The Persian Samanid dynasty rules Central Asia and Khorasan, making Bukhara and Samarkand cultural and trade centres on the Silk Road.
Maya city-states such as Tikal, Palenque and Calakmul reach their height in architecture, writing, astronomy and calendrics.
The Soninke Ghana Empire (Wagadu) flourished in what is now Mauritania and Mali, growing rich from control of the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade.
Many Maya cities of the southern lowlands are gradually abandoned, possibly due to drought, warfare and political crisis.
The Sailendra dynasty builds Borobudur in Central Java, the largest Buddhist monument in the world.