10th century - Definition and Overview

(9th century - 10th century - 11th century - other centuries)

As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000.

Events

• The beginning of the Medieval Warm Period
• Viking groups settle in northern France - Norse become Normans
• Foundation of Cluny, first federated monastic order
• Khazar kingdom is attacked and defeated by Kievan Rus (965)
• Collapse of the central lowland Maya civilization. End of Classic Maya period, begin Post-Classic Maya.
• Rise of the Toltecs in Mexico.
• Collapse of Great Moravia
• Buddhist temple construction commences at Pagan, Myanmar
• Laguna Copperplate Inscription, Kavi script, inscribed in Luzon, Philippines, dated Saka year 822 (AD 900).
• The medieval Croatian state becomes a unified kingdom under Tomislav
• Belgian astronomer Jean Meeus asserts that the orbits of all nine planets were within the same 90% arc of the solar system on 1 February, 949. The next time it is thought this will occur is on 6 May, 2492.
• Coastal cities on the Malay peninsula are the seed for the first recorded Malay kingdoms.
• The Fatimid dynasty arises in eastern Algeria.
• Swedish influence extends to the Black Sea.

Significant people

• Topiltzin Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl, semi-legendaric Toltec ruler, (exact years of his life are unknown).
• Nicephorus II, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (lived 912 - 969, reigned 963 - 969).
• Otto I the Great, Holy Roman Emperor (lived 912 - 973, reigned 936 - 973).
• King Edmund I of England (lived 921 - 946, reigned 939 - 946).
• John I Tzimisces, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (lived 925 - 976, reigned 969 - 976).
• Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor (lived 955 - 983, reigned 973 - 983).
• Theophanu, wife of Otto II, mother and Regent of Otto III, (lived 956 - 991, reigned 983-991).
• Tsar Samuil of Bulgaria (lived 958 - 1014, reigned 976 - 1014).
• Vladimir I, Prince of Kievan Rus (lived 958 - 1015).
• Basil II, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, (lived 958 - 1025, reigned 976 - 1025).
• Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor (lived 980 - 1002, reigned 983 - 1002).

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

• Hop (plant) first mentioned in connection with beer brewing

Decades and years