(12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries)

As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300.

Events

• Fourth through eighth crusades of western European kingdoms against Islam
• Fall of the Hohenstaufen dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors
• Mongols under Genghis Khan conquer and rule over most of Asia and Eastern Europe, establish Mongolian dynasty in China. Some Mongol leaders convert from Tantric Buddhism to Islam.
• Marco Polo and his family reach China
• James I of Aragon takes control of Balearic Islands and Valencia.
• Theravada overtakes Mahayana as the dominant form of Buddhism in Cambodia.
• Persian historian Rashid al-Din records eleven Buddhist texts circulating in Arabic translation.
• The Thai Kingdom of Sukothai is established, with Theravada Buddhism as the state religion. Later in the century it vassalises significant parts of modern Thailand, Laos, Burma, and Malaysia.
• Norway cedes the Isle of Man to Scotland.

Significant people

• Alexander of Hales, philosopher and theologian
• Albertus Magnus, German philosopher and theologian
• Thomas Aquinas, theologian
• Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order
• Roger Bacon, Franciscan, philosopher, and scientist
• Bonaventure, Franciscan theologian
• Petrus Peregrinus, scientist
• Robert Grosseteste, English statesman and theologian
• Louis IX of France, St. Louis, French king and crusader
• Frederick II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
• Dante, Italian writer
• Ramon Llull, Majorcan philosopher

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

Decades and years

External link

• The Thirteenth: Greatest of Centuries (http://www.nd.edu/Departments/Maritain/etext/walsh.htm) by James J. Walsh, 1907