1040
Bi Sheng invents movable-type printing
A Chinese commoner in Song dynasty Bianjing carved individual characters in fired clay and arranged them in iron frames sealed with warm resin.
Battle of Dandanaqan
On a windswept plain in Turkmenistan, twenty thousand thirsty Seljuk horsemen overwhelmed the ponderous Ghaznavid army of Sultan Mas'ud.
Macbeth kills Duncan I of Scotland
The Moray mormaer overthrew his cousin Duncan in battle at Pitgaveny, not by stealth in a guest chamber as Shakespeare would later claim.
Song magnetic compass used for land navigation
The Song military manual Wujing Zongyao described an iron south-pointing fish floated in a bowl of water…
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1040?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1040. The most significant is Bi Sheng invents movable-type printing: A Chinese commoner in Song dynasty Bianjing carved individual characters in fired clay and arranged them in iron frames sealed with warm resin.
What era was 1040 part of?
1040 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1040?
The events from 1040 span East Asia, Central Asia and Europe.