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11th century

 

 

 

 

 

11th century


 
 


As a means of recording the passage of timeTime

Two distinct views exist on the meaning of time....
, the 11th century is the period from 1001 to 1100 in accordance with the Julian calendarJulian calendar

The Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC by Julius Caesar and took force in 45 BC ....
 in the Christian/Common EraCommon Era

The Common Era , sometimes known as the Current Era or as the Christian Era, is the period of measured time begi...
.

In the history of EuropeEurope

Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth....
an culture, this period is considered the early part of the High Middle AgesHigh Middle Ages

The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries....
. There was a sudden decline of ByzantineByzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the...
 power and rise of NormanNormans

The Normans were a people who colonized Normandy, conquered England, and played a major political, military and cultural ro...
 domination over much of Europe, along with the prominent role in Europe of notably influential popePope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, and, as Successor of Saint Peter, is the head of the Catholic Church....
s. In what is now Northern ItalyNorthern Italy

Northern Italy encompasses eight of the country's 20 regions....
, a growth of population in urban centers gave rise to early organized capitalism and more sophisticated, commercialized culture by the late 11th century.

In Song DynastySong Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279....
 ChinaChina

China is a cultural region and ancient civilization in East Asia....
 and the classical Islamic worldIslamic Golden Age

During the Islamic Golden Age philosophers, scientists and engineers of the Islamic world contributed enormously to technolo...
, this century marked the high point for both classical Chinese civilization, scienceHistory of science and technology in China

The history of science and technology in China is both long and rich with many contributions to science and technology....
 and technologyTechnology of the Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty provided some of the most significant technological advances in Chinese history, many of which came from talented...
, and classical Islamic scienceIslamic science

Islamic science is science in the context of traditional religious ideas of Islam, including its ethics and philosophy....
, philosophyEarly Islamic philosophy

Early Muslim philosophy is considered influential in the rise of modern philosophy....
, technology and literatureIslamic literature

Islamic literature is a field that includes the study of modern and classical Arabic and the litarature written in those lan...
.






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Timeline

778   Battle of Roncevaux (Roncesvalles), in which Charlemagne's army suffers a terrible defeat at the hand of the Basques. Among those killed was Roland, lord of the Breton March; the 11th-century ''Song of Roland'' is loosely based on the events of this battle.






Encyclopedia




As a means of recording the passage of timeTime

Two distinct views exist on the meaning of time....
, the 11th century is the period from 1001 to 1100 in accordance with the Julian calendarJulian calendar

The Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC by Julius Caesar and took force in 45 BC ....
 in the Christian/Common EraCommon Era

The Common Era , sometimes known as the Current Era or as the Christian Era, is the period of measured time begi...
.

In the history of EuropeEurope

Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth....
an culture, this period is considered the early part of the High Middle AgesHigh Middle Ages

The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries....
. There was a sudden decline of ByzantineByzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the...
 power and rise of NormanNormans

The Normans were a people who colonized Normandy, conquered England, and played a major political, military and cultural ro...
 domination over much of Europe, along with the prominent role in Europe of notably influential popePope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, and, as Successor of Saint Peter, is the head of the Catholic Church....
s. In what is now Northern ItalyNorthern Italy

Northern Italy encompasses eight of the country's 20 regions....
, a growth of population in urban centers gave rise to early organized capitalism and more sophisticated, commercialized culture by the late 11th century.

In Song DynastySong Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279....
 ChinaChina

China is a cultural region and ancient civilization in East Asia....
 and the classical Islamic worldIslamic Golden Age

During the Islamic Golden Age philosophers, scientists and engineers of the Islamic world contributed enormously to technolo...
, this century marked the high point for both classical Chinese civilization, scienceHistory of science and technology in China

The history of science and technology in China is both long and rich with many contributions to science and technology....
 and technologyTechnology of the Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty provided some of the most significant technological advances in Chinese history, many of which came from talented...
, and classical Islamic scienceIslamic science

Islamic science is science in the context of traditional religious ideas of Islam, including its ethics and philosophy....
, philosophyEarly Islamic philosophy

Early Muslim philosophy is considered influential in the rise of modern philosophy....
, technology and literatureIslamic literature

Islamic literature is a field that includes the study of modern and classical Arabic and the litarature written in those lan...
. There was also a population explosion in China, doubling to the size of 100 million, and an economic revolution in ChinaEconomy of the Song Dynasty Overview

The Song Dynasty of China was a period of Chinese history marked by commercial expansion, economic prosperity, and revolutionary ...
 that spurred manufacture and production rates which rivaled even Great BritainGreat Britain Summary

Great Britain is an island lying off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe and to the east of Ireland, comprising the ma...
's coalCoal

Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining ....
 and ironIron

Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26....
 output in the early Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was the major technological, socioeconomic and cultural change in the late 18th and early 19th cen...
. The Islamic worldMuslim world

The Muslim world is a term given to the world-wide community of those who adhere to the religion of Islam....
 experienced a similar growth with the Muslim Agricultural RevolutionMuslim Agricultural Revolution

The Islamic Golden Age from the 8th century to the 13th century witnessed a fundamental transformation in agriculture known as the...
, which led to greater mechanizationMechanization

Mechanization is the use of machines to replace manual labour or animals and can also refer to the use of powered machinery...
 and economic growthIslamic economics in the world

Islamic economics in practice, or economic policies supported by self-identified Islamic groups, has varied throughout its l...
 in the Islamic world.

Rivaling political factions at the Song DynastySong Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279....
 court created strife amongst the leading statesmen and ministers of the empire. For Chola-era IndiaIndia

India , officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia....
 and FatimidFatimid

The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fatimiyyun is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Magh...
-era EgyptEgypt

Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a Middle Eastern country in North Africa....
, they had reached their zenith in military might and international influence. The Western Chalukya Empire (the Chola's rival) also rose to power by the end of the century. In this century the Turkish Seljuk dynasty comes to power in the Middle East over the now fragmented AbbasidAbbasid

Abbasid is the dynastic name generally given to the caliph of Baghdad, the second of the two great Sunni dynasties of the I...
 realm, while the firstFirst Crusade

The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to regain control of the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Christian ...
 of the CrusadesCrusades

The Crusades were a series of military campaigns waged in the name of Christendom This term refers to a particular political...
 were waged towards the close of the century. In JapanJapan

is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea, and Russia, stretching from...
 the Fujiwara clan continued to dominate the affairs of state. In the Americas the ToltecToltec

The Toltecs were a Pre-Columbian Native American people who dominated much of central Mexico between the 10th and 12th cent...
 and MixtecMixtec

The Mixtec are an indigenous Mesoamerican people inhabiting the Mexican state of Oaxaca....
 civilizations flourished in central AmericaFacts About Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas....
, along with the Huari CultureHuari Culture Summary

The Wari was a Middle Horizon civilization that flourished in the Andes in the south of modern-day Peru, from about 500 to 1...
 of South AmericaSouth America

South America is a continent situated in the western hemisphere and, mostly, the southern hemisphere, bordered on the west b...
 and the Mississippian cultureMississippian culture

The Mississippian culture was a Chalcolithic mound-building Native American culture that flourished in the Midwestern, Easte...
 of North AmericaNorth America

North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere....
. In RussiaFacts About Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia....
, there was the golden ageGolden age

The term Golden age stems from Greek mythology and Roman poets....
 for the principality of Kievan Rus. In KoreaKorea

KoreaOne of the world's oldest civilizations, Korea began with the founding of Gojoseon in 2333 BC, according to the Dangun...
 the GoryeoGoryeo

The Goryeo Dynasty established in 918 ruled Korea from the fall of the Unified Silla in 935 until replaced by the Joseon dyn...
 Kingdom flourished and faced external threats from the Liao DynastyLiao Dynasty Summary

The Liao Dynasty , 907-1125, also known as the Khitan Empire, was an empire in northern China that ruled over the regi...
. In VietnamVietnam Overview

Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country in Southeast Asia....
 the Lý DynastyLý Dynasty

The L? Dynasty sometimes known as the Posterior L? Dynasty was a Vietnamese dynasty that began in 1009 when L? Th?i ...
 began, while in MyanmarMyanmar

Myanmar, officially the Union of Myanmar is the largest country in geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia....
 the Pagan KingdomPagan Kingdom

To the north another group of people, the Burmese began infiltrating the area as well....
 reached its height of political and military power.

Overview



In European history, the 11th century is regarded as the beginning of the High Middle AgesHigh Middle Ages

The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries....
, an age subsequent to the Early Middle AgesEarly Middle Ages

The Early Middle Ages are a period in the history of Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, spanning roughly...
. The century began while the translatio imperiiTranslatio imperii

Translatio imperii, Latin for "transfer of rule", is a concept invented in the Middle Ages for describing history as a lin...
of 962962

Events...
 was still somewhat novel and ended in the midst of the Investiture ControversyInvestiture Controversy

The Investiture Controversy was the most significant conflict between secular and religious powers in medieval Europe....
. It saw the final Christianisation of ScandinaviaScandinavia

Scandinavia is a region in Northern Europe....
 and the emergence of the Peace and Truce of GodPeace and Truce of God

The Peace and Truce of God was a medieval European movement of the Catholic Church which applied spiritual sanctions in orde...
 movements, the Gregorian Reforms, and the CrusadesCrusades

The Crusades were a series of military campaigns waged in the name of Christendom This term refers to a particular political...
 which revitalised a church and a papacy that had survived tarnished by the tumultuous tenth century. In 1054, the Great SchismGreat Schism

The term Great Schism may refer to one of several events in Christianity:...
 rent the church in two, however.

In Germany, it was marked by the ascendancy of the Holy Roman EmperorHoly Roman Emperor Summary

The Holy Roman Emperor was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, a predecessor of numerous countries mainly in central Europe....
s, who hit their high watermark under the SaliansSalian dynasty

The Salian dynasty was a dynasty of germanic kings, also known as the Frankish dynasty after the family's origin and r...
.

In Italy, it opened with the integration of the kingdom into the empire and the royal palace at PaviaPavia

Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on th...
 was sacked in 1024. By the end of the century, LombardLombards Overview

The Lombards , were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire....
 and ByzantineByzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the...
 rule in the MezzogiornoMezzogiorno

Southern Italy, often referred to as the Mezzogiorno, encompasses at least four of the country's 20 regions: Basilicat...
 had been usurped by the NormansNormans

The Normans were a people who colonized Normandy, conquered England, and played a major political, military and cultural ro...
 and the power of the territorial magnates was being replaced by that of the citizens of the cities in the north.

In Britain, it saw the transformation of ScotlandScotland

Scotland is a nation in northwest Europe and one of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom....
 into a single, more unified and centralised kingdom and the Norman conquest of EnglandNorman conquest of England

The Norman conquest of England was the invasion of the Kingdom of England by William the Conqueror, in 1066 at the Battle of...
 in 1066. The social transformations wrought in these lands brought them into the fuller orbit of European feudal politics.

In France, it saw the nadir of the monarchy and the zenith of the great magnates, especially the dukes of Aquitaine and Normandy, who could thus foster such distinctive contributions of their lands as the pious warrior who conquered Britain, Italy, and the East and the impious peacelover, the troubadourTroubadour Overview

A troubadour was a composer and performer of songs during the High Middle Ages in Europe....
, who crafted out of the European vernacular its first great literary themes. There were also the first figures of the intellectual movement known as ScholasticismScholasticism

Scholasticism comes from the Latin word scholasticus, which means "that [which] belongs to the school", and was a metho...
, which emphasized dialecticDialectic

In classical philosophy, dialectic is an exchange of propositions and counter-propositions resulting in a synth...
 arguments in disputes of Christian theologyFacts About Christian theology

Christian theology practices theology from a Christian viewpoint or studies Christianity theologically....
 as well as classical philosophyAncient philosophy

This page lists some links to ancient philosophy, although for Western thinkers prior to Socrates, see Pre-Socratic philosop...
.


In Spain, the century opened with the successes of the last caliphs of Córdoba and ended in the successes of the AlmoravidsAlmoravids

Almoravides , was a Berber dynasty from the Sahara that flourished over a wide area of Africa and Europe during the 11th cen...
. In between was a period of Christian unification under NavarreNavarre

Navarre is an autonomous community in Spain....
se hegemony and success in the ReconquistaReconquista

The Reconquista was the process by which the Christian Kingdoms of northern Hispania defeated and expelled the souther...
 against the taifaTaifa

The term taifa in the history of Iberia refers to an independent Muslim-ruled principality, an emirate or petty kingdom,...
 kingdoms which replaced the fallen caliphate.

In China, there was a triangular affair of continued war and peace settlements between the Song DynastySong Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279....
, the TangutFacts About Tangut

The Tangut, also known as the Western Xia were a Qiangic-Tibetan people who moved to the highlands of western Sichuan ...
s-led Western XiaFacts About Western Xia

The Western Xia Dynasty or the Tangut Empire was a state that existed from 1032 up to 1227 in what are now the northw...
 in the northwest, and the KhitanKhitan

The Khitan, were an ethnic group which dominated much of Manchuria and was classified in Chinese history as one of the Easte...
s of the Liao DynastyLiao Dynasty

The Liao Dynasty , 907-1125, also known as the Khitan Empire, was an empire in northern China that ruled over the regi...
 in the northeast. Meanwhile, opposing political factionFacts About Political faction

A political faction is presently an informal grouping of individuals, especially within a political organisation, such as a ...
s evolved at the Song imperial court of KaifengKaifeng

Kaifeng, formerly known as Bianliang, is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province, People's Republic of China...
. The political reformers at court, called the New Policies Group (??, Xin Fa), were led by Emperor Shenzong of SongEmperor Shenzong of Song

Emperor Shenzong was the sixth emperor of Song Dynasty China....
 and the ChancellorChancellor

Various governments have a Chancellor who serves as some form of junior or senior minister....
s Fan ZhongyanFan Zhongyan

Fan Zhongyan, born in Wuxian ??, Suzhou, was a prominent politician and literary figure in Song dynasty China....
 and Wang AnshiWang Anshi

tyle="background:#ccf; border-top:2px solid; border-bottom:2px solid" colspan=2|Names...
, while the political conservatives were led by Chancellor Sima GuangSima Guang

Sima Guang was a Chinese historian, scholar and statesman of the Song Dynasty....
 and Empress Dowager Gao, regent of the young Emperor Zhezong of SongEmperor Zhezong of Song

Emperor Zhezong was the seventh emperor of the Song Dynasty of China....
. Heated political debate and sectarian intrigue followed, while political enemies were often dismissed from the capital to govern frontier regions in the deep south where malariaMalaria

Malaria is an infectious disease that is widespread in many tropical and subtropical regions....
 was known to be very fatal to northern Chinese people (see History of the Song DynastyHistory of the Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty of China was a ruling dynasty that controlled China proper and southern China from the middle of the 10th century...
). This period also represents a high point in classical Chinese science and technology, with figures such as Su SongSu Song Summary

Su Sung was aChinese engineer. He invented a water-driven astronomical clock, one of the first uses of an escapement mechan...
 and Shen KuoShen Kuo

Shen Kuo or Shen Kua was a Chinese scientist, polymath, general, diplomat, and financial officer who was the inventor ...
, as well as the age where the matured form of the Chinese pagodaChinese pagoda

Chinese Pagodas are a traditional part of Chinese architecture, introduced from India along with Buddhism as protective stru...
 was accomplished in Chinese architectureChinese architecture

Chinese architecture refers to a style of architecture that has taken shape in Asia over the centuries....
.

In India, the Chola DynastyChola dynasty

The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India until the 13th century CE....
 reached its height of naval power under leaders such as Rajaraja Chola IRajaraja Chola I

Rajaraja Chola I was the king of the Chola dynasty, who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE....
 and Rajendra Chola IRajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I, the great Chola king of South India....
, dominating southern India, Sri LankaFacts About Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka , is a tropical island nation off the southeast c...
, and regions of South East Asia. They also sent raids into what is now modern-day ThailandFacts About Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia, bordering Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf of Thailand and Ma...
.

In Japan, the Fujiwara clan dominated central politics by acting as imperial regents, controlling the actions of the Emperor of JapanEmperor of Japan

According to the Japanese Constitution, the Emperor is a symbol of the Japanese nation and the unity of its people....
, who acted merely as a 'puppet monarchPuppet monarch Summary

Figurehead monarch, as source of legitimity and possibly divine reign, has been the used form of government in several situations ...
' during the Heian periodHeian period

The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185....
.

In the Middle East, the FatimidFacts About Fatimid

The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fatimiyyun is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Magh...
 Empire reached its zenith only to face steep decline, much like the Byzantine Empire in the first half of the century. The SeljukSeljuk

Seljuk was the bey of a branch of Oghuz Turks known as the Knk Seljuqs....
s came to prominence while the AbbasidAbbasid

Abbasid is the dynastic name generally given to the caliph of Baghdad, the second of the two great Sunni dynasties of the I...
 caliphs held traditional titles without real, tangible authority in state affairs.

In Korea, the rulers of the GoryeoGoryeo

The Goryeo Dynasty established in 918 ruled Korea from the fall of the Unified Silla in 935 until replaced by the Joseon dyn...
 Kingdom were able to concentrate more central authority into their own hands than in that of the nobles, and were able to fend off two KhitanKhitan

The Khitan, were an ethnic group which dominated much of Manchuria and was classified in Chinese history as one of the Easte...
 invasions with their armies.

Events


  • 1001-1008 - Japanese Lady Murasaki ShikibuMurasaki Shikibu

    [Image:Hyakuninisshu 057.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Murasaki Shikibu]]...
     writes the first novelNovel

    A novel is an extended, generally fictional narrative in prose....
    , The Tale of Genji
  • 1001 ± 40 years, Baitoushan volcano on what would be the Chinese-Korean border, erupts with a force of 6.5, the fourth largest HoloceneHolocene

    The Holocene epoch is a geological period that extends from the present day to back about 10,000 radiocarbon years, approxim...
     blast.
  • 1001, Mahmud of GhazniMahmud of Ghazni

    Mahmud of Ghazni, also known as Yamin ad-Dawlah Mahmud was the ruler of Ghazni from 997 until his death....
    , MuslimMuslim

    A Muslim is an adherent of Islam....
     leader of GhazniGhazni

    Ghazni is a city in eastern Afghanistan, situated on a plateau at 7280 feet above sea level....
    , begins a series of raids into Northern IndiaIndia Summary

    India , officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia....
    ; he finishes in 1027 with the destruction of SomnathSomnath

    style="font-size: larger;" |Somnath Temple...
    .
  • c. 1001, Vikings, led by Leif Eriksson, establish small settlements in and around VinlandVinland

    Vinland was the name given to a part of North America by the Icelandic norseman Leif Eirksson, about the year 1000....
     in North AmericaNorth America

    North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere....
  • 1003, Robert II of FranceRobert II of France Summary

    Robert II the Pious was King of France from 996 to 1031....
     invades the Duchy of BurgundyDuchy of Burgundy Overview

    The Duchy of Burgundy was a feudal territory once existing within the Kingdom of France....
    , then ruled by Otto-William, Duke of BurgundyOtto-William, Duke of Burgundy

    Otto William was a son of Adalbert, King of Italy, and Gerberga of Mcon....
    ; the initial invasion is unsuccessful, but Robert II eventually gained the acceptance of the Church in 1016 and annexed Burgundy into his realm.
  • 1004, the library and university Dar Al-HekmaFacts About Dar al-hekma

    Dar Al-Hekma is a private girl's college in Saudi Arabia....
     is founded in Egypt under the FatimidFatimid

    The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fatimiyyun is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Magh...
    s.
  • 1005, the Treaty of Shanyuan was signed between the ChineseChina

    China is a cultural region and ancient civilization in East Asia....
     Song DynastySong Dynasty

    The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279....
     and the KhitanFacts About Khitan

    The Khitan, were an ethnic group which dominated much of Manchuria and was classified in Chinese history as one of the Easte...
     Liao DynastyLiao Dynasty

    The Liao Dynasty , 907-1125, also known as the Khitan Empire, was an empire in northern China that ruled over the regi...
    .
  • 1008, the FatimidFatimid

    The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fatimiyyun is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Magh...
     Egyptian sea captain Domiyat travels to the Buddhist pilgrimage site in ShandongShandong

    Shandong is a coastal province of eastern People's Republic of China....
    , China, to seek out the Chinese Emperor Zhenzong of SongEmperor Zhenzong of Song

    Emperor Zhenzong was the third emperor of the Song Dynasty of China....
     with gifts from his ruling ImamImam

    Imam is an Arabic word meaning "Leader"....
     Al-Hakim bi-Amr AllahAl-Hakim bi-Amr Allah

    Tariqu l-?akim, called bi Amr al-Lah, was the sixth Fatimid Caliph in Egypt, ruling from 996 to 1021....
    , successfully reopening diplomatic relations between Egypt and China that had been lost since the collapse of the Tang DynastyTang Dynasty

    The Tang Dynasty followed the Sui Dynasty and preceded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China....
    .
  • 1009, Lý Thái T?Lý Thái T?

    L? Th?i T? ruled Vietnam as emperor for 19 years from 1009 to 1028 under the L? D?ynasty of which he was the founder. ...
     overthrew the Anterior Lę DynastyAnterior Lę Dynasty

    The Anterior L? Dynasty or Prior L? Dynasty was a dynasty that ruled Vietnam after the ?inh Dynasty and before the L? ...
     of Vietnam, establishing the Lý DynastyLý Dynasty

    The L? Dynasty sometimes known as the Posterior L? Dynasty was a Vietnamese dynasty that began in 1009 when L? Th?i ...
    .


  • 1009–1010, the Lombard known as Melus of BariMelus of Bari

    Melus was a Lombard nobleman from the Apulian town of Bari, whose ambition to carve for himself an autonomous territory from...
     led an insurrection against the Byzantine Catepan of ItalyCatapanate of Italy

    The Catapanate of Italy was a province of the Byzantine Empire, comprised of mainland Italy south of a line drawn from Monte...
    , John CurcuasJohn Curcuas (catepan)

    John Curcua or Curcuas was the Byzantine catepan of Italy from 1008 to his death....
    , as the latter was killed in battle and replaced by Basil MesardonitesBasil Mesardonites Overview

    Basil Argyros Mesardonites was the Catapan of Italy, representing the Byzantine Emperor there, from 1010 to 1016 or 1017....
    , who brought Byzantine reinforcements.
  • 1010, with the aid of scholars such as Song Zhun, Lu Duosun compiles a massive work of cartographyCartography

    Cartography or mapmaking is the study and practice of making maps or globes....
     in 1566 chapters, including the mapped topographyTopography

    Topography is a general term in geography, derived from the Greek "topos" and "graphein", and refers to the lie of the land,...
     of each provincial region in China down to the minute level of small towns and villages; this was an imperial compendium first issued by Emperor Taizu of SongEmperor Taizu of Song

    Emperor Taizu, born Zhao Kuangyin, was the founder of the Song Dynasty of China, reigning from 960 to 976....
     in 971 AD.
  • 1010–1011, the Second Goryeo-Khitan WarSecond Goryeo-Khitan War

    The Second Goryeo-Khitan War was an 11th-century conflict between the kingdom of Goryeo and Khitan forces near what is now t...
    ; the KoreaKorea

    KoreaOne of the world's oldest civilizations, Korea began with the founding of Gojoseon in 2333 BC, according to the Dangun...
    n king was forced to flee the capital temporarily, but unable to establish a foothold and fearing a counterattack, the KhitanKhitan

    The Khitan, were an ethnic group which dominated much of Manchuria and was classified in Chinese history as one of the Easte...
     forces withdrew.
  • 1011-1021, Ibn al-Haytham (Alhacen), a famous IraqIraq

    The Republic of Iraq, is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing most of Mesopotamia as well as the north...
    i scientistIslamic science

    Islamic science is science in the context of traditional religious ideas of Islam, including its ethics and philosophy....
     working in EgyptEgypt

    Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a Middle Eastern country in North Africa....
    , feigned madnessFeigned madness

    Feigned madness is acted madness, used in modern times to try to avoid punishment in a court of law, so called insanity defe...
     in fear of angering the Egyptian caliphCaliph

    Caliph is the title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam....
     Al-Hakim bi-Amr AllahAl-Hakim bi-Amr Allah

    Tariqu l-?akim, called bi Amr al-Lah, was the sixth Fatimid Caliph in Egypt, ruling from 996 to 1021....
    , and was kept under house arrestHouse arrest

    In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence....
     from 1011 to 1021. During this time, he wrote his influential Book of OpticsBook of Optics

    The Book of Optics was a seven volume treatise on optics, physics, mathematics, anatomy and psychology written by Iraqi...
    .
  • 1014, the ByzantineByzantine Empire

    Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the...
     armies of Basil IIBasil II

    Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer was Byzantine emperor from January 10, 976 to December 15, 1025....
     are victorious over Samuil of BulgariaSamuil of Bulgaria

    Samuil , also sometimes referred as Samuel or Samoil, was Tsar of Bulgaria between 997 and 1014 ....
     in the Battle of KleidionBattle of Kleidion

    The Battle of Kleidion key", or Belasitsa) took place on July 29, 1014 between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire....
    .
  • 1015, in the Battle of NesjarBattle of Nesjar Summary

    The Battle of Nesjar was a sea battle off the coast of Norway in 1016....
     in OslofjordOslofjord

    The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from Langesund in the south to Oslo at the head....
    , Norway, the forces of Olav Haraldsson fought the forces of Sveinn HákonarsonSveinn Hákonarson

    Sveinn H?konarson was an earl of the house of Hla?ir and co-ruler of Norway from 1000 to ca....
    , with a victory ofr Olav.
  • 1018, the First Bulgarian EmpireFirst Bulgarian Empire

    The First Bulgarian Empire was founded in 681 AD in the lands near the Danube delta and disintegrated in 1018 AD by annexion...
     is conquered by the Byzantine Empire
  • 1018, the Byzantine armies of Basil BoioannesBasil Boioannes

    Basil III, called Boioannes in Greek and Bugiano in Italian, was the Byzantine catepan of Italy and one of the g...
     are victorious at the Battle of CannaeBattle of Cannae (1018)

    The Battle of Cannae took place in between the Byzantines under the Catepan of Italy Basil Boioannes and the Lombards under ...
     against the LombardsLombards

    The Lombards , were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire....
     under Melus of BariMelus of Bari

    Melus was a Lombard nobleman from the Apulian town of Bari, whose ambition to carve for himself an autonomous territory from...
    .
  • 1018, the Third Goryeo-Khitan WarThird Goryeo-Khitan War

    The Third Goryeo-Khitan War was an 11th-century conflict between the kingdom of Goryeo and Khitan forces near what is now th...
    ; the KoreaKorea Summary

    KoreaOne of the world's oldest civilizations, Korea began with the founding of Gojoseon in 2333 BC, according to the Dangun...
    n General Gang Gam-chanGang Gam-chan

    Kang Kam-chan or Gang Gam-chan was a medieval Korean government official and military commander during the early days ...
     inflicted heavy losses to KhitanKhitan

    The Khitan, were an ethnic group which dominated much of Manchuria and was classified in Chinese history as one of the Easte...
     forces at the Battle of Kwiju. The Khitan withdrew and both sides signed a peace treaty.
  • 1014-1020 The Book of HealingThe Book of Healing

    The Book of Healing is a scientific encyclopedia written by the great Persian physician and philosopher Ibn Sina of Pers...
    , a vast philosophical and scientific encyclopaedia, is written by AvicennaAvicenna

    Ibn Sina or Avicenna was a Persian physician, philosopher, and scientist who was born in 980 as the author of 450 bo...
    , PersianFacts About Persian people

    The Persians are an Iranian people who speak the Persian language and share a common culture and history....
     MuslimMuslim

    A Muslim is an adherent of Islam....
     scholar.


  • 1020s1020s

    Centuries: 10th century - 11th century - 12th century...
    , The Canon of MedicineThe Canon of Medicine

    External links **...
    , a medical encyclopedia, is written by AvicennaAvicenna

    Ibn Sina or Avicenna was a Persian physician, philosopher, and scientist who was born in 980 as the author of 450 bo...
    , PersianPersian people

    The Persians are an Iranian people who speak the Persian language and share a common culture and history....
     MuslimMuslim

    A Muslim is an adherent of Islam....
     scholar.
  • 1021, the ruling FatimidFatimid

    The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fatimiyyun is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Magh...
     Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr AllahAl-Hakim bi-Amr Allah

    Tariqu l-?akim, called bi Amr al-Lah, was the sixth Fatimid Caliph in Egypt, ruling from 996 to 1021....
     disappears suddenly, possibly assassinated by his own sister Sitt al-MulkSitt al-Mulk

    Sitt al-Mulk, Ruler of the Fatimids, was the elder sister of Al-Hakim....
    , which leads to the open persecution of the DruzeDruze Summary

    The Druze are a distinct religious community based mostly in the Middle East who are an offshoot of Islam and influenced by...
     by IsmailiIsmaili

    The Isma?ili branch of Islam is part of Shi?a community after the Twelvers....
     Shia; the Druze proclaimed that Al-Hakim went into hiding (ghayba), whereupon he would return as the MahdiMahdi Summary

    The Mahdi, in Islamic eschatology, is the prophesied redeemer of Islam, who will change the world into a perfect Islamic soc...
     savior.
  • 1025, the Chola DynastyChola dynasty

    The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India until the 13th century CE....
     of India uses its naval powers to conquer the South East Asian kingdom of SrivijayaFacts About Srivijaya

    Srivijaya, Sriwijaya, Shri Bhoja, Sri Boja or Shri Vijaya was an ancient Malay kingdom on the island of Sumatra which influe...
    , turning it into a vassalVassal Overview

    A vassal or liege, in the terminology that both preceded and accompanied the feudalism of medieval Europe, is one who en...
    .
  • 1025, ruler Rajendra Chola IRajendra Chola I Summary

    Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I, the great Chola king of South India....
     moves the capital city of the empire from ThanjavurThanjavur

    Thanjavur, also known by its anglicised name Tanjore, is a city in Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India....
     to Gangaikonda CholapuramGangaikonda Cholapuram

    Gangaikonda Cholapuram was erected as the capital of the Cholas by Rajendra Chola I, the son and successor of Rajaraja Chola...
  • 1028, the King of SrivijayaSrivijaya

    Srivijaya, Sriwijaya, Shri Bhoja, Sri Boja or Shri Vijaya was an ancient Malay kingdom on the island of Sumatra which influe...
     appeals to the Song DynastySong Dynasty

    The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279....
     Chinese, sending a diplomatic mission to their capital at KaifengKaifeng

    Kaifeng, formerly known as Bianliang, is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province, People's Republic of China...
    .
  • 1030, the Battle of StiklestadBattle of Stiklestad

    The Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 is one of the most famous battles in the history of Norway....
    : Olav Haraldsson loses to his pagan vassals and is killed in the battle. He is later canonized and becomes the patron saint of Norway and Rex perpetuum Norvegiae ('the eternal king of Norway').
  • 1035, Raoul Glaber chronicles a devastating three year famine induced by climatic changes in southern France
  • 1035, Canute the GreatCanute the Great

    Canute I, or Canute the Great was a Danish king of England, Denmark and Norway and governor or overlord of Sc...
     dies, and his kingdom of present-day Norway, England, and Denmark was split amongst three rivals to his throne.
  • 1035, William Iron ArmWilliam Iron Arm

    William Iron Arm'Guillaume Bras-de-fer in French, Guglielmo Braccio di Ferro in Italian and Gugghiermu Vrazzu ...
     ventures to the MezzogiornoMezzogiorno

    Southern Italy, often referred to as the Mezzogiorno, encompasses at least four of the country's 20 regions: Basilicat...
  • 1037, Ferdinand I of LeónFerdinand I of León

    Ferdinand I, called the Great, was the king of Castile from his father's death in 1035 and the king of Len—throu...
     conquered the Kingdom of Galicia.
  • 1040, Duncan I of Scotland slain in battle. MacbethFacts About Macbeth of Scotland

    Mac Bethad mac Findlich, known in English as Macbeth c....
     succeeds him.


  • 1041, Samuel Aba became King of Hungary.
  • 1042, the Normans establish MelfiMelfi

    Melfi is a town and comune in the Vulture area of the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata....
     as the capital of southern Italy.
  • 1042, BhojaBhoja

    Bhoj was a great philosopher king and polymath of medieval India....
    , the Indian ruler, philosopher, and polymath of MalwaMalwa (Madhya Pradesh)

    Malwa is a region in western India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin in the western part of Madhya Pradesh state....
    , completes the reconstruction of the temple of SomnathSomnath

    style="font-size: larger;" |Somnath Temple...
     after its destruction by Mahmud of GhazniMahmud of Ghazni

    Mahmud of Ghazni, also known as Yamin ad-Dawlah Mahmud was the ruler of Ghazni from 997 until his death....
    .
  • 1041–1048, Chinese artisan Bi ShengBi Sheng

    P Sheng was the inventor of movable type printing in between 1041 to 1048 in China....
     invents ceramic movable typeMovable Type

    Movable Type is a widely-used proprietary weblog publishing system developed by California-based Six Apart....
     printing
  • 1043, the Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire

    Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the...
     and Kievan Rus engage in a naval confrontationRus'-Byzantine War (1043)

    The final Rus'-Byzantine War was, in essence, an unsuccessful naval raid against Constantinople instigated by Yaroslav I of ...
    , although a later treaty is signed between two parties that included the marriage alliance of Vsevolod I of KievVsevolod I of Kiev

    Vsevolod I Yaroslavich ruled as Grand Prince of Kiev from 1076 until his death....
     to a princess daughter of Constantine IX MonomachosConstantine IX Monomachos

    Constantine IX Monomachos, c. 1000 - January 11, 1055, reigned as Byzantine emperor from June 11, 1042 to January 11, 1055....
    .
  • 1043, the Byzantine General George ManiacesGeorge Maniaces

    George Maniakes was a general in the Byzantine Empire during the 11th century....
    , who had served in SicilySicily

    Sicily is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,700 km and 5 mi...
     back in 1038, was proclaimed emperor by his troops while he was catepan of Italy; he led an unsuccessful rebellion against Constantine IX MonomachosConstantine IX Monomachos

    Constantine IX Monomachos, c. 1000 - January 11, 1055, reigned as Byzantine emperor from June 11, 1042 to January 11, 1055....
     and was killed in battle in MacedoniaMacedonia Overview

    Macedonia may refer to:* Macedonia, a historical region in the Balkan peninsula, not officially defined by any internation...
     during his march towards ConstantinopleConstantinople

    Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and following its fall in 1453, of the Ottoman Empire until 1930, wh...
    .
  • 1043, the Song Dynasty Chancellor of ChinaChancellor of China

    Chancellor of China ?? or ??, was the highest rank in the imperial government in former China after the emperor....
    , Fan ZhongyanFan Zhongyan

    Fan Zhongyan, born in Wuxian ??, Suzhou, was a prominent politician and literary figure in Song dynasty China....
    , and prominent official and historian Ouyang XiuOuyang Xiu Summary

    Ouyang Xiu, courtesy name is Yongshu, also self nicknamed and The Old Dunkard ??, or The Retired Scholar of the One...
     introduce the Qingli ReformsQingli Reforms Overview

    The Qingli Reforms also called Minor Reforms, took place in China?s Song Dynasty under the leadership of Fan Zhongyan and Ou...
    , which would be rescinded by the court in 1045 due to partisan resistance to reforms.
  • 1044, the Chinese Wujing ZongyaoWujing Zongyao

    The Wujing Zongyao was a Chinese military compendium written in 1044 AD, during the Northern Song Dynasty....
    , written by Zeng Gongliang and Yang Weide, is the first book to describe gunpowderGunpowder

    Gunpowder, whether black powder or smokeless powder, is a substance that burns very rapidly, releasing gases tha...
     formulas; it also described their use in warfare, such as blackpowderHistory of gunpowder Overview

    Gunpowder was the first and only known chemical explosive until the invention of others?nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, smoke...
    -impregnated fusesFuse (explosives)

    In an explosive or pyrotechnic device, a fuse is the part of the device that initiates function....
     for flamethrowerFlamethrower Overview

    A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long, controllable stream of fire, hence the metaphor "to throw ...
    s. It also described an early form of the compassCompass

    A compass is a navigational instrument for finding directions on the earth....
    , a thermoremanence compass.
  • 1044, Henry IIIHenry III, Holy Roman Emperor

    Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors....
     of the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire

    The Holy Roman Empire was a mainly Central European conglomeration of lands in the Middle Ages and the early modern period, ...
     defeats the Kingdom of HungaryKingdom of Hungary

    The Kingdom of Hungary is the name of a kingdom that existed in Central Europe from 1000 to 1918....
     in the Battle of MénfoBattle of Ménfo

    The Battle of M?nfo was an important battle in the early history of the Kingdom of Hungary....
    ; Peter UrseoloPeter Urseolo of Hungary

    Peter Urseolo was the second king of Hungary who reigned from 1038 till 1041 and again from 1044 till 1046 following a brief...
     captured Samuel AbaSamuel Aba of Hungary

    Samuel Aba was the third king of Hungary....
     after the battle, executing him, and restoring his claim to the throne; the Kingdom of Hungary then briefly becomes a vassal to the Holy Roman Empire.
  • 1045, the ZiridZirid Overview

    The Zirids were a Berber dynasty, originating in Petite Kabylie among the Kutama tribe, that ruled Ifriqiya, initially on be...
    s, a BerberBerber

    Berber may refer to:*a member of the Berber people...
     dynasty of North AfricaNorth Africa

    North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent....
    , break their allegiance with the FatimidFatimid

    The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fatimiyyun is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Magh...
     court of EgyptEgypt

    Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a Middle Eastern country in North Africa....
     and recognize the AbbasidAbbasid

    Abbasid is the dynastic name generally given to the caliph of Baghdad, the second of the two great Sunni dynasties of the I...
    s of BaghdadBaghdad

    Baghdad is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate....
     as the true caliphFacts About Caliph

    Caliph is the title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam....
    s.
  • 1052, Fujiwara no YorimichiFujiwara no Yorimichi

    ', son of Fujiwara no Michinaga, succeeded his father to the position of Sessho in 1017, and then went on to become Kampaku f...
     converts the rural villa at Byodo-inByodo-in

    Built in 998 in the Heian period, Byodo-in is a temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto Prefecture in Japan....
     into a famous Japanese Buddhist temple.
  • 1053, the Norman commander Humphrey of HautevilleHumphrey of Hauteville Overview

    Humphrey of Hauteville, called Onfroi de Hauteville in French and Umfredo d'Altavilla in Italian, succeeded his ...
     is victorious in the Battle of CivitateBattle of Civitate

    The Battle of Civitate was fought on 18 June 1053 in Southern Italy, between the Normans, led by the Count of Apulia Humphre...
     against the LombardLombard

    Lombard can refer to many things:...
    s and the papal coalition led by Rudolf of BeneventoRudolf of Benevento

    Rudolf was the papal rector of the Duchy of Benevento under Pope Leo IX from 1053 to 1054....
    ; Pope Leo IXPope Leo IX

    Pope Leo IX , born Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg, was Pope from February 12, 1049 to his death. ...
     himself is captured by the Normans.
  • 1054, the Great SchismEast-West Schism

    The East-West Schism, known also as the Great Schism, was the event that divided Chalcedonian Christianity into Wester...
    , in which the Western and Eastern Orthodox churches separated from each other. Similar schisms in the past had been later repaired, but this one continues after nearly 1000 years.
  • 1054, a large supernovaSupernova

    A supernova is a stellar explosion which produces an extremely bright object made of plasma that declines to invisibility ...
     is observed by astronomers, the remnants of which would form the Crab NebulaCrab Nebula Summary

    The Crab Nebula  is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus....
    .
  • 1054, the Battle of AtapuercaBattle of Atapuerca

    The Battle of Atapuerca was fought in 1 September 1054 at the site of Piedrahita in the valley of Atapuerca between brothers...
     is fought between García V of NavarreGarcía V of Navarre

    Garc?a S?nchez III, sometimes Garc?a III, IV, V, or VI was king of Navarre from 1035 to 1054....
     and Ferdinand I of LeónFerdinand I of León

    Ferdinand I, called the Great, was the king of Castile from his father's death in 1035 and the king of Len—throu...
  • 1055, the Seljuk Turks capture BaghdadBaghdad

    Baghdad is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate....
    , taking the Buyid EmirEmir

    Emir is a high title of nobility or office, historically used in Islamic nations of the Middle East, North Africa, Asia Mino...
     Al-Malik al-RahimAl-Malik al-Rahim

    Abu Nasr Khusrau Firuz was the Buyid amir of Iraq....
     prisoner.
  • 1056, Ferdinand I of LeónFerdinand I of León

    Ferdinand I, called the Great, was the king of Castile from his father's death in 1035 and the king of Len&m