Year by year · 13th century

1240

1240 in world history: 9 events, 5 deaths, 1 state founded and 2 that came to an end. 699 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 6 December

    The Mongols sack Kiev

    Batu Khan's army stormed Kiev after a siege, massacring much of the population. A traveller passing a few years later reported barely 200 houses standing; the city's ruin ended Kievan Rus as a power.

  2. Siege

    Mali conquest of Koumbi Saleh

    The Mali conquest of Koumbi Saleh in 1240 was the capture of the former capital of the Ghana Empire by the forces of Sundiata Keita.

ProfileState622 states with a known seat in 1240Open the atlas at 1240 →

In the profiles

  • Mali EmpireMali traditionally captures Koumbi Saleh, the former capital of Ghana
  • Golden HordeBatu's armies take Kiev
  • Kievan Rus'Batu Khan's Mongol army storms and sacks Kiev

Wars and longer events

Died in 1240 5

States founded 1

States that came to an end 2

All years → The 13th century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1240. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1240
MLA
“1240.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1240. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1240.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1240.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1240’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1240 (Accessed: ).