History by century · The 1200s BCE
The 13th century BCE
In the 1200s BCE, 60 recorded states existed somewhere in the world. 5 were founded and 13 came to an end. The great powers of the age included the Assyrian Empire, the Egyptian Empire New Kingdom and the Hittite Empire.
Great powers
Profiles of the 13th century BCE, ranked by their military, territorial, economic and historical weight in the Institute’s analysis and by how strong they were in these hundred years.
Assyrian Empire2025 BCE – 609 BCEScore 6.4/10
Egyptian Empire New Kingdom1550 BCE – 1070 BCEScore 7.3/10
Hittite Empire1650 BCE – 1178 BCEScore 5.3/10
Shang dynasty1600 BCE – 1046 BCEScore 4.9/10 · at its peak c. 1200 BCE
Elamite Confederation2700 BCE – 539 BCEScore 4.7/10
Kingdom of Ugarit1800 BCE – 1185 BCEScore 3.9/10 · at its peak c. 1250 BCE
Byblos2600 BCE – 332 BCEScore 4.5/10
Dilmun2200 BCE – 538 BCEScore 3.3/10
Mitanni Empire1590 BCE – 1250 BCEScore 3.7/10
Key events
People
MerneptahPerson · r. c. 1213–1203 BCE
Fu HaoPerson · d. c. 1200 BCE
Suppiluliuma IIPerson · r. from c. 1207 BCE
Wu DingPerson · 13th century BCE
Kashtiliash IVPerson · r. c. 1232–1225 BCE
KuruntaPerson · 13th century BCE
AlaksanduPerson · r. c. 1280 BCE
TarkasnawaPerson · late 13th century BCE- Ammishtamru IIPerson · 13th century BCE
- IbiranuPerson · 13th century BCE
- Niqmaddu IIIPerson · late 13th century BCE
- Shattuara IIPerson · 13th century BCE
Works and ideas
Iron AgeReligion / idea · from c. 1200 BCE
Turin King ListWork / monument · 13th century BCE
RamesseumWork / monument · 13th century BCE
Karabel reliefWork / monument · 13th century BCE
Lion GateWork / monument · c. 1250 BCE
Merneptah SteleWork / monument · c. 1208 BCE
Tawagalawa letterWork / monument · 13th century BCE
Treasury of AtreusWork / monument · c. 1250 BCE
States founded 5
States that came to an end 13
- Azzi-Hayasa 1500 BCE – 1290 BCE
- Kingdom of Hazor 1750 BCE – 1250 BCE
- Mitanni Empire 1590 BCE – 1250 BCE
- Ahhiyawa 1450 BCE – 1200 BCE
- Isuwa 1500 BCE – 1200 BCE
- Kadesh 1500 BCE – 1200 BCE
- Kingdom of Mukish 2000 BCE – 1200 BCE
- Millawanda 1450 BCE – 1200 BCE
- Mycenaean Kingdom of Iolkos 1600 BCE – 1200 BCE
- Mycenaean Kingdom of Laconia 1500 BCE – 1200 BCE
- Mycenaean Kingdom of Orchomenos 1600 BCE – 1200 BCE
- Mycenaean Kingdom of Thebes 1600 BCE – 1200 BCE
- Upi 1500 BCE – 1200 BCE
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). The 13th century BCE. In The Epoch Institute. https://the-epoch-institute.org/centuries/13th-century-bce
- MLA
- “The 13th century BCE.” The Epoch Institute, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/centuries/13th-century-bce. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “The 13th century BCE.” The Epoch Institute. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/centuries/13th-century-bce.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘The 13th century BCE’, The Epoch Institute. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/centuries/13th-century-bce (Accessed: ).