Ten Important Dates in Western History

At the beginning of the summer, I compiled a list of what I considered were important dates in Western history. I limited the list to ten, but I could have easily doubled it. There are other important events that I did not list. In high school, my world history teacher told us there were three dates in Western history that we should always remember: the death of Jesus, the Fall of Rome and the Fall of Constantinople. 

1. 3. April 33, the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. 

2. 325, the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed.

3. 31. October 1517, Luther nails the 95 Theses inaugurating the Reformation. 

4. 4. September 476, the fall of Rome.

5. 29. May 1453, the fall of Constantinople. 

6. 25. December 800 Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman emperor. He became king of the Franks on 9. October 768 and king of the Lombards on 10. July 774.  

7. 4. July 1776, the Declaration of Independence. 

8. 9. November 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

9. 20. January 1981, Ronald Reagan is inaugurated president. 

10. 1000, Leif Ericson establishes a colony at Vinland, Newfoundland.