Western Xia, also called the Tangut Empire, was a state in northwestern China founded by the Tangut people, whose ruler Li Yuanhao declared himself emperor. It controlled the Ordos region, the Hexi Corridor and parts of today's Ningxia and Gansu, with a capital at Xingqing, now Yinchuan. It sat astride the Silk Road, which brought wealth, and it fought and traded with the Song, the Liao and the Jin. The Tanguts created their own script, based on the Chinese model but unrelated in meaning, and they were devout Buddhists who produced many printed texts. Genghis Khan campaigned against Western Xia repeatedly, and it was destroyed by the Mongols in the war during which he died.
Before and after
- 1031Construction of Krak des Chevaliers
- from 1035 to 1707Kingdom of Aragon
- from 1037 to 1194Seljuk Empire
- 18 June 1037Death of Avicenna
- from 1038 to 1227Western Xia
- from 1040 to 1147Almoravid dynasty
- 1044Anawrahta founds the Pagan Empire in Burma
- c. 1048Origins of Oslo
- 18 May 1048Birth of Omar Khayyám
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 618 CE to 907 CETang dynasty
- 622 CEConstruction of Prophet's Mosque
- 637 CEConstruction of Potala Palace
- from 750 CE to 1258Abbasid Caliphate
- from 800 CE to 1258Islamic Golden Age
- 1070Construction of Windsor Castle
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 11th century.