Dagomba culture emerges in modern-day northern Ghana
Dagomba are one of the ethnic groups with a sophisticated oral tradition. Most of their history, until quite recently, has been passed down via oral tradition with drummers as professional griots.
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The Kingdom of Mapungubwe thrives in modern-day South Africa
The Kingdom of Mapungubwe (c.1075–1220) was a medieval state in South Africa located at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers, south of Great Zimbabwe.
The Vazimba kingdoms emerge in the central highlands of Madagascar
The first period of Malagasy oral history is known as the Vazimba period, beginning with the Vazimbas’ establishment of kingdoms – often ruled by Queens – in the central Highlands region of Madagascar.
Merchant guilds begin to form across Europe
The earliest types of guild formed as a confraternities of tradesmen. They were organized in a manner something between a professional association, a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society.
The Chinese of the Song Dynasty invent the fire lance
The fire lance was a very early gunpowder weapon that appeared in 10th century China during the Jin-Song Wars.
The Chinese of the Song Dynasty invent dry docks
A dry dock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform.
Early versions of the Bessemer process for producing steel are invented in East Asia
Economic historian Robert Hartwell writes that the Chinese of the Song Dynasty innovated a “partial decarbonization” method of repeated forging of cast iron under a cold blast.
Inuit culture emerges in the Arctic
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting Inuit Nunangat, the regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska
The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa flourishes in modern-day Sri Lanka
The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was the Sinhalese kingdom from which Sri Lankan kings ruled the island from the 11th century until 1310 CE.
Construction begins at the Grand Ball Court of Chichen Itza
The Great Ballcourt of Chichen Itza, measuring 146 m x 36 m, is the largest in Mesoamerica.