The following is a timeline of major events in post-classical history from the 5th to 15th centuries, loosely corresponding to the Old World Middle Ages, intermediate between Late antiquity and the early modern period.

Overview This timetable gives a basic overview of states, cultures and events which transpired roughly between the years 200 and 1500. Sections are broken by political and geographic location.

Europe

Elsewhere

Dates are approximate range (based upon influence), consult particular article for details Middle Ages Divisions, Middle Ages Themes Other themes

Early post-classical history

5th and 6th centuries

Year Date Event Significance c. 400Highland Maya fall to the lowland city of TeotihuacanBegins the decline of Maya culture and language in some parts of the highlands. 405 St. Jerome finished the Vulgate. The Christian Gospel is translated into Latin. 410 24 August Rome is sacked by Alaric I, King of the Visigoths Decisive event in the decline of the Western Roman Empire. 431 22 June – 31 July Council of Ephesus Confirmed the original Nicene Creed, and condemned the teachings of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, that led to his exile and separation with the Church of the East. 455 2 June Rome is sacked by Gaiseric, King of the Vandals. Another decisive event in the Fall of Rome and held by some historians to mark the "end of the Roman Empire". 476 4 September Odoacer deposes the Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus Considered by some historians to be the starting point of the Middle Ages. 480 25 April Death of Julius Nepos, last Roman Emperor to be recognized as such by the Roman Senate and the Byzantine Empire Considered by some historians to be the starting point of the Middle Ages. 493 15 March Theodoric the Great killed Odoacer at a banquet after the Siege of Ravenna (490–493). The Ostrogothic Kingdom ruled Italy from 493 to 553.c. 500Tikal becomes the first great Maya citySignificant cultural exchange between the Maya of Tikal and the citizens of Teotihuacan. c. 501 Battle of Badon. The West Saxon advance is halted by Britons in England. Chiefly known today for the supposed involvement of King Arthur but because of the limited number of sources, there is no certainty about the date, location, or details of the fighting.Dupuy, R. Ernest & al. The Harper Encyclopedia of Military History From 3500 B.C. to the Present, 4th ed., p. 193. HarperCollins Pub. (New York), 1993.Hollister, C. Warren. The Making of England to 1399, 8th ed., p. 31. Houghton Mifflin Co. (New York), 2001. 507 Spring The Franks under Clovis I defeat the Visigoths in the Battle of Vouillé. The Visigoths retreated into Spain."" c. 524 Boethius writes his On the Consolation of Philosophy It has been described as the single most important and influential work in the West on medieval and early Renaissance Christianity.The Consolation of Philosophy (Oxford World's Classics), Introduction (2000) 525 Dionysius Exiguus publishes the Dionysius Exiguus' Easter table. This initiated the Anno Domini era, used for the Gregorian and Julian calendars. 527 1 August Justinian I becomes Eastern Roman Emperor. Justinian is best remembered for his Code of Civil Law (529), and expansion of imperial territory retaking Rome from the Ostrogoths. 529–534 Justinian I publishes the Code of Civil Law. This compiled centuries of legal writings and imperial pronouncements into three parts of one body of law. 529 Benedict of Nursia founds monastery at Monte Cassino. The first of twelve monasteries founded by Saint Benedict, beginning the Order of Saint Benedict. 532 1 January Nika riots in Constantinople. Nearly half the city being burned or destroyed and tens of thousands of people killed. 533 15 December Byzantines, under Belisarius, retake North Africa from the Vandals. Vandal kingdom ends and the Reconquest of North Africa is completed. 535–554 Gothic War in Italy as a part of Justinian's Reconquest. Byzantines retook Italy but crippled the Byzantine economy and left Italy unable to cope against the oncoming Lombards. 563 Saint Columba founds mission in Iona. Constructed an abbey which helped convert the Picts to Christianity until it was destroyed and raided by the Vikings in 794. 568 The Kingdom of the Lombards is founded in Italy. Survived in Italy until the invasion of the Franks in 774 under Charlemagne. c. 570 Muhammad is born. Claimed receiving revelations from God, which were recorded in the Quran, the basis of Islamic theology, in which he is regarded as the last of the sent prophets. 577 The West Saxons continue their advance at the Battle of Deorham. Led to the permanent separation of Cornwall, England from Wales. 581 4 March Sui dynasty is founded in China. China unified once again during this period for the first time in almost 400 years. 590 3 September Gregory the Great becomes Pope. The missionary work reached new levels during his pontificate, revolutionized the way of worship for the Catholic Church (Gregorian chant), liturgy, etc., and was soon canonized after his death. 597 Augustine arrives in Kent. Christianization of England (Anglo-Saxons) begins. 598–668 Massive Chinese (Sui and Tang) invasions against Korean Goguryeo. Contributed to the fall of the Sui dynasty, and Goguryeo fell under the forces of the Tang and Silla. c. 600Deliberate fires set for unknown reasons destroy major buildings in Teotihuacan.Destroys the Teotihuacan civilization and empire. Tikal is now the largest city-state in Mesoamerica.

7th century

Year Date Event Significance 602–629 Last great Roman–Persian War. Long conflict leaves both empires exhausted and unable to cope with the newly united Arab armies under Islam in the 630s 604–609 Grand Canal in China is fully completedEbrey, Cambridge Illustrated History of China, 114: "[…] the Grand Canal, dug between 605 and 609 by means of enormous levies of conscripted labour." Its main role throughout its history was the transport of grain to the capital. 618 18 June Tang dynasty is founded in China. The essential administrative system of this dynasty lasts for almost 300 years. 622 9 September – 23 September Muhammad migrates from Mecca to Medina. Event will have designated first year of the Islamic calendar, as Anno Hegirae. 626 June–July Joint Persian–Avar–Slav Siege of ConstantinopleConstantinople saved, Avar power broken, and Persians henceforth on the defensive 627 12 December Battle of Nineveh. The Byzantines, under Heraclius, crush the Persians. 632 8 June Death of Muhammad and accession of Abu Bakr as first Caliph By this point, all of Arabia is under the religion of Islam. Though the period of Abu Bakr's caliphate was not long, it included successful invasions of the two most powerful empires of the time. 632–668 Establishment and expansion of Old Great Bulgaria. The demise of Old Great Bulgaria lead to the founding of the First Bulgarian Empire and Volga Bulgaria by the sons of Kubrat. 633–634 Battle of Heavenfield. Northumbrian army under Oswald defeat Welsh army. 638 Jerusalem captured by the Arab army, mostly Muslims, but with contingents of Syrian Christians.The Muslim conquest of the city solidified Arab control over Palestine, which would not again be threatened until the First Crusade. 642 Battle of Nahavand. Muslims conquer Persia. 643 Arab Army led by Amr ibn al-As takes Alexandria. 645 In Japan, the Soga clan falls. This initiates a period of imitation of Chinese culture, The Nara period begins many years later. 650 Slav occupation of Balkans complete.c. 650The city-state Xochicalco is founded by the Olmeca–Xicallanca.Becomes an important cultural and commercial center.Snow, Dean (2010). Archaeology of Native North America. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. p. 157. 664 Synod of Whitby. Roman Christianity triumphs over Celtic Christianity in England. 668 End of the Three Kingdoms period in Korea. Established a Unified Silla which led to the North–South States Period 30 years later.Encyclopedia of World History, Vol I, p.464 "Three Kingdoms, Korea", Edited by Marsha E. Ackermann, Michael J. Schroeder, Janice J. Terry, Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur, Mark F. Whitters, 674–678 First Arab siege of Constantinople. First-time Islamic armies defeated, forestalling Islamic conquest of Europe.68010 October Slaughter of Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of Muhammad by Umayyad dynasty in Battle of Karbala. Thus Yazid I secured Umayyad rule form line of Muhammad for more than 60 years. 681 Establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire. A country with great influence in European history in the Middle Ages. 685 Battle of Dun Nechtain. Picts defeat Northumbrians, whose dominance ends. 687 Battle of Tertry. Established Pepin of Herstal as mayor over the entire realms of Neustria and Austrasia, which further dwindled Merovingian power. 698 Arab army takes Carthage. End of Byzantine rule in North Africa 698 North–South States Period begins in Korea. Silla and Balhae coexisted in the south and north of the peninsula, respectively, until 926.

8th century

Year Date Event Significance 711 Umayyad conquest of Hispania under Tariq ibn Ziyad. Will begin a period of Muslim rule in the Al-Andalus (with various portions of the Iberian Peninsula) until nearly the end of the 15th century. 718 Second Arab attack on Constantinople, ending in failure. The combined Byzantine–Bulgarian forces stop the Arab threat in Southeast Europe. 726 Iconoclast movement begun in the Byzantine Empire under Leo III.Treadgold, Warren. 1997. A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford University Press. pp. 350, 352–353. This was opposed by Pope Gregory II, and an important difference between the Roman and Byzantine churches. 732 October Battle of Tours. Charles Martel halts Muslim advance. Significant moment that led to the forming of the Carolingian Empire for the Franks, and halted the advancement of the Moors in southwestern Europe. 735 26 May Death of Bede. Bede was later regarded as "the father of English history". 750 25 January Beginning of Abbasid Caliphate. Would become the longest-lasting caliphate, until the 1510s when conquered and annexed into the Ottoman Empire. 751 Pepin the Short founds the Carolingian dynasty. 754 Pepin promises the Pope central Italy. This is arguably the beginning of the temporal power of the Papacy. 768 October Beginning of Charlemagne's reign. 778 15 August Battle of Roncevaux Pass.Caused the death of Roland, and elevated him into legend, becoming the role model for knights and influencing the code of chivalry in the Middle Ages. 786 14 September Accession of Harun al-Rashid to the Caliphate in Baghdad. 793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on Britain begin. Generally considered the beginning of the Viking Age that would span over two centuries, and reach as far south as Spania and as far east as the Byzantine Empire, and present-day Russia. 794 Heian period in Japan. Considered to be the last classical period of History of Japan. Chinese influence was at its strongest during this era in Japan. 796 29 July Death of Offa of Mercia. Marks the end of Mercian dominance in England. 800 25 December Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor though disputed. With his crowning, Charlemagne's kingdom is officially recognized by the Papacy as the largest in Europe since the fall of the Roman Empire.c. 800 Gunpowder is invented in the late Tang dynasty (somewhere around 9th century).One of the "Four Great Inventions" of China.

9th century