Key Events and Developments in Each Region during the 13th Century. Links with Strayer’s “Ways Of the World: Second Edition” Textbook :D

European Developments & Events

1. The Middle Ages

   • Commonly referred to as the “Dark Ages” or “Medieval Times,” the Middle Ages took place in the 1200s all across Europe, where conflict between the Church and Royalty was brewing. This coincided with the fall of the Roman Empire, signifying a decline in intellect, written language, and reversion back to their roots.

2. The Magna Carta

   • In 1215, King John signed the Magna Carta, proclaiming that the king and his government were NOT above the law. If the king committed a crime, he would NOT be excused for his status. It also states that the rights of the Church are to be free from governmental affairs. This still affects the world’s governments today.

3. The Mongols are Coming!

   • Throughout the 1200s, nothing scared people more than the Mongols, a Central-Asian ethnic group found in Mongolia, invading their kingdoms, ransacking, murdering, and kidnapping all in the process. Efforts were made to keep them at bay, but their efforts weren’t eradicated.

4. Spain’s Muslim Population

   • Despite Spain now being known for its intense Christian population, evidence shows that a predominantly Muslim sector existed well before the Crusades into Spain.

5. Byzantines Rule, Ottomans Drool

   • The Byzantines, placed in the modern, Eastern Mediterranean Sea, maintained their rule over South East Europe from the 1200s through the early 1400s. However, their biggest competition, almost too closely juxtaposed by them, was the Ottomans — another rising empire in terms of military prowess.

Asian Developments & Events

1. Northern India Turned Muslim

   • Muslims invaded Northern India and established the sultanate of Delhi (1200-1500).

2. Southern India’s Situation

   • In the hands of several Hindu kingdoms (Chola), Southern India continued to develop, causing religious friction between Muslims and Hindus.

3. East Asia’s Last Ballad

   • The Song Dynasty was reduced by half of its original land due to constant invasion from nomadic tribes. Eventually, Mongols conquered the area to start the Yuan dynasty.

African Developments & Events

1. Rise of the Mali Empire

   • In Africa, the Mali Empire began to take its first steps, setting itself up for later prosperity and failure.

   • Eastern Africa also engaged in the Indian Ocean Basin Trade, mainly Swahili city-states, and started the highly influential Gold-Salt trade.

American Developments & Events

1. The Fall of Maya

   • In the 1200s, the fall of the Mayan Civilizations in the Americas became more and more prevalent, leaving important sites like Chichen Itza lost to time. On the contrary, the Mississippian people began mass colonization of Southeast America, establishing sites like Cahokia.

Middle Eastern Developments & Events

1. Anatolian Rule

   • In the Middle East, the Byzantines, as if they weren’t busy enough, took leadership of Anatolia, the placement of modern-day Turkey.

2. Abbasid L

   • Whilst other empires were succeeding rapidly, the Abbasids were destroyed by the Mongols in 1258. This would help cease their existence entirely in the coming years.

Russian Developments & Events

1. Conquered by Mongols

   • During the 1200s, Russia had lost most of its land to the Mongols, they had only left out of fear and very few remained afterward. This would lead to eventual conflicts on both sides.

2. Kievan Culture Hub (Ukraine)

   • Kyiv, or Ukraine, was a famous cultural hub for traditional Russian art, music, etc. Has territorial problems now, but was decently close with Russia.

Japanese Developments & Events

1. The Kamakura Period

   • A period in Japanese history when Feudalism was being to be established in the archipelago.