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3300 BCE
Sumer
Sumer is the earliest known civilization. They had cuneiform, which is the earliest known form of writing. They also had Gilgamesh, which is the first great work mom writing. -
2600 BCE
Harappan Civilization
Harappa was a large capital in the Indus River Valley. Their civilization flourished until it all of the sudden disappeared. Their are many different theories as to what happened to them but we don't know what happened for sure. The theories include flooding, over-farming, earthquake, or a massacre. -
2500 BCE
The Old Kingdom of Egypt
During this time The Pyramids were built and the Great Sphinx was built. Pharaohs were buried in pyramids and were thought to be God-like. -
2000 BCE
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt
This time period was considered the golden age. Hidden tombs were built and tombs were easy to rob. Pharaohs were buried in many different places and were wise rulers. -
1766 BCE
Shang Dynasty starts
During this time there were many large palaces and tombs, and a caste system was established. They worshipped the god Shang Di, and they used ancestor worship. Fu Hao was a very monumental person in this Dynasty because she was a female military leader, she had a large tomb that was filled with bronze masks and bowls. -
1500 BCE
Aryan Migration
The Aryans were Indo-European Nomads who started their migration into the Indus River Valley in 1500 and expanded into India is 1000 BC. Their form of writing was called Sanskrit, and their religion is believed t be the start of Hinduism. The Aryans also established a caste system and had a polytheistic religion. -
1122 BCE
Zhou Dynasty starts
The Zhou dynasty overthrew the Shang Dynasty in 1122 BC. This Dynasty had a growing economy, and was known as the Iron Age because of the developments in iron production. In this Dynasty they believed in the Mandate of Heaven. This philosophy basically stated that the gods gave rulers the right to rule. -
1000 BCE
The New Kingdom of Egypt
They conquered many areas under the rule of Ramses the Great. Pharaohs were buried in the Valley of Kings, and a powerful army was created for better defense. This period of time was the time of expansion. -
626 BCE
Babylonian Empire Starts
Babylonians built great walls, the most famous being the Ishtar gate. Hammurabi was the King of Babylon. He established Hammurabi's code, a harsh set of laws. -
550 BCE
Persian Empire Starts
The Persian empire began in conquest and ended in defeat in 330 BC. The Persians were big time traders, and they established the first alphabet. This empire had the well know leaders Darius I, and Cyrus the Great. -
221 BCE
Warring States Period ends and Qin Dynasty begins
During the warring states period all the different states were fighting for power because the feudal lords in the Zhou Dynasty had become to powerful. Shi Huangdi led the Qin Dynasty to victory and started Legalism. Legalism basically said that mankind is greedy, and only through punishment can they learn from their mistakes. They built a large tomb for Shi Huangdi that was filled with 8,000 terra-cotta warriors. That display is considered the 9th wonder of the world. -
1325
The Beginnings of the Aztec Empire
The Aztec capital city was located at Tenochtitlan or modern day Mexico City. The Aztec empire covered near all of present day Mexico. The Aztecs were very talented artists and architects. They built canals and beautiful objects made from gold and feathers.
