What happened in the 5th century

AD 401–500

51 events　World 4, North America 1, Europe 24, Asia 15, Middle East 2, Latin America 3, Africa 2

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Highlights of the 5th century

World4

  • The Hopewell tradition comes to an end in North America.
  • Heavy plow in use in Slavic lands
  • AD 453Death of Attila. The Hunnic Empire is divided between Attila's sons.
  • AD 469Death of Dengizich, last Khan of the Hunnic Empire.

North America1

  • AD 450Historical linguist Albert C. Baugh dates Old English from around this year.

Europe24

  • AD 407Constantine III leads many of the Roman military units from Britain to Gaul and occupies Arles (Arelate). This is generally seen as Rome's withdrawal from Britain.
  • AD 410Rome ransacked by the Visigoths led by King Alaric.
  • AD 411Suebi establish the first independent Christian kingdom of Western Europe in Gallaecia.
  • Early 5th century: Baptistry of Neon, Ravenna, Italy, is built.
  • AD 451The Huns under Attila facing the Romans and the Visigoths are defeated in the Battle of Chalons.
  • At some point after 440, the Anglo-Saxons settle in Britain. The traditional story is that they were invited there by Vortigern.
  • AD 452Pope Leo I meets in person with Attila on the Mincio River and convinces him not to ransack Rome.
  • AD 454Battle of Nedao. Germanic tribes destroy the main Hunnic army and do away with Hunnic domination.
  • AD 455Vandals sack Rome.
  • AD 476Deposition of Romulus Augustulus by Odoacer: traditional date for the Fall of Rome in the West.
  • AD 480Assassination of Julius Nepos, the last de jure Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, in Dalmatia.
  • AD 481Clovis I becomes King of the Western Franks upon the death of Childeric I.
  • AD 482Territory of modern Ukraine is established in Kiev.
  • AD 486Clovis defeats Syagrius and conquers the last free remnants of the Western Roman Empire.
  • AD 496Battle of Tolbiac. King Clovis subjugates the Alamanni, and is baptized Christian with a large number of Franks by Remigius, bishop of Reims.

9 more in the app

Asia15

  • AD 401Kumarajiva, a Buddhist monk and translator of sutras into Chinese, arrives in Chang'an.
  • AD 405Mesrop Mashtots introduces number 36 of the 38 letters of the newly created Armenian Alphabet.
  • AD 415Kumaragupta, Gupta emperor.
  • AD 420The Jin dynasty comes to an end by Liu Yu.
  • AD 420Northern and Southern dynasties in China.
  • AD 431First Council of Ephesus, the third ecumenical council which upholds the title Theotokos or "mother of God", for Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
  • AD 450Several stone inscriptions are made witness to edicts from West Java. Amongst others, the Tugu inscription announces decrees of Purnavarman, the King of Tarumanagara, one of the earliest Hindu kingdoms of Java. (up until the year 669)
  • Armenian alphabet created by Mesrob Mashtots c. 405
  • Buddhism reaches Burma and Indonesia.
  • African and Indonesian settlers reach Madagascar.
  • Horse collar invented in China
  • Chaturang, the precursor of chess, originated in India
  • Charkha (spinning wheel) originated in India
  • The first use of Zero found in Bakhshali manuscript in India
  • AD 455Skandagupta, the last great Gupta emperor.

Middle East2

  • AD 451Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council which taught of Jesus Christ as one divine person in two natures.
  • AD 451The Persians declare war on the Armenians.

Latin America3

  • AD 426K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo' reestablishes Copan.
  • AD 430The Ilopango volcano erupts, devastating the Mayan cities in present-day El Salvador.
  • AD 455The city of Chichen Itza is founded in Mexico.

Africa2

  • AD 413St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, begins to write The City of God.
  • AD 439Vandals conquer Carthage.