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 teacher
Charlemagne, king of the Franks from 771 to 814
Charles Martel
The Venerable Bede, English scholar
Pepin the Short
Harun al-Rashid, fifth Abbasid Caliph
Li Po, Chinese poet
Du 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 civilization
ca. 770: iron horseshoes come into common use

Decades and years

Category:8th century af:8ste eeu ca:Segle VIII cs:8. století da:8. århundrede de:8. Jahrhundert es:Siglo VIII eo:8-a jarcento fr:VIIIe siècle fy:8e ieu ko:8세기 it:VIII secolo he:המאה ה-8 lb:8. Joerhonnert li:Achste ieuw nl:8e eeuw ja:8世紀 nb:8. århundre nn:700-talet pl:VIII wiek pt:Século VIII ro:Secolul VIII ru:VIII век sl:8. stoletje fi:700-luku sv:700-talet uk:8 століття zh:8世纪

8th century

Events

Significant persons

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

Decades and years

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