History

Century

Circa 1284-1292

Villard de Honnecourt

History of Watchmaking

Clocks with weights, gears and regulators inspired devices, most often with no dial, that struck the important moments of community life.
In 1291, Prince Asulid of Yemen made a remarkable astrolabe.

World history

The Mongols invaded Central Asia and settled in the Russian steppe.
1285. Spectacles were made in Northern Italy.
1291. End of the Crusades in the Holy Land.

Swiss history

1291. Foundation of the Helvetic Confederation by a perpetual pact - the "Eternal League" - between the three forest cantons or Waldstätten: Uri, Schwytz and Unterwald.

Art and Culture

In China, some 400,000 craftsmen were employed in the manufacture of luxurious porcelain, textiles and metalwork for the Emperor.
The dominant style in Central American arts and crafts was Mixteca-Puebla, with its colourful, geometric patterns.