The 10th century is the period from 901 to 1000 in accordance with the Julian calendar, and the last century of the 1st millennium.
In China the Song dynasty was established. The Muslim World, experienced a cultural zenith, especially in Spain under the Caliphate of Córdoba. Additionally, it was the zenith for the Byzantine and Bulgarian Empires.
Medievalist and historian of technology Lynn White said that "to the modern eye, it is very nearly the darkest of the Dark Ages", but concluded that ". . . if it was dark, it was the darkness of the womb." Similarly, Helen Waddell wrote that the 10th century was that which "in the textbooks disputes with the seventh the bad eminence, the nadir of the human intellect." In the 15th century, Lorenzo Valla described it as the Century of Lead and Iron and later Cardinal Baronius as the Leaden Century or Iron Century.
One estimate said that the tenth century saw fewer deaths in war (as a percentage of the total population) than any other century since 3000 BC.
Eurasia and Eastern Roman Empire
Nicephorus II, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (lived 912–969, reigned 963–969)
John I Tzimisces, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (lived 925–976, reigned 969–976)
Basil II, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, (lived 958–1025, reigned 976–1025)
Adikavi Pampa an early Kannada language poet (born in 902)
Ranna, an early Kannada language poet from India, (born in 949)
Huyan Zan, Chinese general (died in 1000)
Li Cheng, Chinese landscape painter
Tailapa II, re-established the Western Chalukya Empire of India (reigned 973–997)
Zhang Sixun, Chinese astronomer and mechanical engineer
Ferdowsi, Persian poet
Li Fang, Chinese scholar and encyclopedist (925–996)
Emperor Taizu of Song, founder of the Chinese Song dynasty (lived March 21, 927–November 14, 976, reigned 960–976)
Parantaka I, ruler of the Chola Dynasty of India – Tamil King (reigned 907–950)
Raja Raja Chola I, ruler of the Chola Dynasty of India – Tamil King
Avicenna, one of the foremost physician and philosopher of Medieval Era(c. 980 - 1037).
Al-Farabi, a Muslim polymath and one of the greatest scientists and philosophers (c. 872 – between 14 December, 950 and 12 January, 951).
Alhazen, a Muslim scientist and mathematician, (965 in Basra - c. 1039 in Cairo)
Abu Rayhan Biruni, a Muslim scientist, (born 5 September 973 in Kath, Khwarezm, died 13 December 1048 in Ghazni)
Taejo of Goryeo, founder of the Korean Goryeo Dynasty (lived January 31, 877 – July 4, 943, reigned 918–943)
Harald Fairhair, king of Norway, united Norway in 872 and remained its ruler until 933. One of the most powerful lords of Europe at the time.
Vladimir I, Prince of Kievan Rus (lived 958–1015)
Tomislav, king of Croatia, united the medieval Croatian state into the Kingdom of Croatia, crowned in 925
Abd-ar-rahman III of Cordoba
Simeon the Great, Emperor of Bulgaria (reigned 893–927)
Otto I the Great, Holy Roman Emperor (lived 23 November 912 – 7 May 973, reigned 936–973)
King Edmund I of England (lived 921–946, reigned 939–946)
Hugh Capet (lived 938–996), first Capetian King of France
Géza of Hungary, ruler of the Magyars (lived 940–997, reigned 970–997)
Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor (lived 955–983, reigned 973–983)
Theophanu, wife of Otto II, mother and Regent of Otto III, (lived 956–991, reigned 983–991)
Tsar Samuil of Bulgaria (lived 958–1014, reigned 976–1014)
Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor (lived 980–1002, reigned 983–1002)
Erik the Red (born c. 950 - died c. 1003), Norwegian explorer, founded Greenland
Leif Eiriksson, Norwegian explorer, son of Erik the Red, made the first European attempt to settle in America.
Olav Tryggvason becomes the first king to try to Christianize Norway, dies at the Battle of Svolder in 1000.
'Aho'eitu (early 10th century), first king of the Tuʻi Tonga
List of 9th-10th centuries inventions
10th century-12th century - Seated Guaryin Bodhisattva, is made. Liao dynasty. It is now kept at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri.
Construction begins on the Brihadeeswarar Temple of India, during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I
The first pound lock is invented by the Chinese engineer Qiao Weiyo, improving the canal lock system.
Fire arrows are invented by the Chinese.
Earliest known occurrence in Mexico of Lost-wax casting.
Three of the Four Great Books of Song are published (the last one in 1013), which were enormous Chinese encyclopedias having millions of written Chinese characters each.
Hops first mentioned in connection with beer brewing
Zhang Sixun of China uses for the first time liquid mercury (element) instead of water to power the escapement mechanism rotating an armillary sphere, since liquid mercury does not freeze easily like water during winter, and does not rust metal parts
10th century Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA
