Century
12th Century BCE
What happened in the 12th Century BCE.
ReligionZoroaster Preaches Dualistic Monotheismc. 1200 BCE · Greater Khorasan, Iran/Afghanistan border regionThe prophet Zoroaster establishes a dualistic faith emphasizing the cosmic struggle between good and evil in ancient Persia.
CivilizationConstruction and Peak of Great Zimbabwec. 1200 CE · Great Zimbabwe, ZimbabweThe Great Zimbabwe complex reaches its zenith as a major trading hub connecting the interior to the Swahili coast.
TechnologyConstruction of the Benin Walls Beginsc. 1200 CE · Benin City, NigeriaMassive earthwork fortifications begin to encircle Benin City, creating one of the world's largest pre-modern structures.
ArtRock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela Completedc. 1200 CE · Lalibela, EthiopiaKing Lalibela commissions the construction of monolithic rock-hewn churches as a 'New Jerusalem'.
PoliticsEstablishment of the Kilwa Sultanatec. 1200 CE · Kilwa Kisiwani, TanzaniaThe Al-Mansur dynasty establishes the Kilwa Sultanate, dominating East African trade for centuries.
CivilizationSan Lorenzo Tenochtitlán Reaches Zenithc. 1200 BCE · San Lorenzo, Veracruz, MexicoOlmec San Lorenzo becomes the first major urban center in Mesoamerica.
ScienceCreation of the Dresden Codexc. 1200 CE · Chichen Itza/Maya Region, MexicoMaya scribes compile the Dresden Codex containing advanced astronomical tables.
ReligionComposition of the Rigvedac. 1200 BCE · Punjab Region (modern Pakistan/India)The oldest layer of the Vedas is composed orally in Sanskrit, preserving hymns to deities like Indra and Agni.
ReligionConstruction of Marae Complexes Across Polynesiac. 1200 CE · Society Islands, French PolynesiaPolynesian societies build extensive marae temple complexes for religious and social gatherings.
DisasterAbandonment of Hattusa by the Hittitesc. 1200 BCE · Hattusa (Bogazkoy), TurkeyThe Hittite capital is sacked and abandoned during the Bronze Age Collapse.
ReligionJayavarman VII Adopts Mahayana Buddhismc. 1180 CE · Angkor Thom, CambodiaKing Jayavarman VII converts to Mahayana Buddhism and builds the Bayon temple complex.
ReligionConsecration of Angkor Watc. 1150 CE · Angkor Wat, CambodiaKing Suryavarman II dedicates the massive temple complex to Vishnu, marking a shift from Hinduism.
WarJingkang Incident and Fall of Northern Song1127 CE · Kaifeng, ChinaJurchen Jin forces capture the Song capital, abducting emperors and forcing the dynasty south.