Burt Westermeier Presents…

A Super Sweet Totally Awesome

Timeline of Epic Proportions

Spanning nearly 1000 years, from

600 CE to 1450 CE…

In the Postclassical Period,

History Was Made.

Empires Rose and Fell.

Legends were Made.

Millions Perished.

New Ideas and Technologies

Changed the World.

It’s All Here In…

THE FINAL

COUNTDOWN!!!

#10: Ashikaga Shogunate

Formed (1336)

The formation of the Ashikaga Shogunate firmly established feudalism in Japan, eliminating the last vestiges of centralized government. This marked the beginning of a distinct Japanese political environment as distinct from China.

#9: Babylonian Captivity

(1309-1378)

Creating strong divisions and doubt within the Roman Catholic Church, the temporary dislocation of the papacy to France marked the beginning of the end of spiritual dominance in Western Europe, ushering in early nationalism and rule by secular monarchs.

#8: Hundred Years’ War

(1337-1453)

Another major factor in the rise of Western European nation-states; saw the use of the longbow en masse, signaling the end for the mounted knight and thus, feudalism.

#7: Battle of Tours

(October 10, 732)

Under Charles “the Hammer” Martel, the Franks keep the Muslims out of Western Europe.

#6: Mongols conquer

Russia (1236-1240)

The defining moment in pre-industrial Russian history; Russia is cut off from Western Europe for the next several centuries.

#5:Invention of block

printing (c. 1050)

A true communications revolution; a Chinese invention, but does not come to full fruition until the publication of Gutenberg Bible centuries later in W. Europe.

#4: Turks Seize

Constantinople (1453)

While technically this event is on the border of the postclassical and early modern periods, I place it here because it marks the final demise of the Byzantine Empire, the last remaining vestige of classical civilization.

#3:Invention of

Gunpowder (c. 1100)

A development in China that helped bring about the end of the postclassical period. Along with new sailing techniques and steel, gunpowder was a characteristic item of the early modern era.

#2:Muhammad Enters

Mecca in Triumph (630)

Having defeated his foes, Muhammad inaugurated the spread of the first global civilization, and a global religion, Islam.

#1: The Black Death

The Black Death affected countless millions of people across the Eurasian subcontinent causing drastic political, economic, and cultural changes.