970 was a year in the 10th century.

Events

By Place

Asia

• A major volcano erupts in Mashu, Japan.

Europe

• A devastating decade-long famine begins in France.
• Oldest preserved document (by Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor) mentioning Leibnitz in Styria (Austria)
• Byzantine Emperor John I successfully defends the Eastern Roman Empire from a massive barbarian invasion.

Africa

• Construction is completed on Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo (the world's oldest

Islamic university).

Births

• Leif Ericson, Norse explorer
• Seyyed Razi, important Muslim scholar and writer
• Sitt al-Mulk

Deaths

• Magyar leader, Taksány
• Ferdinand II of Castile
• Fujiwara no Saneyori
• García III of Pamplona
• Hatto II, Archbishop of Mainz
• Menahem ben Saruq
• Patriarch Polyeuctus of Constantinople
• Taksony of Hungary