Year 962

Events this year

February 2, 962★★★★★

Pope John XII crowns Otto I emperor in Rome, commonly regarded as the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire.

PoliticsDynasty· Germany, Italy

c. 3rd century – c. 11th century★★★★★

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.

DynastyEconomy· Mauritania, Mali

c. 819 – 999★★★★★

The Persian Samanid dynasty rules Central Asia and Khorasan, making Bukhara and Samarkand cultural and trade centres on the Silk Road.

DynastyCultureEconomy· Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan

907 – 979★★★★★

The Tang falls in 907 and China fragments into short-lived northern dynasties and numerous southern kingdoms.

DynastyPolitics· China

c. 944 – 968★★★★★

After the decline of the Ngô dynasty, the country fragments among rival warlords until Đinh Bộ Lĩnh reunifies it in 968.

WarPolitics· Vietnam