Timeline
Places · 1096 · 500 – 1500

University of Oxford (England) — founded 1096

University of Oxford (England) traces its beginnings to 1096, part of the Medieval (11th century) — a founding moment that shaped everything that came after.

Year

1096

Century

11th century

Era

Medieval

Category

Places

Age today

874 yrs ago

Context

Medieval — Kingdoms rise, faith spreads, castles and codices. That's around 874 years ago — deep history, roughly 9 centuries in the past. Around the same time, the world was also seeing First Crusade (1096) and William of Malmesbury (1095).

Why it matters

The founding of University of Oxford (England) in 1096 created something durable — a place, institution, or movement that outlasted its era and became a reference point for what came next.

Did you know?

Just 0 years after, First Crusade (1096) was also making headlines — a reminder how much history can compress into a single decade.

Era

Medieval

Kingdoms rise, faith spreads, castles and codices.

Category

Places

Places are the cities, monuments, and landmarks whose stones and streets carry centuries of memory.

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Contemporary events

What else was happening in the world around this time.

Sources & further reading7 verified references · tap to open

About this lesson. Overview, context, and “Why it matters” are generated summaries written for study and gameplay. Dates and category placement come from the Timeline question bank[1]; era descriptions are adapted from standard historical periodisation[2]. For primary sources and in-depth reading, use the references below.

  1. Timeline question bank — © the game's original author, used with permission.
  2. Era framework based on Wikipedia's Human history overview, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Educational content notice

Lessons are for general historical education, not professional advice. Some entries touch on wars, violence, or other sensitive events — appropriate for ages 9+. External links open in your browser and are not controlled by Timeline.

Quick check

Which of these happened in 1096?

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