1200talet

1200talet, also written 1200-talet, refers to the thirteenth century, spanning roughly 1200 to 1299 CE. It is part of the High Middle Ages in Europe and coincides with major developments across Eurasia.

In Europe, royal authorities expanded and consolidated power in many realms, while towns grew wealthier and more autonomous. The period saw the founding of universities in Paris, Bologna and Oxford, and the rise of scholastic thought. Gothic architecture continued to shape churches and cathedrals, and the Church remained a central institution in public life. The century also saw ongoing Crusading activity in various forms and the gradual development of more formal legal and administrative frameworks.

Beyond Europe, the Mongol Empire expanded across Asia and into parts of Europe, creating a vast trading network that linked East and West. In China, the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty was established in 1271, following the fall of the Song Dynasty in 1279. In the Indian subcontinent, the Delhi Sultanate emerged in 1206 and expanded Muslim rule in northern plains. In Africa, long-distance trade continued, and powerful states such as the Mali Empire rose in the region during the century.

In the Nordic lands, Christianity continued to consolidate, and urban centers and legal institutions developed. Stockholm is traditionally dated to the mid-13th century. The 1200s laid groundwork for late medieval political systems, urban growth, and the transmission of knowledge through universities and scholastic thought.