8th century
(7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries)
Events The Iberian peninsula is conquered by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost eight centuries of Muslim presence there. Sometime this century, Beowulf is probably composed. Borobodur, the famous Indonesian Buddhist structure, begins construction, probably as a non-Buddhist shrine. Buddhist Jataka stories are translated into Syriac and Arabic as Kalilag and Damnag. An account of Buddha's life is translated into Greek by Saint John of Damascus, and widely circulated to Christians as the story of Barlaam and Josaphat. The Nara period begins in Japan. The Moravian principality and Nitrian principality arise in central Europe (see Great Moravia) Many Volga Bulgarians convert to Islam. Kanem-Bornu arises north of Lake Chad.
Significant persons Alcuin, English monk, scholar, and teacherCharlemagne, king of the Franks from 771 to 814Charles MartelThe Venerable Bede, English scholarPepin the ShortHarun al-Rashid, fifth Abbasid CaliphLi Po, Chinese poetDu Fu, Chinese poet
Inventions, discoveries, introductions heavy plow in use in the Rhine valley horsecollar in use in Northern Europe in 8th or 9th century - perhaps introduced from Asia papermaking introduced from China to Arabs beginning of the decline of the Classical Maya civilizationca. 770: iron horseshoes come into common use
Decades and years
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