Middle Age Timeline
The Middle Ages, or Medieval Times, in Europe was a long period of history from 500 AD to 1500 AD. That's
1000 years! It covers the time from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the Ottoman Empire.
This was a time of castles and peasants, guilds and monasteries, cathedrals and crusades. Great leaders such as
Joan of Arc and Charlemagne were part of the Middle Ages as well as major events such as the Black Plague
and the rise of Islam.
Middle Ages, Medieval Times, Dark Ages: What's the Difference?
When people use the terms Medieval Times, Middle Ages, and Dark Ages they are generally referring to the
same period of time. The Dark Ages is usually referring to the first half of the Middle Ages from 500 to 1000
AD.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, a lot of the Roman culture and knowledge was lost. This included art,
technology, engineering, and history. Historians know a lot about Europe during the Roman Empire because the
Romans kept excellent records of all that happened. However, the time after the Romans is "dark" to historians
because there was no central government recording events. This is why historians call this time the Dark Ages.
Although the term Middle Ages covers the years between 500 and 1500 throughout the world, this timeline is
based on events specifically in Europe during that time.
Date Event
Barbaric invasions (350 - 800 A.D.).
Barbaric tribes come into the Roman
lands to steal and to find better places
to live. Such groups include the Anglo-
350
Saxons, the Vandals, the Visogoths,
A.D.
and the Huns. Some keep moving to
new areas. Some settle and make their
conquered lands their home.
Rome falls (410 - 476 A.D.).
The Roman Empire has been split into
two sections. The Western Roman
Empire is still ruled by Rome. In 410
the Visogoth king, Alaric, attacks
Rome for three days. In 476 the last
410 Roman emperor, Romulus Augustus,
A.D. is thrown out of Rome by German
invader Odoacer.
Eastern Roman Empire continues
(412 - 565 A.D.).
Emperor Constantine I has made
Constantinople his capital in 330.
About 412, protective walls are built
412 to keep the city safe from invaders.
A.D. Justinian I rules from 527- 565. He
wants to reunite the western and
eastern empires, but cannot do so.
Muslim invasions halted (741 - 732
A.D.).
Along with barbarians from the north,
Muslims begin to conquer lands from
741
the south. Charles Martel, the Frank
A.D.
king, stops the Muslims' northward
push in 732.
Charlemagne rules (768 - 814 A.D.).
Charles Martel's grandson,
Charlemagne, becomes the new Frank
king. He desires to spread Christianity.
768 As he conquers land, he extends his
A.D. faith. He is crowned "Emperor of the
Romans" in 800 by Pope Leo III.
Charlemagne dies in 814. The first
castles are built around this time.
A divided kingdom.
840 After Charlemagne's son dies, the kingdom is split into three. Raids into western Europe
A.D. increase. In order to protect themselves, kingships are created.
Alfred the Great of England rules (871 - 899 A.D.).
871 Alfred the Great defeats the Danes (Vikings) in 878. In 886 he captures London. He signs
A.D. a treaty, splitting England between him and the Danes. As a ruler Alfred encourages
education by establishing schools.
City states and feudal systems (1000
- 1200 A.D.).
Rome, Florence, Venice, and other
Italians towns become city-states. The
feudal system begins. Kings give
1000 sections of land called fiefs to lords in
A.D. exchange for help during wars. The
lords can give land to knights. The
peasants work the land in exchange
for food and protection.
First Crusade (About 1096 - 1099
A.D.).
Religious people go on pilgrimages to
visit sacred Biblical sites. When the
Seljuk Turks rule, they forbid visits to
1096 the Holy Land. The Pope calls for a
A.D. crusade against the Seljuks.
Eventually the crusaders take the city
of Jerusalem. There will be nine
crusades in all between now and1272.
Stained glass and gothic style
(About 1135 - 1144 A.D.).
St. Denis Abbey in Paris is rebuilt in
the Gothic style, the first church to use
this design. The church also uses
1135 stained glass windows. By this time
A.D. there are many Catholic monasteries
in France. Some monks spend their
days hand-copying holy books and
drawing beautiful designs along the
borders.
Magna Carta is signed.
Rebels oppose King John of England.
121
But they have no ruler to take his place.
5
Instead they have him sign a document,
A.D
the Magna Carta, stating that there is no
.
divine right of kings.
The Hundred Years War (1337 - 1453 A.D.).
1337 Edward III of England declares war on France since he feels he should also be king of
A.D. that country. The fighting continues off and on until about 1453.
The Black Death (Around 1347 -
1350 A.D.).
A plague reaches the shores of Italy
around 1347, believed to have been
carried by merchant ships. Large
1347 black boils, oozing with blood and
A.D. pus, are seen on the victims, who also
have fevers, diarrhea, vomiting, and
chills. The disease spreads quickly.
About 1/3rd of the population dies.
Joan of Arc (1429 - 1431 A.D.)
Joan of Arc wins the Battle of Orleans
for France during the Hundred Years
War. She continues to fight,
encouraging her troops in their war
1429
against the English, until she is
A.D.
captured. Falsely accused of being a
witch, she is tried and then sentenced
to death. She is burned at the stake.
The movable type (1440 - 1456
A.D.).
Johannes Gutenberg of Germany
invents a printing press with movable
type that can copy a page multiple
1440
times. There is no need to copy books
A.D.
by hand anymore. In 1455, the first
printed Bible is made. The Middle
Ages will be remembered as a time of
transitions as old empires fell away,
and new nations emerged, leading to a
need for fresh ideas and innovations.
1453 - The Ottoman Empire captures the city of Constantinople. This signals the end of the
Eastern Roman Empire also known as Byzantium.
