Editing 12th century (section)

=== Undated ===
[[Image:East-Hem 1200ad.jpg|thumb|300px|Eastern Hemisphere at the end of the 12th century]]
*China is under the [[Northern Song dynasty]]. Early in the century, [[Zhang Zeduan]] paints ''[[Along the River During the Qingming Festival]]''. It will later end up in the [[Palace Museum]], Beijing.
* In southeast Asia, there is conflict between the [[Khmer Empire]] and the [[Champa]]. [[Angkor Wat]] is built under the Hindu king [[Suryavarman II]]. By the end of the century, the Buddhist [[Jayavarman VII]] becomes the ruler.
* Japan is in its [[Heian period]]. The [[Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga]] is made and attributed to [[Toba Sōjō]]. It ends up at the [[Kōzan-ji]], [[Kyoto]].
* In Oceania, the [[Tuʻi Tonga Empire]] expands to a much greater area.
* Europe undergoes the [[Renaissance of the 12th century]]. The [[blast furnace]] for the smelting of [[cast iron]] is imported from China, appearing around [[Lapphyttan]], Sweden, as early as [[1150]].
* [[Alexander Neckam]] is the first European to document the mariner's [[compass]], first documented by [[Shen Kuo]] during the previous century.
* [[Christian humanism]] becomes a self-conscious philosophical tendency in Europe. Christianity is also introduced to [[Estonia]], [[Finland]], and [[Karelia]].
* The first [[medieval university|medieval universities]] are founded. [[Pierre Abelard]] teaches.
* [[Middle English]] begins to develop, and literacy begins to spread outside the Church throughout Europe.{{sfn|Warren|1961|p=129}} In addition, churchmen are increasingly willing to take on secular roles. By the end of the century, at least a third of England's bishops also act as royal judges in secular matters.{{sfn|Warren|1961|p=159}}
* The [[Ars antiqua]] period in the history of the [[medieval music]] of Western Europe begins.
* The earliest recorded [[miracle play]] is performed in [[Dunstable]], England.
* [[Gothic architecture]] and [[trouvère]] music begin in France.
* During the middle of the century, the [[Cappella Palatina]] is built in [[Palermo]], Sicily, and the ''[[Madrid Skylitzes]]'' manuscript illustrates the ''Synopsis of Histories'' by [[John Skylitzes]].
* Fire and plague insurance first become available in [[Iceland]], and the first documented outbreaks of [[influenza]] there happens.
* The medieval state of [[Serbia in the Middle Ages|Serbia]] is formed by [[Stefan Nemanja]] and then continued by the [[Nemanjić]] dynasty.
* By the end of the century, both the [[House of Capet|Capetian dynasty]] and the [[House of Plantagenet|House of Anjou]] are relying primarily on [[mercenaries]] in their militaries. Paid soldiers are available year-round, unlike knights who expected certain periods off to maintain their [[manorialism|manor lifestyles]].{{sfn|Warren|1961|p=60-61}}
* In India, [[Hoysala architecture]] reaches its peak.
* In the Middle East, the [[icon]] of [[Theotokos of Vladimir]] is painted probably in [[Constantinople]]. Everything but the faces will later be retouched, and the icon will go to the [[Tretyakov Gallery]] of Moscow.
* The [[Georgians|Georgian]] poet [[Shota Rustaveli]] composes his epic poem ''[[The Knight in the Panther's Skin]]''.
* [[Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi]] founds his "school of illumination".
* In [[North Africa]], the [[kasbah]] of [[Marrakesh]] is built, including the city gate [[Bab Agnaou]] and the [[Koutoubia]] mosque.
* In [[sub-Saharan Africa]], [[Kente cloth]] is first woven.
* In [[France]], the first [[piedfort]] coins were minted.
* The city of [[Tula (Mesoamerican site)|Tula]] burns down, marking the end of the [[Toltec Empire]]
* In [[West Africa]] the [[Ife Empire]] is established.