Century

13th Century BCE

What happened in the 13th Century BCE.

Foundation of Lamu as a Swahili City-State CivilizationFoundation of Lamu as a Swahili City-Statec. 1300 CE · Lamu, KenyaThe city of Lamu is founded as a major trading port connecting the African interior to the Indian Ocean.Establishment of Lapita Pottery Tradition ArtEstablishment of Lapita Pottery Traditionc. 1300 BCE · New Britain, Papua New GuineaLapita potters develop distinctive dentate-stamped decoration techniques that define their culture.Hunting and Extinction of the Moa in New Zealand DisasterHunting and Extinction of the Moa in New Zealandc. 1300 to 1450 CE · South Island, New ZealandIntensive hunting by Māori leads to the rapid extinction of the giant flightless moa birds.Raden Wijaya Founding of Majapahit Empire PoliticsRaden Wijaya Founding of Majapahit Empire1293 CE · Trowulan, Java, IndonesiaRaden Wijaya defeats the Mongol invaders and establishes the Majapahit Empire in East Java.Dai Viet Repels Third Mongol Invasion WarDai Viet Repels Third Mongol Invasion1288 CE · Bach Dang River, VietnamTran Hung Dao defeats the Mongol fleet using stakes and tidal knowledge at Bach Dang.Māori Settlement of Aotearoa (New Zealand) ExplorationMāori Settlement of Aotearoa (New Zealand)c. 1280 CE · North Island, New ZealandPolynesian voyagers from East Polynesia arrive in Aotearoa, marking the last major human migration.Absence of Pottery in Māori Culture ScienceAbsence of Pottery in Māori Culturec. 1280 CE onwards · New ZealandMāori settlers abandon pottery making upon arrival in New Zealand due to lack of suitable clay and fuel.Battle of Kadesh WarBattle of Kadeshc. 1274 BCE · Syria/Lebanon BorderEgypt and Hittites clash in the largest chariot battle of antiquity resulting in a peace treaty.Battle of Kadesh: Hittites vs. Egyptians WarBattle of Kadesh: Hittites vs. Egyptiansc. 1274 BCE · Kadesh (Tall al-Nabi Mind), SyriaRamesses II and Muwatalli II clash in the largest chariot battle of antiquity.Solomonic Restoration in Ethiopia PoliticsSolomonic Restoration in Ethiopiac. 1270 CE · Lalibela, EthiopiaYekuno Amlak restores the Solomonic dynasty, claiming direct descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.Signing of the Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty PoliticsSigning of the Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treatyc. 1259 BCE · Hattusa (Bogazkoy), Turkey / Thebes, EgyptRamses II and Hattusili III sign the world's first known peace treaty.Completion of Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks ReligionCompletion of Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks1251 CE · Haeinsa Temple, KoreaGoryeo completes the most complete Buddhist canon carved on woodblocks to repel Mongol invasion.Mongol Invasions of Goryeo Begin WarMongol Invasions of Goryeo Begin1231 CE · Seoul (Hanyang), KoreaMongol forces under General Saritai invade Goryeo, initiating decades of conflict and vassalage.