Table of Contents
Early Middle Ages (500 - 1000)
Overview: The Early Middle Ages, or Dark Ages, was a period marked by the decline of urban centers, the rise of feudalism, and the spread of Christianity across Europe.
Key Events:
- 476 - Fall of the Western Roman Empire.
- 800 - Charlemagne crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
- 900s - Viking invasions impact Northern Europe.
High Middle Ages (1000 - 1300)
Overview: The High Middle Ages saw the rise of kingdoms, a resurgence of trade and culture, and the Crusades, which had lasting impacts on Europe and the Middle East.
Key Events:
- 1096-1099 - First Crusade leads to the establishment of Crusader states.
- 1215 - Signing of the Magna Carta in England, limiting royal power.
- 1300 - Universities flourish, fostering scholasticism and learning.
Late Middle Ages (1300 - 1500)
Overview: The Late Middle Ages were characterized by social upheaval, wars, and the Black Death, but also by the cultural and intellectual beginnings that would lead to the Renaissance.
Key Events:
- 1337-1453 - Hundred Years' War between England and France.
- 1347-1351 - The Black Death kills a third of Europe's population.
- 1453 - Fall of Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.