12th century in North American history
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| Centuries: |
11th century - 12th century - 13th century |
The 12th century in North American history provides a time line of events occurring within the present political boundaries of United States (including territories) from 1101 through 1200 in the Gregorian calendar. Although this time line segment may include some European or other world events that profoundly influenced later American life, it focuses on developments within Native American (and Polynesian) communities. Because the indigenous peoples of these regions lacked a written language, we must glean events from the admittedly very incomplete archaeological record and place them in time through radiocarbon dating techniques.
- The Inuit Thule people largely displaced the old Dorset culture in arctic Alaska.
- The most important city of the Mississippian culture of mound builders, Cahokia on the Mississippi River opposite modern Saint Louis, Missouri, reached its zenith with a population near 20,000 or perhaps 40,000. No other city in the United States would boast of such a large population until the early days of the Republic.
- Natives of the American Southwest began evacuating their above-ground pueblos to build spectacular cliff dwellings housing hundreds of people in the later half of the century.
- The Native American population of North America probably peaked near the end of the 12th century.
