Century

9th Century CE

What happened in the 9th Century CE.

Jayavarman II Declares Khmer Independence PoliticsJayavarman II Declares Khmer Independence802 CE · Phnom Kulen, CambodiaJayavarman II proclaims himself a universal monarch, founding the Khmer Empire.End of Byzantine Iconoclasm ReligionEnd of Byzantine Iconoclasm843 CE · Constantinople, TurkeyEmpress Theodora restores the veneration of icons in the Byzantine Empire, ending a century-long theological conflict.Discovery of Gunpowder by Tang Dynasty Alchemists TechnologyDiscovery of Gunpowder by Tang Dynasty Alchemistsc. 850 CE · Chang'an, ChinaTang alchemists accidentally discover gunpowder while seeking an elixir of immortality.Construction of El Caracol Observatory at Chichen Itza ScienceConstruction of El Caracol Observatory at Chichen Itzac. 850 CE · Chichen Itza, MexicoMaya astronomers build a circular observatory aligned with Venus cycles.Viking Settlement of Iceland ExplorationViking Settlement of Iceland874 CE · Reykjavik, IcelandNorse explorers led by Ingólfr Arnarson settle Iceland, establishing the first permanent European community in the North Atlantic.Viking Siege of Paris WarViking Siege of Paris885 CE · Paris, FranceViking raiders led by Sigfred besiege Paris for over a year, testing the defenses of West Francia.