5th century

{{Short description|One hundred years, from 401 to 500}}
{{Centurybox|5}}The '''5th century''' is the time period from AD 401 (represented by the [[Roman numerals]] CDI) through AD 500 (D) in accordance with the [[Julian calendar]]. The 5th century is noted for being a period of migration and political instability throughout [[Eurasia]]. 

It saw the [[Fall of the Western Roman Empire|collapse of the Western Roman Empire]], which came to an end in 476 AD. This empire had been ruled by a succession of weak [[emperor]]s, with the real political might being increasingly concentrated among military leaders. Internal instability allowed a [[Visigoth]] army to reach and [[Sack of Rome (410)|ransack Rome]] in [[410]]. Some recovery took place during the following decades, but the Western Empire received another serious blow when a second foreign group, the [[Vandals]], occupied [[Carthage]], capital of an extremely important province in [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]]. Attempts to retake the province were interrupted by the invasion of the [[Huns]] under [[Attila]]. After Attila's defeat, both Eastern and Western empires joined forces for a final assault on Vandal North Africa, but this campaign was a spectacular failure.

In [[China]], the period of the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]] continued. This was characterized by the formation and collapse of small sub-kingdoms, ruled by warring ethnic groups. After the fall of the [[Former Qin]] towards the end of the previous century, the north of China was once again reunited by [[Northern Wei]] in 439. Meanwhile, in the [[Jin dynasty (265–420)|Eastern Jin dynasty]], the Jin statesman and general [[Emperor Wu of Liu Song|Liu Yu]] consolidated his power and forced the last Emperor of the Jin dynasty, [[Emperor Gong of Jin]], to abdicate to him in 420. This created the [[Liu Song dynasty|(Liu) Song dynasty]], which was also the starting point of the period known as the [[Northern and Southern dynasties]].

Towards the end of the 5th century, the [[Gupta Empire]] of [[India]] was invaded from [[Central Asia]] and occupied by elements of the [[Huna people]]s. These peoples may have been related to the Huns who devastated Rome during the same period.

==Events==
[[File:East-Hem 500ad.jpg|thumb|300px|Eastern Hemisphere at the end of the 5th century AD.]]
* [[380]] – [[415]]: [[Chandragupta II]] reigns over the golden age of the [[Gupta Empire]].
* [[399]] – [[412]]: The Chinese [[Buddhist]] monk [[Faxian]] sails through the [[Indian Ocean]] and travels throughout [[Sri Lanka]] and India to gather Buddhist scriptures.
* [[401]]: [[Kumarajiva]], a Buddhist monk and translator of [[sutras]] into Chinese, arrives in [[Chang'an]].
* Early 5th century: [[Baptistry of Neon]], [[Ravenna]], [[Italy]], is built.
* 5th century: [[North Acropolis, Tikal]], [[Guatemala]], is built. [[Mayan culture]].
* [[405]]: [[Mesrop Mashtots]] introduces number 36 of the 38 letters of the newly created [[Armenian Alphabet]].
* [[406]]: The eastern frontier of the [[Western Roman Empire]] collapses as waves of [[Suebi]], [[Alans]], and [[Vandals]] cross the then-frozen river [[Rhine]] near [[Mainz]] and enter [[Gaul]].
* [[407]]: [[Constantine III (western emperor)|Constantine III]] leads many of the Roman military units from Britain to Gaul and occupies [[Arles]] (Arelate). This is generally seen as Rome's withdrawal from [[Great Britain|Britain]].
* [[410]]: [[Sack of Rome (410)|Rome ransacked]] by the [[Visigoths]] led by King [[Alaric I|Alaric]].
* [[AD 411|411]]: [[Suebi]] establish the [[Suebic Kingdom of Galicia|first independent Christian kingdom]] of Western Europe in [[Gallaecia]].
* [[413]]: [[Augustine of Hippo|St. Augustine]], Bishop of [[Hippo Regius|Hippo]], begins to write [[City of God (book)|The City of God]].
* [[415]] – [[455]]: [[Kumaragupta]], Gupta emperor.
* [[AD 420|420]]: The [[Jin dynasty (265-420)|Jin dynasty]] comes to an end by [[Emperor Wu of Liu Song|Liu Yu]].
* [[AD 420|420]] – [[589]]: [[Northern and Southern dynasties]] in [[China]].
* [[426]]: [[K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo']] reestablish [[Copan]].
[[File:CPN WEST COURT 01.jpg|thumbnail|[[Copan]]]]
* [[430]]: The [[Ilopango (volcano)|Ilopango]] volcano erupts, devastating the [[Maya civilization|Mayan cities]] in present-day [[El Salvador]].
* [[431]]: [[First Council of Ephesus]], the third [[ecumenical council]] which upholds the title ''[[Theotokos]]'' or "mother of God", for [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]], the mother of [[Jesus Christ]].  
* [[439]]: [[Vandal]]s [[Battle of Carthage (439)|conquer]] [[Carthage]].
* At some point after [[440]], the [[Anglo-Saxons]] settle in [[Great Britain|Britain]]. The traditional story is that they were invited there by [[Vortigern]].
* [[450]]: Historical linguist [[Albert C. Baugh]] dates [[Old English]] from around this year.<ref>A History of the English Language (D. Appleton-Century Company, 1935)</ref>
* [[450]]: Several stone inscriptions are made witness to edicts from West Java. Amongst others, the [[Tugu inscription]] announces decrees of [[Tarumanagara#Age of Purnawarman|Purnavarman]], the King of [[Tarumanagara]], one of the earliest Hindu kingdoms of Java.<ref>Taylor (2003), p. 19.</ref> (up until the year 669)
* [[451]]: [[Council of Chalcedon]], the fourth ecumenical council which taught of Jesus Christ as one divine person in two natures. 
* [[451]]: The [[Sasanian Empire|Persians]] declare war on the [[Armenians]].
* [[451]]: The [[Huns]] under [[Attila]] facing the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] and the [[Visigoths]] are defeated in the [[Battle of Chalons]].<ref>Roberts,  J: "History of the World.". Penguin, 1994.</ref>
* [[452]]: The [[Metropolis]] of [[Aquileia]] is destroyed by Attila and his army.
* [[452]]: [[Pope Leo I]] meets in person with Attila on the [[Mincio]] River and convinces him not to ransack Rome.
* [[453]]: Death of Attila. The [[History of the Huns|Hunnic Empire]] is divided between Attila's sons.
* [[454]]: [[Battle of Nedao]]. Germanic tribes destroy the main Hunnic army and do away with Hunnic domination.
* [[455]]: Vandals [[Sack of Rome (455)|sack]] Rome.
* [[455]]: The city of [[Chichen Itza]] is founded in Mexico.
* [[455]] – [[467]]: [[Skandagupta]], the last great Gupta emperor.
* [[469]]: Death of [[Dengizich]], last [[Khan (title)|Khan]] of the [[History of the Huns|Hunnic Empire]].
* [[470]]: [[Riothamus]], King of the Britons, helps the Roman Emperor in [[Brittany]] against the [[Visigoths]].
* [[476]]: Deposition of [[Romulus Augustulus]] by [[Odoacer]]: traditional date for the [[Fall of Rome]] in the West.
* [[477]] or [[495]]: Chan Buddhists found the [[Shaolin Monastery]] on [[Mount Song]] in [[Henan]], [[China]].
* [[File:Solidus Romulus Augustus-RIC 3406.jpg|thumb|300px|Romulus Augustus, Last Western Roman Emperor]][[480]]: Assassination of [[Julius Nepos]], the last ''de jure'' Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, in [[Dalmatia]].
* [[481]]: [[Clovis I]] becomes King of the [[Western Franks]] upon the death of [[Childeric I]].
* [[482]]: Territory of modern [[Ukraine]] is established in [[Kiev]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/guide/about-kyiv/kyivs-1530th-birthday-marked-with-fun-protest-1-128618.html|title=Kyiv's 1,530th birthday marked with fun, protest|date=31 May 2012}}</ref>
* [[486]]: Clovis defeats [[Syagrius]] and conquers the last free remnants of the [[Western Roman Empire]].
* [[490]]: (approximate date) Battle of [[Mount Badon]]. According to [[legend]], British forces led by [[King Arthur]] defeated the invading [[Saxons]].
* [[491]]: King [[Clovis I]] defeats and subjugates the Kingdom of [[Thuringia]] in Germany.
* [[493]]: [[Theodoric the Great]] ousts Odoacer to become [[King of Italy]].
* [[494]]: Northern [[Gaul]] is united under the [[List of Frankish kings|Frankish King]] [[Clovis I]], founder of the [[Merovingian dynasty]].
* [[496]]: [[Battle of Tolbiac]]. King Clovis subjugates the [[Alamanni]], and is baptized as a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] with a large number of Franks by [[Saint Remigius|Remigius]], bishop of [[Reims]].
* [[Buddhism]] reaches [[Burma]] and [[Indonesia]].
* [[Africa]]n and [[Indonesians|Indonesian]] settlers reach [[Madagascar]].
* The [[Hopewell tradition]] comes to an end in [[North America]].
* [[Tbilisi]] is founded by King [[Vakhtang Gorgasali]].

==Inventions, discoveries, introductions==
{{see also|Timeline of historic inventions#5th century}}
* [[Horse collar]] invented in [[China]]
* [[Chaturang]], the precursor of [[chess]], originated in [[India]]
* Heavy [[plow]] in use in [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] lands
* First instance of a metal [[horseshoe]] found in Gaul
* [[Anglo-Saxon runes]] alphabet introduced in [[England]]
* [[Spinning wheel|Charkha]] (spinning wheel) originated in [[India]]
* [[Armenian alphabet]] created by [[Saint Mesrob|Mesrob Mashtots]] c. [[405]]
* The first use of [[Zero]] found in [[Bakhshali manuscript]] in [[India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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