The Song make enormous gains in commerce and rice cultivation in this era.

Chinese scholars initially publish the Tàipíng guǎngjì (Extensive Records of the Taiping Era) in 978.

One of the Four Great Books of Song, the work documents various stories of Chinese myths and subjects of theology.

Divided into five hundred volumes when complete, it consists of over three million written Chinese characters.

Emperor Taizu had been successful in nearly completing the incorporation of the southern kingdoms into the Song Dynasty by his death in 976.

His younger brother, Emperor Taizong, wishes to emulate his older brother’s successes.

The last king of Wuyue, Qian Chun, in the face of certain annihilation from northern imperial Chinese troops, pledges allegiance to the Song Dynasty in 978, saving his people from war and economic destruction.

While Qian Chu nominally remains king, Wuyue is absorbed into the Song Dynasty, effectively ending the kingdom.

Wood carvers commissioned by China's Song Dynasty complete a carving of the entire Buddhist canon (the Tripitaka) for printing (one hundred and thirty thousand total blocks are produced).

Skleros, defeating imperial forces and killing their commander Peter Phokas, marches on Constantinople in 978.

Abu Aamir Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abi Aamir, born in the area of Algeciras and descended from a noble member of the Arab army that conquered Spain, had arrived at the Umayyad Court of Cordoba as a student studying law and literature.

He began his career as a professional letter writer, becoming the protégé; (and supposedly the lover) of the mother of the young Hisham II, becoming manager of the infant prince’s estates.

In the space of a few years, he had schemed his way from this humble position to considerable heights of influence, eliminating his political rivals in the process.

When Caliph Al-Hakam died in 976, Ibn Abi Amir had been instrumental in securing the succession of the young Hisham II, aged twelve, to the throne.

With the aid of his father-in-law, General Galib ibn Abd al-Rahman, he overthrows and succeeds the Hajib (a title similar to that of Grand Vizier in the Muslim East), or Chancellor in 978.

By giving African territories local independence under Umayyad suzerainty, Abu Aamir Muhammad reduces the drain on government resources.

Otto II, not satisfied with the territorial gains made in Italy under Otto I, wants more.

He has gone beyond the goals of his father in regard to his Italian policy, which is based not only on securing his power in Rome, or to cooperate with the Papacy, but also to gain absolute dominion over the whole of Italy.

Influenced by his wife, who is hostile to the return of the Macedonian Dynasty in the shape of Emperor Basil II after the assassination of John I Tzimisces, Otto II has been persuaded to annex Constantinople-controlled southern Italy.

However, this policy necessarily means war with not only the Eastern Roman Empire but the Muslim Fatimid Caliphate as well, who claim southern Italy as within their sphere influence.

The Ottonians' chief lieutenant in central and southern Italy has long been the Lombard leader Pandulf Ironhead.

Originally appointed by Otto I as Prince of Benevento and Capua in 961, Pandulf had waged war against Constantinople and expanded Ottonian control to include the Duchy of Spoleto in 967.

Pandulf’s campaigns under Otto I and Otto II have incorporated all three of the southern Lombard principalities—Capua, …

…Benevento, and, …

…in 978, Salerno—into the Holy Roman Empire.

Pandulf, as vassal of Otto II, rules a large bloc of territories that stretches as far north as Tuscany and as far south as the Gulf of Taranto.

Willa, Countess of Tuscany, establishes the Badìa Fiorentina, an abbey and church situated on the Via del Proconsolo in the center of Florence, Italy.

Founded as a Benedictine institution in 978 in commemoration of her late husband Hubert, it is one of the chief buildings of medieval Florence.

Haakon is the son of Sigurd Haakonsson, Jarl of Lade and ruler of Trøndelag and Hålogaland.

His mother was Bergljot Toresdatter, daughter of Tore Ragnvaldsson, Earl of Møre.

Adam of Bremen wrote that he was "of the stock of Ivar (possibly Ivar the Boneless) and descended from a race of giants".

In the sagas, Haakon claimed descent from the divine linage of Sæming, son of Odin.

The Hakon Jarl Runestones in Sweden may refer to him.

Haakon had become earl after his father was killed by King Harald Greyhide's men in 961.

He warred with King Harald for some time, until he was forced to flee to Denmark and Harald Bluetooth.

In Denmark, he had conspired with Harald Bluetooth against Harald Greyhide.

Haakon Jarl had arranged the death of Harald Greyhide around 971 with the connivance of Harald Bluetooth, who had invited his foster-son to Denmark to be invested with new Danish fiefs.

Civil war had broken out between Haakon Jarl and the surviving brothers of Harald Greyhide, but Haakon proved victorious.

After this, Haakon Jarl ruled Norway as a vassal of Harald Bluetooth, but he is in reality an independent ruler.

For Harald, he had attacked Götaland and killed its ruler Jarl Ottar.

When Haakon was in Denmark, Harald Bluetooth had forced him to accept baptism and assigned him clergymen to take to Norway to spread Christianity.

When a favorable wind came for Haakon to leave, he had commanded the clergymen to return ashore.

Around 973-974, he had gone to Denmark to help Harald Bluetooth of Denmark in his defense against the Holy Roman Emperor Otto II.

Otto's forces had successfully opposed an attempt by Harald to throw off the German yoke.

Since then, Haakon pays no taxes to Denmark.

Haakon is a strong believer in the old Norse gods, and when Harald Bluetooth attempted to force Christianity upon him around 975, Haakon had broken his allegiance to Denmark.

In 977, Vladimir I of Kiev had fled to him, collecting as many of the Viking warriors as he could to assist him to recover Novgorod, and on his return the next year marched against Yaropolk I of Kiev.