Medieval Civilizations
The Middle Ages saw the rise and fall of many civilizations. Medieval people organized themselves in states ranging from simple clans and small city-states to vast, expansive empires and sprawling steppe confederations.
Western Eurasia
Alphabetically sorted, explore Western Eurasian medieval civilizations and empires using the links below.
The Anglo-Saxons migrated to Roman Britain. They fought the Celts, the Vikings, and the Normans – but above all else, they fought each other.
The Burgundians settled in the heart of Western Europe. They played a pivotal role between Franks, Goths, French and the emperor.
The English were one of the prime powers of the European Middle Ages but had to fight tooth and nail to retain that position.
The Franks created the largest European state of the Early Middle Ages. They had a profound impact on Western civilization.
The French rose to prominence during the High and Late Middle Ages through many long, devastating but – ultimately – mostly successful wars.
The Goths grew into a major threat to the Roman Empire. They played a significant role in the transition to the Middle Ages.
The Empire was simultaneously Europe’s most extensive, complex and fragmented state – mighty and weak at the same time.
Italy was invaded many times over during the Middle Ages. It nonetheless managed to remain a cornerstone of European history throughout.
The Leónese were the primary power of christian Spain for centuries. León initially led the Reconquista, but fought fellow christians just as fervently.
The Magyars invaded Europe from the east but – contrary to many others that did so – they stayed. We know them today by the name of Hungarians.
True to their Viking spirit, Normans established wealthy and influential realms in England, Sicily, the Levant, and naturally, Normandy.
Saxons left a deep imprint on early medieval Germany – mainly by fighting Franks and founding the Holy Roman Empire.
Vikings sailed from Persia to America and from Iceland to Sicily. They raided and traded all throughout the known world.
Central Eurasia
Alphabetically sorted, explore Central Eurasian medieval civilizations and empires using the links below.
The Byzantines were an economic, military and cultural powerhouse. Their empire survived for over a thousand years.
The empire of Islam, called “the Caliphate”, was a major medieval power. Its military and its science made it the center of the known world.
The Cumans built a confederation with the Qipchaqs that dominated the Eurasian Steppe. The Mongols eventually swept them into Hungary and Bulgaria.
The Khazars built a wealthy empire on the Eurasian steppe. But their balancing act between Christianity and Islam ultimately proved too challenging.
The Persians were overrun by the Caliphate but then transformed Islam from the inside, leading the way in science, philosophy and art.
The Rus’ were the Eastern Viking success story — what began as an ambitious enterprise culminated in the creation of an European great power.
The Seljuqs hailed from Central Asia. They stormed into the Middle East and overran Persia, Syria, the Levant, and Anatolia in the process.
Timur tried to restore the Mongol Empire to its former glory. So his followers – the Timurids – built one of the last semi-nomadic empires in Asia.
Eastern Eurasia
Alphabetically sorted, explore Eastern Eurasian medieval civilizations and empires using the links below.
The Chinese were around for the entire Middle Ages. Four mighty dynasties managed to unite the country into a medieval Asian great power.
The Indians were divided throughout the Middle Ages but this didn’t matter. Their economy was so abundant that were was enough wealth to go around.
Factions frequently threatened the Korean state, but when army and administration managed to cooperate, the Koreans soared to great heights.
The Mongols conquered most of the medieval world. They formed the largest land empire the world has ever seen.
Wedged in between the Chinese, the Khmer, and the Champa, the Vietnamese fought for centuries to carve out their own state in Southeast Asia.
America
The Incas built a great empire, stretching from Colombia to Argentina – all without using the wheel, steel, or writing.
The Medieval Guidebook
This page is part of our Medieval Guidebook.
