Editing 981 (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Europe ====
* Spring &ndash; Emperor [[Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto II]] ('''the Red''') leads the imperial court to [[Rome]], making the city his imperial capital, and receives [[Nobility|nobles]] from all parts of [[Western Europe]]. Otto makes plans to conquer [[Catepanate of Italy|Byzantine Italy]].
* Fall &ndash; Otto II departs with an expeditionary force from Rome, and invades [[Apulia]] (Southern [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]]) to punish the [[Saracens]]. He demands a fleet from [[Pisa]], and imposes a [[Economic sanctions|trade embargo]] against [[Republic Venice|Venice]].
* [[Almanzor|Al-Mansur]], the ''[[de facto]]'' ruler of [[Al-Andalus]], conquers and razes the city of [[Zamora, Spain|Zamora]], as part of his effort to seize the [[Christianity|Christian]]-dominated north of the [[Iberian Peninsula]].

==== Asia ====
* Summer &ndash; [[Seongjong of Goryeo|Seongjong]] ascends the throne of [[Goryeo]] ([[Korea]]) after the death of his brother-in-law (and cousin), king [[Gyeongjong of Goryeo|Gyeongjong]]. 
* The first recorded [[Mahamastakabhisheka]] ceremony, of the sacred {{convert|57|foot|m}} high [[monolith]]ic statue of [[Bahubali]], is performed. {{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} 
* The [[Gommateshwara statue]] is built by [[Chavundaraya]], minister and commander of the [[Western Ganga dynasty|Ganga dynasty]], in [[India]] (approximate date).

=== By topic ===
==== Exploration ====
* [[Erik the Red]] leaves [[Norway]], to survey west of [[Iceland]] in [[Vikings|Viking]] [[longship]]s, that carry nearly 700 people with cattle, horses, and other necessities for starting a [[Colonization|colony]] on the island. Erik finds land and calls it [[Greenland]].

==== Religion ====
* Spring &ndash; Pope [[Pope Benedict VII|Benedict VII]] dissolves the [[Slavs|Slavic]] [[bishopric of Merseburg]], after conferring with Otto II. He issues an [[encyclical]], forbidding the exaction of money for the conferral of any [[Holy orders|Holy Order]] (known as [[simony]]).

==== Commerce ====
* The first commercially made [[shaving soap]] sells for 3 [[dirham]]s (0.3 [[dinar]]s). {{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} 
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