1200–1299 (A.D.) World History

The Crusades

King John (1167–1216) Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)

1200–1204

Fourth Crusade.

1211

Genghis Khan invades China, captures Peking (1214), conquers Persia (1218), invades Russia (1223), dies (1227).

1212

Children's Crusade.

1215

King John forced by barons to sign Magna Carta at Runneymede, limiting royal power.

1217

Fifth Crusade.

1228

Sixth Crusade.

1231

The Inquisition begins as Pope Gregory IX assigns Dominicans responsibility for combating heresy. Torture used (1252). Ferdinand and Isabella establish Spanish Inquisition (1478). Tourquemada, Grand Inquisitor, forces conversion or expulsion of Spanish Jews (1492). Forced conversion of Moors (1499). Inquisition in Portugal (1531). First Protestants burned at the stake in Spain (1543). Spanish Inquisition abolished (1834).

1241

Mongols defeat Germans in Silesia, invade Poland and Hungary, withdraw from Europe after Ughetai, Mongol leader, dies.

1248

Seventh Crusade.

1251

Kublai Khan governs China, becomes ruler of Mongols (1259), establishes Yuan dynasty in China (1280), invades Burma (1287), dies (1294).

1260

Chartres cathedral consecrated.

1270

Eighth Crusade.

1271

Marco Polo of Venice travels to China, in court of Kublai Khan (1275–1292), returns to Genoa (1295) and writes Travels.

1273

Thomas Aquinas stops work on Summa Theologica, the basis of all Catholic theological teaching; never completes it.

1295

English King Edward I summons the Model Parliament.