[851-900] Review

In China, the late 9th century was a dark chapter for the . Once the most powerful empire in the world, it was crippled by the Huang Chao Rebellion (874–884). The rebellion devastated the capital cities of Chang'an and Luoyang and effectively stripped the emperors of their power. By 900, China was ruled by regional warlords, setting the stage for the formal collapse of the dynasty in 907 and the subsequent "Five Dynades and Ten Kingdoms" period. 5. The Byzantine Resurgence

The period between represents a pivotal era in the Early Middle Ages, characterized by the fragmentation of great empires and the rise of decentralized regional powers. During these five decades, the world transitioned from the era of massive imperial consolidation (like that of Charlemagne or the early Abbasids) into a more volatile, competitive landscape of smaller kingdoms and emerging cultural identities. 1. The Fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire [851-900]

Contrasting the decline of other empires, the Byzantine Empire began a significant recovery under the , founded by Basil I in 867. This era marked a "Byzantine Renaissance," characterized by military reconquests in Southern Italy and the Balkans, as well as a flourishing of Orthodox Christian art and literature. The conversion of the Bulgarians and the mission of Cyril and Methodius to the Slavs during this window expanded Byzantine cultural influence across Eastern Europe. Conclusion In China, the late 9th century was a dark chapter for the

In the East, the entered a period of internal instability known as the "Anarchy at Samarra" (861–870). As the central authority of the Caliph weakened, military commanders (often of Turkic origin) exerted greater control. This led to the rise of autonomous dynasties like the Samanids in Central Asia and the Tulunids in Egypt. Despite political fragmentation, this remained a "Golden Age" for science and philosophy, as scholars in Baghdad and beyond continued to translate and expand upon Greek and Persian knowledge. 4. East Asia: The Fall of the Tang Dynasty By 900, China was ruled by regional warlords,

This period was the height of the Viking Age. In the British Isles, the "Great Heathen Army" landed in the 860s, systematically toppling the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria. However, the tide turned under of Wessex. Following his victory at the Battle of Edington in 878, Alfred secured the Treaty of Wedmore, which established the "Danelaw" but preserved a sovereign English state. His reforms in education, law, and military defense (the burgh system) made him the "architect of England." 3. The Islamic World: The Abbasid Decline

The years 851–900 were a time of "reordering." While the great centralized states of the early medieval period—the Carolingians, the Abbasids, and the Tang—began to fail, the seeds of new nations were planted. Whether through Alfred’s defense of Wessex, the Byzantine cultural expansion, or the Samanid patronage of Persian culture, this half-century defined the political and religious boundaries that would shape the next millennium of history.

In Europe, the late 9th century saw the steady decline of the Carolingian dynasty. Following the Treaty of Verdun (843), the empire was split, but by the 880s, the failure of to unify the Frankish realms against external threats led to a permanent fracturing. This vacuum allowed local lords to gain power, laying the groundwork for the feudal system . From this chaos, the distinct foundations of modern France and Germany began to emerge, while the Kingdom of Italy remained a contested prize for various claimants. 2. The Viking Age and the Rise of Wessex