istoryworld
All Events
St Benedict founds a monastery at Monte Cassino and writes a Rule for the monks which becomes the basis of the Benedictine order
Theodora shows her mettle, as empress, in her response to the anarchy and terror unleashed in Constantinople by the Nika revolt
The Byzantine general Belisarius recovers Carthage from the Vandals
The codification of Roman law, ordered by Justinian, is completed
Belisarius, conquering the Vandals in north Africa, pioneers the strategic concept of the castle
Belisarius lands in Sicily at the start of a five-year campaign to recover Ravenna for the Byzantine emperor
The great domed church of Santa Sophia, rebuilt on the orders of Justinian, is completed after only five years of construction
The vast dome of Santa Sophia in Constantinople is supported on a square of four arches, making the most sophisticated use so far of the pendentive
A Buddhist image, sent as a gift from Korea, introduces the religion to Japan
Khosrau I builds himself a superb new palace, of which the great vaulted Taq-e Kisra remains today at Ctesiphon
Khosrau I commissions a spectacular Spring Carpet for the floor of his hall of audience in Ctesiphon
Christianity reaches the kingdom of Dongola, in present-day Sudan
Justinian and Theodora, each with a retinue of attendants, face each other in mosaic from the walls of San Vitale in Ravenna
Caves along the Silk Road are decorated with a profusion of carvings in the traditions of Mahayana Buddhism
Chess is first played at about this time, in India, before spreading west to Persia
Most of Spain is by now in the hands of the Visigoths, though for a while the Byzantines win back territories in the south
If there is any historical basis for the legendary King Arthur, it is as a Celtic chieftain resisting the Anglo-Saxons in the sixth century
St Columba establishes a monastery on the island of Iona, from which Celtic Christianity is carried to Scotland and northern England
The Lombards invade northern Italy, and within four years occupy it as far south as the Po
Fugitives from the Lombard invasion of northern Italy take refuge on islands in the Venetian lagoon - and become the founders of Venice
St David founds monasteries in Wales and makes his base at Mynyw, a place now known after him as St David's
Byzantine Italy is brought under a new administration, or exarchate, based in Ravenna
The word filioque ('and from the Son') becomes a major bone of contention between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches
