13th century in North American history

The 13th century in North American history provides a time line of events occurring within the present political boundaries of United States (including territories) from 1201 through 1300 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 Native American population of North America probably peaked early in the 13th century and began to decline thereafter.

* The Inuit Thule people have completely displaced the old Dorset culture in Arctic Alaska.

* Pueblo people in the American Southwest evacuate most above-ground pueblos to build spectacular cliff dwellings housing hundreds of people.

* The dominant Anasazi begin gradually absorbing the Mongollon culture in the American Southwest.

* Athapaskan-speaking people begin migrating from the prairies of Alberta and Montana toward the American Southwest.

* The Four Corners area of the American Southwest suffered severe droughts late in the century, causing many Pueblos to abandon their cliff dwellings for irrigable settlements along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico.