Medieval and World History Timeline Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering major historical milestones, religious developments, and key figures from the Middle Ages and early global history.

Leo I

Roman Bishop who claimed supremacy over other bishops circa $440$.

The Middle Ages

Also known as the Medieval Period, spanning from $500$–$1500$ and divided into Early, High, and Late periods.

Gregory I

Also known as Gregory the Great, he held the papacy from $590$–$604$.

Greek Fire

A weapon used by Constantinople in $718$ to repel an Arab Muslim attack.

East-West Schism

A religious division that began in $1054$ and ended in $1965$.

Battle of Manzikert

A conflict in $1071$ that signaled the Turkish ascent in Asia Minor and the Middle East.

Pope (Title Restriction)

In $1073$, the use of this title was prohibited for all except the Bishop of Rome.

Fourth Crusade

An event in $1204$ during which Constantinople was attacked.

1453

The year Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks.

The Vedas

Four Aryan scriptures that began to appear in written form circa $1500$ BC.

Siddhartha Gautama

The Buddha, whose life spanned circa $563$–$483$ BC.

Confucius

Also known as Kongzi or K’ung Fu Tzu, whose life spanned circa $551$–$479$ BC.

Muhammad

Lived circa $570$–$632$; he claimed to receive heavenly revelations from $610$–$632$.

The Hegira (Hijra)

Occurred in $622$, marking year $1$ of the Islamic calendar.

Sunni & Shiah

Muslim sects whose division began circa $632$–$661$.

Koran

Codified during the reign of the Third Caliph Othman, circa $644$–$656$.

Mongol empire

An empire that existed circa $1206$–$1404$.

Delhi Sultanate

A succession of ruling Muslim dynasties in India from circa $1216$–$1526$.

Charles Martel

Defeated Muslim forces at Tours in $732$, ending Northward expansion.

Charlemagne

Crowned emperor by the pope on Christmas Day, $800$.

Age of Viking expansion

A period of expansion throughout Europe occurring circa $800$–$1100$.

Norman conquest of England

Occurred in $1066$ with William as the victor at Hastings.

Innocent III

His pontificate from $1198$–$1216$ marked the height of papal power.

Fourth Lateran Council

The council that affirmed the doctrine of Transubstantiation in $1215$.

Magna Carta

Assented to by King John of England in $1215$.

Pope Gregory IX

Appointed full-time papal inquisitors circa $1233$.

1265 English Parliament

The first meeting of a “representative” English parliament.

Avignon Papacy

Known as the “Babylonian Captivity” of the church, occurring from $1309$–$1377$.

Hundred Years’ War

A conflict between England and France from $1337$–$1453$.

Black Death (The Plague)

The first main wave devastated Europe from $1347$–$1352$.

The Renaissance

A broad period from $1350$–$1600$; the Northern Renaissance began circa $1500$.

The Great Western Schism

A religious conflict occurring between $1378$–$1417$.

Medici family

The family that essentially “ruled” Florence from $1434$–$1494$.

Johann Gutenberg

Used movable metal type in printing during the $1440$s.

Ferdinand & Isabella

Rulers of Spain from $1469$–$1516$ whose reign marked the genesis of Spain’s rise.

High Renaissance

The period of the Renaissance occurring in Italy from $1500$–$1530$.