Close Calls for Christendom

Listen to "Close Calls for Christendom"

Christendom, the most powerful domain in the world for the past 1500 years, was frequently permeated and even brought to the brink of ruin many times. Three of these "close calls" include:

• Battle of Tours (732AD): Charles the Hammer of Franks vs. Abd er Rahman of Moors in France
• The Golden Horde (1230sAD): Batu Khan invades Eastern Europe, plans to invade Germany
• Siege of Vienna (1529AD): Suleiman II of Ottomans vs. Charles II of Austrians at Vienna

Each of these events could have ended Christendom prematurely and stunted important ages such as the Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, as Imperialism.

For more information:
The Dictionary of Battles by David Chandler
The Battle 100 by Michael Lee Lanning
Almanac of World History by Patricia Daniels and Stephen Hyslop
Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003: Battle of Tours, Batu Khan