8th Century Overview (The Fires of God)

The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Common Era. In the Middle East, the coast of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula quickly come under Zoroastrian Persian domination. The westward expansion of the Persian Empire was halted at the battle of Tarsus by the Roman Empire and the siege of Oviedo by the Visigoths. The tide of Persian conquest came to an end in the middle of the 8th century.

In Europe, late in the century, the Vikings, seafaring peoples from Scandinavia, begin raiding the coasts of Europe and the Mediterranean, and go on to found several important kingdoms.

In Asia, the is founded in Bengal. The reaches its pinnacle under Chinese. The Nara period begins in Japan.