1204 – Byzantium – Crusaders conquer Byzantium. The results indicate possible discovery of texts from ancient Greek times play a pivotal role in framing things to come.

1209 – Italy – Saint Francis of Assisi forms the Franciscan Order. Pope Honorius the Third grants rule to the order via confirmation in the year 1223.

1253 – Italy – Construction for the Church of San Franceso has concluded.

1255 – Italy – The Baptistery of Pisa starts to receive a pulpit being worked on by Nicola Pisano.

1260 – Italy – Siena and Florence meet in battle at Monteaperti. The forces of Siena defeat those of Florence, and begin to erect a cathedral in order to thank the Virgin Mary for her protection during the battle at Monteaperti against the Florentines. Legenda Maior, a biographical account of Saint Francis, begins to be written by Saint Bonaventure. Around this time as well, the Golden Legend, a hagiographical compilation begins to be put together by Jacopo da Voragine.

1265 – Italy – Charles D’Anjou takes over the Kingdom of Naples. Commission is received by Nicola Pisano for completion of the pulpit of the Cathedral of Siena.

1278 – Italy – An earthquake destroys the original Sancta Sanctorum in Rome, but then Nicolas the Third orders it to be rebuilt. Nicola Pisano is contracted to work on chiseling sculptures on the facade of the Baptistry of Pisa and concludes work of the Perugian Fontana Maggiore.

1279 – Italy – Building of the Florentine Church of Santa Maria Novella has commenced. After 1279, the frescoes in the Upper Church of San Francesco in Assisi are being worked on by Cimabue.

1285 – Italy – Giovanni Pisano relinqueshes his Pisan citizenship in order to obtain Sienese citizenship. He also commences work on the facade of the Cathedral of Siena.