Time Period 1 (1200-1450) Timeline

As an effect of increased trade with Arab communities and the spread of the religion by Sufis (Muslim missionaries), Islam made it's way into Indonesia and most of the large island would convert.  This made Indonesia culturally different from the rest of Southeast Asia, which was mostly Buddhist.

Kilwa, an island located off the coast of East Africa in modern-day southern Tanzania, was the most southern of the major Swahili Coast trading cities that dominated goods coming into and out of Africa from and to Arabia, Persia, and India. Kilwa flourished as an independent city-state from the 12th to 15th century CE largely thanks to the great quantity of gold coming from the kingdom of Great Zimbabwe to Kilwa’s southern outpost of Sofala.

Sundiata unites tribes to form the Mali Empire.  This group would control trade along the Trans-Saharan roads, especially focusing on the transport of gold, salt, and slaves.  Rulers and the elite also converted to Islam as a means of legitimizing their rule and facilitating trade.

After uniting the Mongol tribes together, Temujin becomes Genghis Khan and launches his first invasion of China. Using advanced military tactics and their expert horsemanship, the Mongol Empire would go on to create the largest connected, land-based empire in history. Although roughly 40 million would die during the Mongol Conquests, the peace provided by them after (Pax Mongolica) allowed trade to thrive and innovations to spread from east to west.

The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim sultanate that was existed between the 13th and 16th centuries. Based in Delhi, the territory of the Delhi Sultanate was mainly confined to the northern part of India, though at its peak, it was in control of much of the Indian subcontinent.

Genghis Khan dies in 1227, but his empire continues. After uniting with the Song Dynasty, the Mongolians destroy the Jin Dynasty and establish control of Northern China.

As the Abbasid Caliphate weakened from attacks from the Mongols, former slaves migrated to Egypt and established the Mamluk Sultinate.  They would control the area until the 16th Century.

The Abbasid Caliphate and their capitol were destroyed by the Mongols, leading to a decentralized Islamic world.

After the death of Genghis Khan's eldest grandson Mongke, the Mongolian Empire fractured into khanates ruled by other grandsons: The Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia, The Golden Horde in Northwest Asia/Russia, The Ilkhanate in the Middle East, and the Yuan Dyansty in East Asia/China.

Also known as the Kingdom of Abyssinia, it was ruled by a line of kings who claimed direct descent from the Biblical King Solomon. It was the only Christian Empire in a sea of surrounding Islamic States. Their obsession of Judaism is an example of syncretism, and the Empire would last until the 20th century.

Building upon the work of previous Dynasties, the Mongol controlled Yuan Dyansty extended the impressive Grand Canal to Beijing and Northern China.

After using the Songs to defeat the Jin Dynasty in Northern Dynasty, Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis) would eventually turn on and destroyed the Song Dynasty. In its wake, he established the Yuan Dynasty which tried to mirror the governing style and culture of traditional Chinese rule.

The European/Christian Crusade to remove Muslims from Jerusalem comes to an end when the Mamluks defeat the Catholics and destroy the last Christian stronghold in the area.

Majapahit was an Indianized kingdom based in eastern Java from 1293 to around 1500. Its greatest ruler was Hayam Wuruk, whose reign from 1350 to 1389 marked the empire's peak. It was the last major Hindu Kingdom in Southeast Asia, but it would die out as Islam became the dominant religion of Indonesia.

With innovations like the magnetic compass, astrolabe, lateen sail, larger ship designs, and improving knowledge of the Monsoon Winds, trade began to flourish in this region. This would continue for centuries until national control created barriers to trade.

The book would discuss his experiences traveling along the silk roads and especially, his service in the court of Kublai Khan in the Yuan Dynasty. His fantastic tales of Asia would inspire future explorers to find a faster route to the area.

The legendary Mansa Musa embarked on his illustrious Hajj (Pilgrimage) to Mecca. In addition to being a devout Muslim, Musa used this as an opportunity to show off the wealth of his empire and bring back influential scholars that could help his nation continue to grow and improve.

Traveling from Morocco in Northern Africa, across the Trans-Saharan Trade routes and the sea to the Middle East, and then along the Silk Roads Central and South Asia, Ibn would describe the cultures he encountered, mostly commentating on whether or not Muslims were worshiping as they should be. His experiences would eventually be published, and his writings served as important historical documents for future generations.

Actually lasting 116 years, this war was a series of conflicts between England and France. Eventually, England would lose most of its territorial claims in France. Death due to this war and the Black Death ended the Feudal System in this area of Europe. Cannons, relying on the Chinese Invention of gunpowder, used for the first time in European warfare.

Spreading along trade routes from East to West, the Black Death would reach its highest mortality rates in this year. Around 200 million people are estimated to have been killed by the disease in Eurasia, and Europe lost roughly half of its population. Labor shortages because of the disease would bring an end to Feudalism.

After years of oppression at the hands of the Mongols, Chinese nationalists under Zhu Yuanzhang led a successful rebellion, bringing an end to the Yuan Dynasty and marking the beginning of the Ming Dynasty.

A power struggle between the Pope and the King of France led to a brief period of time where two Popes governed the church. This, combined with increased corruption in the church, would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

Brought from India by traders using the Indian Ocean trade routes, this fruit would allow for a growth in population in Africa, as this plant could thrive and sustain populations in areas that were previously uninhabitable.

As Islam spread to Indonesia and the Malay Islands, a sultanate (Islamic government) was established along the strait of Malacca. Since this passage connected the Indian Ocean to East Asia and China, this sultanate would flourish by controlling trade in the region and through alliances with China made through Zheng He.

Zheng He was a Chinese explorer who lead seven great voyages on behalf of the Chinese emperor. These voyages traveled through the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and along the east coast of Africa. His seven total voyages were diplomatic, military, and trading ventures, and lasted from 1405 – 1433.

After journeying from England, throughout Europe, and eventually to Jerusalem, Margery Kempe completes the first autobiography which focuses especially on her religious experiences. Her travels and writings have been used as source by both historians and psychologists.

After forming a triple alliance to defeat a nearby rival, three tribes remain united to form the Aztec Empire with its capital at Tenochtitlan. Using a tribute system, a powerful military, religion, and floating gardens, this empire would thrive for nearly a century before the Spanish arrived.

After uniting neighboring tribal groups into an Empire, the Incas would establish the largest Pre-Columbian Empire in the Americas. Despite not having a writing system and living in an extremely mountainous terrain, the Inca would use a complex knot system, periods of forced labor (Mita system), well developed roads and efficient trade, terrace farming, and an efficient government to thrive until the arrival of the Spanish.

Although it would remain in pockets of Europe, including Russia, Feudalism had generally ended by the beginning of the 16th century. Its demise was the result of laborers becoming more valuable after staggering death rates due to centuries of disease and war, as well as the opening of new trade routes to other areas of the world and the establishment of market economies. This generally marks the end of the Medieval Era, and signals a transition to the Age of Exploration, the Renaissance, and the rise of Empire States worldwide.