Founding of the Song dynasty
An age of cities, compasses, gunpowder and paper money begins
General Zhao Kuangyin proclaimed himself emperor and founded the Song dynasty with its capital at Kaifeng. The Song era saw booming cities, commerce and technology, from printing and the compass to gunpowder and paper money.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 10th century
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Europe
- c. 939 Eldgjá eruption — 21 years earlier
- 962 Coronation of Otto I — 2 years later
Eastern Europe & Russia
- 966 Baptism of Poland — 6 years later
Africa
- 969 Founding of Cairo — 9 years later
- 972 Al-Azhar Mosque opens — 12 years later
Americas
- c. 950–1250 Medieval Warm Period — 10 years earlier
Alive at the time
- Vladimir the Great (aged 0)
- Otto the Great (aged 48)
- Olga of Kiev (aged 40)
- Ferdowsi (aged 20)
- Hugh Capet (aged 20)
- Sviatoslav I (aged 18)
- Edgar the Peaceful (aged 17)
- Otto II (aged 5)
- Yaropolk I (aged 5)