1236 CE
A year marked by the Castilian reconquest of Cordoba, one of the great cultural centers of Islamic Spain, and the continued expansion of Mongol power under Ogedei Khan across Eurasia.
Conflict & Security
- King Ferdinand III of Castile captured the city of Cordoba on June 29, reconquering one of the most important cities of Islamic civilization in the Iberian Peninsula after over five centuries of Muslim rule.
- The Great Mosque of Cordoba, one of the architectural masterpieces of the Islamic world, was consecrated as a Christian cathedral following the city's capture by Castilian forces.
- Mongol armies under Batu Khan began assembling forces for the great western campaign that would devastate Eastern Europe in the following years.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 275 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Culture & Society
- The estimated world population was approximately 376 million.