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Period: 30,000 BCE to 3000 BCE
Prehistory
Consists of 3 eras: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic. -
Period: 30,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE
Paleolithic
Also called the Old Stone Age, the Paleolithic period was a period in prehistory that showed the first stages of humans developing technology like stone tools. -
25,000 BCE
The Woman of Willendorf
Found in 1908 at Willendorf, Austria. The female figure is suspected to be made for religious reasons. -
20,000 BCE
Chauvet Cave
Found in southeastern France in 1994, this cave contains some of the best-preserved cave paintings in the world. -
20,000 BCE
Lascaux Cave Paintings
This cave in southwestern France has over 600 paintings that covered the walls and ceilings. The paintings were mostly animals and plants. -
15,500 BCE
Bradshaw Rock Paintings
Found in the north-west Kimberley region of Western Australia. These paintings were considered to be made by indigenous Australians. -
Period: 10,000 BCE to 8000 BCE
Mesolithic
The Mesolithic Period showed the start of fishing, food gathering, and animal domestication.The start and end dates of the period varied by region. -
Period: 10,000 BCE to 3000 BCE
Neolithic
The Neolithic period showed the start of farming and permanent homes. This period is known for its megalithic structures. -
9000 BCE
The Dance of Cogul
A dance scene found in Roca dels Moros in Spain. Nine women, painted in black and red, appear to be dancing. Animals were also painted alongside them. -
9000 BCE
Ain Sakhri lovers
This sculpture was found in the Ain Sakhri caves near Bethlehem. It is considered to be one of the first sculptures to show intimate actions. -
6000 BCE
Elk's Head of Huittinen
This moose head sculpture made out of soapstone was found in 1903 at Satakunta, Finland. -
5000 BCE
Thinker of Cernavoda
This terracotta sculpture was unearthed in 1956. Similar sculptures were found near Cernavoda in Romania. -
Period: 4100 BCE to 600 BCE
Mesopotamia
Consists of the Sumerians, Babylonians, Akkadians, Assyrians, and Neo Babylonians. -
Period: 4100 BCE to 1750 BCE
Sumer
Sumer was the earliest civilization in Mesopotamia. Urban settlements due to farming were formed and the beginnings of writing were established. -
3200 BCE
The Gebel el-Arak Knife
Gebel el-Arak Knife is a knife made out of ivory and flint. The handle has carved low reliefs showing a battle. -
Period: 3150 BCE to 2900 BCE
Protodynastic
Also known as Naqada III, this period had the formation of states and powerful kings. -
3000 BCE
Stonehenge
Located on Salisbury Plain in the county of Wiltshire in south central England, it is uncertain whether this megalithic structure served funerary purposes, ritual purposes, or both. -
3000 BCE
Narmer Palette
This palette contains some of the first hieroglyphics ever recorded. Palettes were usually given as temple offerings. -
Period: 2686 BCE to 2181 BCE
Old Kingdom
The Old Kingdom showed the development of many different concepts and practices. Much of what we know of the Old Kingdom is based on their burials. -
2600 BCE
Stele of the Vultures
The Stele of the Vultures is a monument made to celebrate a victory of Lagash over its neighbour. It shows many battle scenes and is named after the vulture in those scenes. -
2500 BCE
Great Lyre
Considered to be one of the oldest stringed instruments ever found, this lyre was found in the Royal Cemetery of Ur in the 1920s. -
2500 BCE
The Seated Scribe
This sculpture of a scribe sitting was found in a tomb at Saqqara. The sculpture was made to ensure that the scribe would be able to continue his work in the afterlife. -
2472 BCE
Menkaure and Queen
This life-size statue of the pharaoh Menkaure and a queen was found in the Giza pyramids. The pharaoh and the queen are both taking a step forward, representing stepping to the afterlife. -
Period: 2271 BCE to 2154 BCE
Akkadian
The Akkadian Empire is considered to be the first ancient empire of Mesopotamia after Sumer. The Akkadian Empire had major military influence across Mesopotamia. -
2254 BCE
Victory Stele of Naram-Sin
This Akkadian stele shows Naram-Sin's defeat of the Lullubi. Naram-Sin was Sargon's grandson and was considered "Ruler of the World". -
2200 BCE
Head of an Akkadian Ruler
This head is made of bronze, and was supposedly a sculpture of Sarnon II. One of the eyes is damaged, though the cause is unknown. -
2090 BCE
Statue of Gudea
This sculpture is of Gudea, who was a king of Lagash. His robes have writing that describes him as a divine king. -
Period: 2055 BCE to 1650 BCE
Middle Kingdom
The Middle Kingdom showed changes to principles from the Old Kingdom. Many monuments were constantly replaced and badly preserved, so not much of the Middle Kingdom is recorded. -
Period: 2025 BCE to 609 BCE
Assyrian
Assyria was one of the largest empires in ancient Mesopotamia.This was due to their warrior kings and the fact that the Assyrian army was the strongest military in the world. -
Period: 1894 BCE to 1595 BCE
Babylonian
Located in southeastern Mesopotamia , Babylon became the center for trading commerce. Before it became Babylon, it was divided into two countries: Sumer and Akkad. -
1859 BCE
Coffin of Senbi
These coffins were the most common type of coffin during the Middle Kingdom. Prayers to Anubis, Osiris, and many other gods were written in the side for items in the afterlife. -
1755 BCE
The Stele of Hammurabi
This stele was a Babylonian legal text written by Hammurabi, who was the sixth king of Babylon. The top of the stele has a relief of Hammurabi with the god of justice. -
1750 BCE
Burney Relief
Also known as the “Queen of the Night” relief, this Babylonian relief is said to have been used as a shrine in a mansion or a tomb. -
Period: 1550 BCE to 1069 BCE
New Kingdom
The New Kingdom marked the peak of Egypt's power and is considered to be a "golden age". -
1350 BCE
Nebamun Hunting
This belonged to a series of frescoes in the scribe Nebamun's tomb. This specific piece shows Nebamun hunting birds and fish with his family. -
1345 BCE
The Bust of Nefertiti
This bust is of Nefertiti, the royal wife of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. It was found in Thutmose's workshop in Amarna, Egypt. It is considered one of the most copied works of Egypt. -
1290 BCE
Tomb of Horemheb
The tomb of Horemheb is located in Saqqara. It was made before Horemheb became pharaoh, so he never used this tomb. His two wives, however, are buried here. -
700 BCE
Lamassu
Lamassus were high-relief sculptures that appeared during Assyrian times. They were human hybrids, with a head of a human, the body of a bull, and wings of a bird. -
645 BCE
The Lion Hunt of Ashurbanipal
These Assyrian palace reliefs show King Ashurbanipal in an arena, where he slughterslions with various weapons. -
Period: 626 BCE to 539 BCE
Neo Babylonian
Also known as the Second Babylonian Empire, this was the last of the Mesopotamian empires. -
575 BCE
Ishtar Gate
This gate was the eighth entryway located in the city of Babylon. The blue walls have reliefs of many animals and gods.