42 | Viking Explorer Society News 42 | Viking Explorer Society News
476 AD
Fall of the Roman Empire: The
collapse of the Western Roman
Empire marked the end of ancient
Rome and the beginning of the
Middle Ages in Europe.
1054 AD
The Great Schism: The
division between the Roman
Catholic Church and the
Eastern Orthodox Church had
profound religious, cultural,
and political implications for
Europe.
1215 AD
The Magna Carta:
This charter, signed by
King John of England,
limited the power of
the monarchy and laid
the groundwork for
modern democracy and
constitutional law.
732 AD
The Battle of Tours:
Charles Martel's
victory over Muslim
invaders halted the
advance of Islam
into Western Europe
and preserved
Christianity as the
dominant faith.
1066 AD
The Norman Conquest:
William the Conqueror's
victory at the Battle of
Hastings changed the course
of English history and had
lasting impacts on language,
culture, and governance.
T H E TO P 10 H I S TO R I C A L M O M E N TS
T H AT S H A PE D E U RO PE
One of the main drawcards of a European sojourn is that the continent is steeped with ancient
history that still has impact on our lives today. e birthplace of Western Civilisation, European
history has significantly shaped our modern world in terms of culture, politics, economics and
social structures. Here we list ten of the most significant periods in European history, and how the
land has shifted and changed over the centuries.
The Roman Empire
