The Thirteenth Century

The 13th Century was a fascinating era in world history. Genghis Khan established the largest contiguous land empire in history. The Magna Carta was drafted. Marco Polo travelled through Asia and trade expanded across the Indian Ocean and Baltic Sea, setting the stage for greater expansion in the 15th century. The Native Americans of Cahokia, Mesoamerica and the Chimor State flourished while Mali, Ethiopia and Great Zimbabwe throve in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This world history chronicles the important events in this pivotal century, while exploring many of the relevant figures of the era, including King John of England, St. Francis of Assisi, Balban of India and many others.

Richard Bressler is a retired financial professional and has written two books on medieval history and a sports book. He lives in Champaign, Illinois.

Richard Bressler
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 228
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, index.
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7185-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3323-7
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
1  1200—Cahokia 5
2  1204—The 4th Crusade in Constantinople 10
3  1206—The Acclamation of Genghis Khan in Mongolia 16
4  1214—Iberia, the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa 21
5  1214—The Mongol Advance into North China 25
6  1214/15—The Battle of Bouvines and the Magna Carta 29
7  1219—The 5th Crusade and Francis of Assisi in Egypt 34
8  1220—Kanem, Mali and Trade Across the Sahara 38
9  1221/3—Mongols in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and Southeastern Europe 42
10  1225—Southeast Asia and Angkor 52
11  1227/9—The Death of Genghis Khan, Succession in Empire 56
12  1229—Excommunicated Crusader Frederick II in the Holy Land 59
13  1233—Mongol Conquests in Iran and China 67
14  1237—Trade Between China, India and Intermediate Areas 72
15  1240—Mesoamerica 76
16  1241—The Mongols in Europe 81
17  1242—The Teutonic Knights and Alexander Nevsky 86
18  1245—Fairs and Cathedrals in Northern France 91
19  1248—The Indian Subcontinent 98
20  1250—Disputes Between Pope and Emperor and the Death of Frederick II 103
21  1252—The Development of European Universities and Thomas Aquinas 111
22  1256—The Elimination of the Assassins in Iran 120
23  1258–60—The Mongols in the Middle East 125
24  1260—Ethiopia and Central Africa 129
25  1264—The Struggle for Succession in the Mongol Empire 133
26  1265—Simon de Montfort and Parliament in England 139
27  1270—The Death of Louis IX and the Crusades 145
28  1277—Mongol Actions in Southeast Asia 151
29  1279—Khubilai Khan Consolidates Power in China and Mongolia 155
30  1280—Peru and Nearby Areas 160
31  1282—Charles of Anjou and the Sicilian Vespers 164
32  1284—The Hanseatic League and Northern European Commerce 175
33  1286—Japan and Mongol Invasions 180
34  1291—The Status of the Crusades in the Holy Land and Iberia 186
35  1294—The Death of Khubilai and the State of the Mongol Empire 194
36  1298—Marco Polo and European Awareness of the East 200
37  1300—Great Zimbabwe and the Indian Ocean Coast of Africa 207
Epilogue 212
Bibliography 215
Index 217

• “Impressively informative and exceptionally well organized study…recommended”—Midwest Book Review

• “Bressler offers a snapshot of the entire world during the 13th century, drawing on archaeological evidence where no written records are available”—ProtoView

• “Successfully weaves a progressive global narrative in installments that eventually provide readers with a real tapestry of world history in a century where many significant events changed the face of the earth”—Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching