10th century

Background Information

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Eastern Hemisphere at the beginning of the 10th century

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	9th century 10th century 11th century
Decades:	900s 910s 920s 930s 940s 950s 960s 970s 980s 990s
Categories:	Births – Deaths Establishments – Disestablishments

The 10th century is the period from 901 to 1000 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Common Era.

The 10th century is usually regarded as a low point in European history. In China it was also a period of political upheaval. In the Muslim World, however, it was a cultural zenith, especially in Spain under the Caliphate of Córdoba. Additionally, the 10th century was the zenith for the Byzantine and Bulgarian Empires.

Medievalist and historian of technology Lynn White said that "to the modern eye, it is very nearly the darkest of the Dark Ages", but concluded that ". . . if it was dark, it was the darkness of the womb." Similarly, Helen Waddell wrote that the 10th century was that which "in the textbooks disputes with the seventh the bad eminence, the nadir of the human intellect." Even in the 15th century, Lorenzo Valla described it as the Century of Lead and Iron and later Cardinal Baronius as the Leaden Century or Iron Century.

Events

This statue of a yogini goddess was created in Kaveripakkam in Tamil Nadu, India, during the 10th century.

The beginning of the Medieval Warm Period
The Byzantine empire reaches the height of its military and economic strength

Africa

c. 909: The Fatimid Caliphate arises in eastern Algeria.
c. 948: The Nri Kingdom in what is now Southeastern Nigeria starts.
c. 980: Al-Azhar University is established in Cairo by the Fatimid dynasty.
The Christian Nubian kingdom reaches its peak of prosperity and military power ( Early history of Sudan)

Americas

Collapse of the central lowland Maya civilization. End of Classic Maya period, begin Post-Classic Maya.
Rise of the Toltecs in Mexico
Golden age of the Ancestral Puebloans ( Pueblo II Era)
The Mississippian culture begins in present day Southern United States

Eurasia

Khazar kingdom is attacked and defeated by Kievan Rus ( 965)

Asia

Divided China, 923

Buddhist temple construction commences at Bagan, Burma
In 919, the first use of gunpowder in battle occurred with the Chinese Battle of Lang-shan Jiang (Wolf Mountain River), where the naval fleet of the Wen-Mu-King defeated Chien Yuan Kuan because Wen had used 'fire oil' (huo yóu, 火油) of gunpowder- fuse ignited flamethrowers to burn Chien's fleet.
In 910, Parantaka I of the Chola Dynasty drove out the Pandyan from southern India into Lanka (now Sri Lanka), which he also eventually conquered.
In 928, Ziyarid dynasty was established in northern Iran.
In 930s, Persian Shia Buyid dynasty established and controlled central and western part of Iran as well as most of Iraq.
In 936, Goryeo Dynasty unified Later Three Kingdoms of Korea.
In 975, Ghaznavids dynasty, as the first Turk Sultanate, was established in Central Asia.
Coastal cities on the Malay Peninsula are the seed for the first recorded Malay kingdoms
993: the Arab maritime captain Abu Himyarite from Yemen traveled to Guangzhou port, China.
Seljuks convert to Islam.
In 999, Samanid dynasty was defeated and conquered by Ghaznavids.

Europe

The Bulgarian victory at Anchialos.

Painting of Mieszko I of Poland (by Jan Matejko).

Viking groups settle in northern France
The Norse become Normans
Foundation of Cluny, first federated monastic order
In 917 the Bulgarians destroyed the Byzantine army in the Battle of Anchialus, one of the bloodiest battles in the Middle Ages
927: official recognition of the first independent national Church in Europe, the Bulgarian Patriarchate
Incursions of Magyar (Hungarian) cavalry throughout Western Europe (47 expeditions in Germany, Italy and France, 899– 970)
Mieszko I, first duke of Poland, baptised a Christian in 966
Collapse of Great Moravia
The medieval Croatian state becomes a unified kingdom under Tomislav
Swedish influence extends to the Black Sea
Vladimir I, Prince of Kievan Rus, baptised a Christian in 988
Reindeer and Bears become extinct in Britain
Lions become extinct in Europe by this date, with the last dying in Caucasus.
Second half of the 10th century – Page with David the Psalmist, from the Paris Psalter, is made. It is now kept at Bibliothéque Nationale, Paris.
Late 10th or early 11th century – Archangel Michail, icon, is made. It is now kept at Treasury of the Cathedral of Saint Mark, Venice.

Oceania

Formation of the Tu'i Tonga Empire and of the Tuʻi Tonga dynasty in Tonga

Significant people

Half-section of the Night Revels of Han Xizai, by Chinese artist Gu Hongzhong, 10th century. A woman is seen entertaining guests with a pipa on the right-hand side.