after his death. Started the Mongol Invasions that resulted in the conquest of most of Eurasia. Promoted religious tolerance in the Mongol Empire, and created a unified empire. -
Period: Apr 11, 1200 to Apr 11, 1533
Inca Civilization
Began as tribe in the Cuzco area, near the Andes Mountians. The civiliazation grew greatly until it took up nearly all the Andes and the west coast of South America. Government consisted of four regions, each ruled by a governer, and all under the leadership of the 'Sapa Inca,' who ruled from the capital in Cuzco. Conquered by Spain in 1533. -
Period: Apr 11, 1200 to
Ghana-->Mali-->Songhai Kingdoms
Ghana- Trade was essential is the rise and fall of this empire. The main imports were cloth, brocades, copper and salt. Export was gold. It was invaded by the Almoravides, and absorbed by the Mali Empire.
Mali- The Almoravide/Sengalese Empire. Was famous for weaving mining and architecture. Civil war attacks from Songhai and the Portugeses arrival in Africa produced their power.
Songhai- Famous for its progress in education and uniformed systems in measurements. Internal conflicts caused -
Period: Apr 9, 1206 to Apr 9, 1324
Mongol Invasions
Resulted in the vast Mongol Empire which covered much of Asia and Eastern Europe. Invaded China while led by Genghis Khan. Resulted in Mongol victory, and eventually, the fall of the Mongol empire. -
Apr 11, 1215
Magna Carta
English charter that required Kinfg John of England toallow certain liberties to his subjects. It was the first document ever forced upon a king by his subjects. -
Period: Apr 11, 1250 to Apr 11, 1517
Mamluk Sultanate
A regime composed of mamluks who ruled Egypt. Famously beat the Mongols and fought the Crusaders. Defeated and overthrown by the Ottomans in 1517. -
Period: Apr 8, 1312 to Apr 8, 1337
Mansa Musa
Tenth emperor of the Malian Empire. Embarked on a large building program to promote the construction of mosques and madrasas. A devout muslim who made his pilgrimage to Mecca. -
Period: Apr 8, 1336 to Feb 18, 1405
Timur
A fournteenth century conqueror of Western, South, and Central Asia, and founder of the Timurid Empire. Led many conquests the the west and northwest. Invaded India in 1398 and attacked the Delhi Sultanate. -
Period: Apr 8, 1368 to
Ming Empire
The last dynasty in china ruled by the ethnic Hans. Saw the construction of a vast navy and a standing army. Introduction of an open market -
Period: Apr 8, 1371 to Apr 8, 1435
Zheng He
A Hui-Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, and fleet admiral. Conducted voyages known as the "Voyages of Zeng He". -
Apr 11, 1436
Gutenberg press
Johannes Gutenberg made the first printing press that used durable type, made from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, which produced a much higher quality print. -
Establishment of Holy Roman Empire
Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Romans in 800 and was thus the forerunner of the Holy Roman Empire, though not officially constituted until 962. The empire was meant to serve as a protector of the Catholic church. -
Period: to
Tang Empire
Regarded as a high-point in Chinese civilization, so called "golden age" of cosmopolitan culture. Largely a period of progress and stability, as with the arise of Buddhism. -
Period: to Apr 8, 1279
Song Empire
First government in world history to issue banknotes, and first Chinese government to establish a permanent standing navy. The Song Empire also saw the first use of gunpowder, as well as the compass. -
Period: to Apr 9, 1258
Abbasid Caliphate
Replaced the Umayyad Caliphs. Founded on the Islamic Muslims and Shi'ites. Abassid seizure of the caliphate was unique because of the heavy reliance on client Muslims. Concentrated more on the plains than the coast, and moved their capital from Damascus to Syria. -
Period: to
Charlemagne
King of the Franks in 768 and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire starting in 800 until his death in 814. Expanded Frankish kingdoom into an Empire and had many foreign conquests and internal reforms. -
Period: to Apr 11, 1349
Kievan russian
The Medieval state of Russia. Originally founded by Slavic Tribes and Scandinavian warriors. ts was centered in Novgorod and Streched south to the Black Sea. -
Period: to
Sui Empire
An imperial Chinese dynasty which unified China in the 6th century and ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. Led by Emperor Yang who restored Confucian education and instituted many educational reforms.
