1200s BC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Centuries: | 13th century BC - 12th century BC - 11th century BC |
| Decades: | 1230s BC 1220s BC 1210s BC - 1200s BC - 1190s BC 1180s BC 1170s BC |
| Years: | 1203 BC 1202 BC 1201 BC - 1200 BC - 1199 BC 1198 BC 1197 BC |
[edit] Events and trends
- 1204 BC - Theseus, legendary King of Athens, is deposed after a reign of 30 years and succeeded by Menestheus, great-grandson of Erichthonius II of Athens and second cousin of Theseus' father Aegeus. Menestheus is reportedly assisted by Castor and Polydeuces of Sparta, who want to reclaim their sister Helen from her first husband Theseus. Theseus seeks refuge in Skyros, whose King Lycomedes is an old friend and ally. Lycomedes, however, considers his visitor a threat to the throne and proceeds to assassinate him. (Other accounts place these events a decade earlier. See 1210s BC.)
- c. 1200 BC - The Cimmerians start settling the steppes of southern Russia? (Undocumented conjecture).
- 1200 BC - Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica started.
- 1200 BC - Collapse of Hittite power in Anatolia with the destruction of their capital Hattusa.
- c. 1200 BC - New Kingdom ends in Ancient Egypt (Another date is 1075 BC).
