Two distinct views exist on the meaning of time.... , the 12th century is the period from 1101 to 1200 in accordance with the Julian calendarJulian calendar
The Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC by Julius Caesar and took force in 45 BC .... in the Christian/Common EraCommon Era
The Common Era , sometimes known as the Current Era or as the Christian Era, is the period of measured time begi... . In the history of European culture, this period is considered part of the High Middle AgesHigh Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries.... and is sometimes called the Age of the Cistercians. In Song DynastySong Dynasty Overview
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279.... China an invasion by Jurchens causes a political schism of north and south. The Khmer EmpireKhmer Empire Overview
The Khmer empire was a powerful kingdom based in what is now Cambodia.... of Cambodia flourished during this century, while the FatimidFatimid
The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fatimiyyun is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Magh... s of Egypt were overtaken by the Ayyubid dynastyAyyubid dynasty
The Ayyubid or Ayyoubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins which ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Diyar Bakr, Mecca, ... .
Coloman was King of Hungary from 1095 to 1116.... unites HungaryHungary Summary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovaki... and CroatiaCroatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a country in Europe, at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Central... under the Hungarian CrownCrown of St. Stephen
The Crown of St. Stephen, also known as the Holy Crown of Hungary, was used to crown Hungarian kings from the 13th cen...
Insert non-formatted text hereNorway is a Nordic country on the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, bordering S... becomes the first king in Europe to embark on a crusade to the Holy Land. He fought in Lisbon, various Mediterranean isles and helped the king of JerusalemFacts About Jerusalem
Jerusalem is Israel's capital and largest city, with a population of 724,000 contained in 123 km.... to take SidonSidon
Sidon, Zidon or Saida, is the third-largest city in Lebanon.... from the Muslims.
1111. On January 11, 1111: At 11:11:11, the date will read 1111-01-11:11:11:11. This will not happen again until 2222.
The Battle of Didgori was fought between the Georgia and Seljuk armies at the place of Didgori sixteen kilometers northwest... , the greatest military victory of Georgia. King David the Builder with 40,000 GeorgiansGeorgians
The Georgians are a nation or an ethnic group, originating in the Caucasus.... , 15,000 Kipchak auxiliaries, 500 AlanFacts About Alan
Alan can refer to:* Alan, the given name... mercenaries and 300 French CrusadersCrusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14.... defeated SeljukSeljuk
Seljuk was the bey of a branch of Oghuz Turks known as the Knk Seljuqs.... led muslim coalition army of 400 000.
The Battle of Beroia was fought between the Pechenegs and Emperor John II Komnenos of the Byzantine Empire in the year 1122 ... results in the disappearance of the PechenegsPechenegs
The Pechenegs or Patzinaks were a semi-nomadic Turkic people of the Central Asian steppes speaking a Turkic language.... as an independent force.
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic is located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, and is the w... gains independence from the kingdom of LeónKingdom of León
The city of Len was founded by the Roman Seventh Legion ... (recognised by LeónLeón (province)
Len is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and Len.... in 1143).
1130–1180, Fifty-year drought in the American SouthwestSouthwestern United States
The southwestern United States is a region of the western United States, warmer than the northern states and drier than the ... .
Insert non-formatted text hereNorway is a Nordic country on the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, bordering S... dies. A golden era of 95 years comes to an end for Norway as civil wars between the members of Harald Fairhair's family line rage for the remainder of the century.
1132, The Southern Song Dynasty establishes China's first permanent standing navyNavy
A navy is the branch of a country's military forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare namely ... , although China had a long naval history prior. The main admiral's office was stationed at the port of Dinghai.
1132–1183, the Chinese navy increases from a mere 3000 marine soldiers to 52,000 marine soldiers stationed in 20 different squadrons. Between this time, hundreds of treadmill-operated paddle wheelPaddle steamer
A paddle steamer, paddleboat, or paddlewheeler is a ship or boat propelled by one or more paddle wheels driv... craft are assembled for the navy, in order to combat the Jurchen's Jin Dynasty in the north.
The Anarchy in English history commonly names the period of civil war and unsettled government that occurred during the rei... is a period of civil warCivil war
A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight for political power or control o... in EnglandEngland
England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom.... .
The Battle of Ourique took place in July 25 1139, probably in the countryside outside the town of Ourique, present-day Alent... against the Almoravides led by Ali ibn YusufAli ibn Yusuf
Ali ibn Yusuf was a Berber ruler in North Africa and Al-Andalus, reigned 1106–1142, also a member of Almoravids dynast... . After this battle on July 26 the Independence of Portugal is declared: Prince Afonso Henriques becomes Afonso I, King of PortugalAfonso I of Portugal
Afonso I of Portugal , more commonly known as Afonso Henriques , or also Affonso , Alfonso or Alphonso or... .
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe, called in 1145 in response to the fall of the County o... is launched in response to the fall of the County of EdessaCounty of Edessa
The County of Edessa was one of the Crusader states in the 12th century, based around a city with an ancient history and an ... .
The Berbers are an ethnic group indigenous to Northwest Africa, speaking the Berber languages of the Afroasiatic family.... dynasty, the Almohads, led by Emir Abd al-Mu'minAbd al-Mu'min
Abd al-Mu'min was the first Caliph of the Almohad Empire.... , takes North AfricaNorth Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent.... from the Almoravides and soon invades the Iberian PeninsulaIberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe.... . The Almohads began as a religious movement to rid IslamIslam Summary
Islam is a monotheistic religion based upon the Qur'an, which adherents believe was sent by God through Muhammad.... of impurities.
The Wendish Crusade was an 1147 campaign, one of the Northern Crusades and also a part of the Second Crusade, led primarily... against the Polabian SlavsPolabian Slavs Overview
Polabian Slavs is a collective term applied to a number of Slavic tribes living along the Elbe, between the Baltic Sea to th... (or "WendsWends
Wends is the English name for some Slavic people from north-central Europe, particularly the Sorbs living in modern-day Ger... ") of what is now northern and eastern GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in central Europe.... .
1154, the Moroccan-born Muslim geographerGeographer
A geographer is a scientist whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's physical environment and human habitat.... Muhammad al-IdrisiMuhammad al-Idrisi
Al-Idrisi full name Abu Abd Allah Muhammad al-Idrisi was an Arab cartographer, geographer and traveller who lived in S... publishes his Geography.
A navy is the branch of a country's military forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare namely ... , employing gunpowderGunpowder
Gunpowder, whether black powder or smokeless powder, is a substance that burns very rapidly, releasing gases tha... bombs launched from trebuchetTrebuchet
[image:Trebuchet1.png|thumb|right|Three-quarter view of a trebuchet]]... s, defeat the enormous Jin Dynasty navy on the Yangtze RiverYangtze River
The Yangtze River or Chang Jiang is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world after the Nile in Afr... , in the Battle of TangdaoBattle of Tangdao
The naval Battle of Tangdao took place in 1161 between the Jurchen Jin and the Southern Song Dynasty of China on the East Ch... and the Battle of CaishiBattle of Caishi
The naval Battle of Caishi took place in 1161 and was the result of an attempt by forces of the Jurchen Jin to cross the Yan... .
Genghis Khan, , was a Mongol political and military leader or Khan who united the Mongol tribes and founded the Mongol Emp... , founder of the Mongol EmpireMongol Empire
The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in world history, covering over 36 million kmat its peak, with an estima... , born as Temüjin.
Valdemar I of Denmark, also known as Valdemar the Great, was King of Denmark from 1157 until 1182.... conquers ArkonaCape Arkona
Cape Arkona is a cape on the island of Rgen in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.... on the Island of RügenRügen
Rgen is an island in the Baltic Sea, located off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.... , the strongest pagan fortress and temple in Northern EuropeNorthern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part of the European continent.... .
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a Norman military expedition to Ireland that took place on 1 May 1169 at the behest of De... . Richard fitzGilbert de ClareRichard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, known as Strongbow, was the son of Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke and ... ('Strongbow') makes an alliance with the exiled Irish chief, Dermot MacMurrough, to help him recover his kingdom of LeinsterLeinster
Leinster}}; Irish: Laighin or Laigin, ), one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises ... .
Saladin or Salah al-Din was a twelfth century Kurdish Muslim warrior from Tikrit, in present day northern Iraq, who f... deposes the last FatimidFatimid
The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fatimiyyun is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Magh... Caliph Al-'A?idAl-'A?id
Al-'A?id also known as Athid, was the fourteenth and last Caliph of the Fatimid dynasty .... , initiating the Ayyubid dynastyAyyubid dynasty Overview
The Ayyubid or Ayyoubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins which ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Diyar Bakr, Mecca, ... .
1178, Chinese writer Zhou Qufei, a GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China.... customs officer, wrote of an island far west in the Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's water surface.... (possibly MadagascarFacts About Madagascar
Madagascar, , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa, close to Mozambique.... ), from where people with skin "as black as lacquer" and with frizzy hair were captured and purchased as slaves by Arab merchants.
The were a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans in late-Heian period Japan.... in Japan
1185, Founding of the cathedral school (Katedralskolan) in LundLund
' IPA: is a city in Skåne in southern Sweden.... , SwedenSweden
The Kingdom of Sweden is a Nordic country in Scandinavia.... . The school is the oldest in northern Europe, and one of the oldest in Europe as a whole.
The Battle of Hattin took place on Saturday, July 4, 1187, between the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem and the forces of the A... : SaladinSaladin
Saladin or Salah al-Din was a twelfth century Kurdish Muslim warrior from Tikrit, in present day northern Iraq, who f... defeats the king of JerusalemJerusalem
Jerusalem is Israel's capital and largest city, with a population of 724,000 contained in 123 km.... .
The Third Crusade was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin.... was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy LandHoly Land
The expression The Holy Land generally refers to the Land of Israel, otherwise known as the region of Palestine.... from SaladinSaladin
Saladin or Salah al-Din was a twelfth century Kurdish Muslim warrior from Tikrit, in present day northern Iraq, who f... .
On September 7, 1191, the army proceeded from Arsuf to Jaffa, which the Crusaders took and fortified strongly.... , King Richard the Lionheart defeats SaladinSaladin
Saladin or Salah al-Din was a twelfth century Kurdish Muslim warrior from Tikrit, in present day northern Iraq, who f... .
Pope Innocent III , born Lotario de' Conti di Segni, was Pope from January 8, 1198 until his death.... writes to Kaloyan, inviting him to unite the Bulgarian Church with the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church is the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope, the Bishop of Ro... .
The Khmer empire was a powerful kingdom based in what is now Cambodia.... and ChampaChampa
The kingdom of Champa controlled what is now south and central Vietnam from approximately 7th century through 1832.... . Angkor WatAngkor Wat
Angkor Wat is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and ... is built under the Hindu king Suryavarman IISuryavarman II
Suryavarman II was king of the Khmer Empire from 1113 to 1150 and the builder of Angkor Wat, which he dedicated to Vishnu.... . At the end of the century the Buddhist Jayavarman VIIJayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII was a king of the Khmer Empire in present day Cambodia.... becomes ruler.
Serbia, officially the Republic of Serbia is a landlocked country in Central and Southeastern Europe, covering the ce... n state formed by Stefan NemanjaStefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja was a Medieval Serb nobleman, descended from the Vukanovic who was Grand Prince of the medieval Serb state of... and continued by the Nemanjic dynasty.
Baldwin IV, called the Leper or the Leprous, the son of Amalric I of Jerusalem and his first wife Agnes of Courtenay... , whose death brought about the war upon his country.
Adrian IV, cathedral* Alexander IIIPope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III , born Orlando Bandinelli, was Pope from 1159 to 1181.... , Pope
Genghis Khan, , was a Mongol political and military leader or Khan who united the Mongol tribes and founded the Mongol Emp... , Great KhanKhagan
Khagan or Great Khan, alternatively spelled Chagan, Qaqan, Khakhan, Khaghan, Kagan, Khaqan, Hakan etc., is a title... of the Mongol EmpireMongol Empire
The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in world history, covering over 36 million kmat its peak, with an estima...
Bhaskara, also called Bhaskara II and Bhaskara Acharya was an Indian mathematician-astronomer.... , towering figure in several disparate fields of mathematics
Pierre Abailard, one of the first scholasticScholasticism
Scholasticism comes from the Latin word scholasticus, which means "that [which] belongs to the school", and was a metho... philosophers; author of "Historia calamitatum mearum", a confessional account of his life (including a description of his love affair with HéloïseHeloise (student of Abelard)
The letters of Heloïse and Pierre Ablard are among the best known records of early romantic love.... )
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian monastic order.... , French abbot influential in church politics
Saladin or Salah al-Din was a twelfth century Kurdish Muslim warrior from Tikrit, in present day northern Iraq, who f... , ruler of Egypt and Syria who resisted the Crusaders
Yue Fei was a Chinese patriot and nationalist military leader who fought for the Southern Song Dynasty against the Jurchen a... , famous Chinese general
Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Europe during the High Middle Ages.... , queen consort of FranceFrance
France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and whi... and later the Kingdom of EnglandKingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was a state located in western Europe, in the southern part of the island of Great Britain, consisti...
Shao Yong or Shao Yung was a Song Dynasty Chinese philosopher and numerologist who influenced the development of Neo-C... , Chinese poet, historian, and philosopher
Angkor Wat is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and ... in Khmer empireKhmer Empire
The Khmer empire was a powerful kingdom based in what is now Cambodia.... .
Christian humanism is the belief that human freedom and individualism are compatible with the practice of Christianity.... becomes a self-conscious philosophical tendency in Europe.
Earliest record of a miracle play, in Dunstable, England.
The Georgians are a nation or an ethnic group, originating in the Caucasus.... poet Shota RustaveliShota Rustaveli
Shota Rustaveli was a Georgian poet of the 12th century, considered by many to be one of the greatest representatives of the... composes his epic poem The Knight in the Panther's SkinThe Knight in the Panther's Skin
The Knight in the Panther's Skin is a well-known epic poem written in the 12th century by the Georgian poet Shota Rustav...
Ars antiqua is a term which refers to the music of Europe of the late Middle Ages between approximately 1170 and 1310, c... period in the history of Western European musicClassical music
Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, Europ... .
The Madrid Skylitzes is a heavily illustrated illuminated manuscript of the Synopsis of Histories , by John Skylitzes, w... manuscript illustrates the Synopsis of Histories by John SkylitzesJohn Skylitzes
John/IoannesSkylitzes/Scylitzes was a Byzantine historian of the late 11th century.... .
Earliest Western account of a mariner's compassCompass
A compass is a navigational instrument for finding directions on the earth.... , by Alexander NeckamAlexander Neckam
Alexander Neckam, was an English scientist and teacher.... is "De utensilibus" (see Shen KuoShen Kuo
Shen Kuo or Shen Kua was a Chinese scientist, polymath, general, diplomat, and financial officer who was the inventor ... ).
Although known in China since the 5th century BC, the blast furnaceBlast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of furnace for smelting iron ore.... for smelting cast ironCast iron
Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but can mean any of a group of iron-based alloys containing more than 2% carbon.... first appears in Europe, in and around LapphyttanLapphyttan
Lapphyttan in Sweden may be regarded as the type site for the Medieval Blast Furnace.... , Sweden, as early as 1150 AD.
Shahab al-Din Yahya as-Suhrawardi was born in 1155 in Suhravard in North-West-Iran and died in 1191 in Aleppo.... (1155–1191) founder of school of illumination (Ishraq).
The Donglin Academy, also known as the Guishan Academy, was originally built in A.D.... is founded
1107 — The Chinese engineer Wu Deren combines the mechanical compassCompass Overview
A compass is a navigational instrument for finding directions on the earth.... vehicle of the South Pointing ChariotSouth Pointing Chariot
Supposedly invented sometime around 2600BC in China by the Yellow Emperor Huang Di, the South Pointing Chariot is widely reg... with the distance-measuring odometerOdometer
An odometer is a device used for indicating distance traveled by an automobile or other vehicle.... device.
Venice is the capital of the region of Veneto and the province of the same name in Italy.... , Italy, is founded. It employed some 16000 people for the mass productionMass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products on production lines.... of sailing ships in large assembly lineAssembly line
An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner using optimally pl... s, hundreds of years before the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was the major technological, socioeconomic and cultural change in the late 18th and early 19th cen... .
