11thcentury

The 11th century, spanning 1001 to 1100 CE, was a period of marked political change, religious reform, and rising cross‑cultural contact that helped shape the medieval world. It saw the consolidation of states, the growth of trade networks, and competing religious and intellectual currents across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

In Europe, the Norman conquest of England in 1066 established a new ruling dynasty and led to the Domesday Book survey in 1086. The century was also shaped by ongoing church reform and the investiture controversy over lay authority in spiritual matters. The Byzantine Empire faced military pressure from Turkish polities, notably at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. In 1095, the First Crusade was proclaimed, and by 1099 crusaders had captured Jerusalem, establishing Crusader states in the Levant.

In Asia, the Song dynasty in China pursued administrative, economic, and technological developments, including the early use of paper money. Central and Inner Asia saw the rise of Turkic dynasties, which restructured regional power. Intellectual activity flourished across the Islamic world, with scholars contributing to astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy, while political centers in the Middle East and Persia influenced culture and learning.

In Africa, trans-Saharan trade and the spread of Islam linked West and North Africa, supporting economic and cultural exchange. In the Americas, Mesoamerican and other indigenous cultures continued to develop complex societies, although their histories were less integrated with Eurasian events of the century.

Overall, the 11th century established enduring political patterns, religious divisions, and cultural exchanges that shaped later medieval history.