1320s

The 1320s refers to the decade spanning 1320 to 1329 in the Gregorian calendar. It was a period of political transition and regional realignments across Afro-Eurasia, with the emergence of new dynastic powers, early Ottoman expansion in Anatolia, and notable cultural moments that would shape the mid-14th century.

In the Indian subcontinent, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq founded the Delhi Sultanate’s Tughlaq dynasty in 1320, establishing a capital at Delhi. His son Muhammad bin Tughluq succeeded him in 1325 and pursued ambitious projects that affected governance and empire-building across northern India.

In Anatolia, the rise of the Ottoman beylliks continued, with Orhan Gazi succeeding Osman I and expanding Ottoman influence. Bursa was captured in the mid-1320s (around 1326), becoming the Ottoman capital and signaling the beginning of more sustained Turkish state formation in northwest Anatolia.

Europe experienced significant dynastic changes. In France, Charles IV died in 1328, and Philip VI of Valois was elected king the same year, inaugurating the Valois line. In England, the deposition of Edward II in 1327 led to his son Edward III’s accession, marking the start of his long reign. The period also witnessed the death of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri in 1321, a milestone in medieval literature.

In Africa, the Mali Empire is associated with the fame of Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca, traditionally dated to around 1324, which underscored Mali’s wealth and its trans-Saharan connections. Across regions, the decade witnessed ongoing trade, urban development, and the shifting political landscapes of medieval states.