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Period: 40,000 BCE to 80,000 BCE
Clovis People
Name is derived from the first spear point found near Clovis, New Mexico, inhabited the entire present-day United States and northern Mexico. However, very little records of their lives were documented. -
Period: 29,000 BCE to 1500 BCE
The Minoans
A very advanced civilization, with a written language and paintings left on walls to explain the daily life of ancient people. However, due to natural catastrophes the entire civilization disappeared. -
Period: 10,000 BCE to 3500 BCE
The Stone Age
The Stone Age is a prehistoric period when stone was used to make tools. The Stone Age is typically divided into 3 periods- Old Stone, Middle Stone and New Stone. -
8000 BCE
Neolithic Revolution (The Beginning of Agriculture)
This time period was a very important time in human history. During this time, hunters and gatherers begin to settle down into villages and began farming and domesticating animals. -
7000 BCE
Catalhoyuk
This is a Neolithic city, in modern day Turkey. Catalhoyuk is a great example of the kind of place hunter and gatherers began settling down. -
6500 BCE
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
These cities are located in modern day Pakistan and West India and also located in the Indus River Valley. The people of the Indus River Valley civilizations were very developed compared to other civilizations. -
6000 BCE
Faiyum
In modern day Egypt and one of the earliest civilizations along the Nile Valley. This civilization is known for domesticating barley, wheat, sheep and goats. -
Period: 3500 BCE to 479 BCE
The Bronze and Iron Ages
This is a period in history that is characterized by the use of bronze. The Iron Age soon followed as people across Europe, Asia and parts of Africa began making tools and weapons from iron and steel. -
Period: 3500 BCE to 30
Egyptian Kingdom
Egypt was settled very early in World History because it was a large oasis fed by the Nile River. During the rise of Egypt King Narmer united lower and upper Egypt. However this ended when the Roman Empire conquered Egypt. -
Period: 2686 BCE to 2181 BCE
Egyptian Kingdom: The Old Kingdom
The Old Kingdom was a period of prosperity and disunity, also known as the "Age of Pyramids". King Djoser created a new era of building. -
Period: 2330 BCE to 2220 BCE
The Sumerian Empire (Akkadian Dynasty)
King Sargon of Akkad was founder of this empire. Although there were civilizations before this empire, civilians of Sumer were the first ones to introduce Imperialism. -
Period: 2220 BCE to 586 BCE
The Babylonian Empire
This was a city-state on the Euphrates River that emerged after the fall of the Akkadian Empire. The Babylonian Empire was known to be wealthy, which lead to them being a easy target for desert nomads. -
2055 BCE
Mentuhotep II
Mentuhtep II came to throne and took advantage of a revolt to launch an attack on the city of Herakleopolis, with little resistance. This victory lead to his entire control over all of Egypt. -
Period: 2000 BCE to 1700 BCE
Egyptian Kingdom: The Middle Kingdom
During this time Egypt fell into a dark period with weak kings and the loss of unification between upper and lower Egypt. The popular religion during this time was the cult of Osiris. -
1792 BCE
Hammurabi
Leader of the desert nomads (Amorites), that invaded Babylonia. He was crowned king after defeating the rest of the Sumerian city-states. He was most known for his code of laws that implied punishment should be equal to the crime committed. -
Period: 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE
Shang Dynasty in China
First recorded Chinese dynasty that actually had documented and archaeological evidence. This dynasty was based on agriculture- millet, wheat and barley. As well as other crops, silkworms, pigs, dogs, sheep and oxen. The Shang Dynasty also advanced science and the art of metal. -
Period: 1600 BCE to 1100 BCE
The Mycenaean
The up and coming power after the fall of the Minoan Civilization. They classified their time as the "Heroic Age" due to many of their paintings depicting warriors performing heroic acts. -
1595 BCE
Hittites
A civilization that occupied regions known as the Asia Minor and Turkey. They defeated and controlled the Babylonian city-state. -
Period: 1550 BCE to 1200 BCE
Late Bronze Age
This was a time of economic prosperity for the Phoenician trading centers. -
Period: 1550 BCE to 539 BCE
The Phoenicians
The Phoenicians was not much of a military empire, but more of a confederation of maritime traders. Their most prized possession was their Purple Dye, made out of cedars of Lebanon and murex shells. The Phoenicians played a big role in the development of the Western alphabets, including the English alphabet. -
Period: 1508 BCE to 1458 BCE
Queen Hatshepsut
She was the longest reigning queen of any Egyptian dynasty. She was also the most successful pharaoh. -
Period: 1500 BCE to 30
Egyptian Kingdom: The New Kingdom
This time period included some of Egypt's most famous pharaohs and what most people think about ancient Egypt. -
Period: 1479 BCE to 1425 BCE
Thutmose III
Expanded Egypt's army, which came with power and wealth. -
Period: 1386 BCE to 1349 BCE
Amenhotep III
During his time there was unprecedented prosperity and artistic splendor. Also during his time, Egypt peaked of its international power. -
Period: 1353 BCE to 1336 BCE
Akhenaten
For only ruling for 17 years, he was most notable for abandoning traditional Egyptian religions and introduced the worshiping of one god. However, his ideas were not accepted. -
Period: 1332 BCE to 1323 BCE
Tutankhamun
His tomb was found fully intact in 1922, creating a huge spark of interest in ancient Egypt. King Tut's mask is now on display in the Cairo Museum. DNA test results that came back in 2010 identified that he was the son of Akhenaten and Akhenaten's sister. -
Period: 1279 BCE to 1213 BCE
Ramses II
Often known as the greatest, most celebrated and most powerful pharaoh of Egypt. -
1194 BCE
Trojan War
A conflict that arose between Troy and Mycenaean people of Greece. During this war some of the greatest writers came about- Homer, Herodotus, Sophocles and Virgil. -
Period: 1100 BCE to 750 BCE
The Greek Dark Age
After the Trojan War, the Mycenaeans went through a period of Civil War, which lead to the Dorian invaders taking over. During this period art, architecture, writing and other forms of progress were lost. -
Period: 800 BCE to 500 BCE
Roman Empire
King Tarquin the Proud was the last king of Rome. After the fall of King Tarquin, Rome agreed to never be subjects to anyone ever again. -
Period: 750 BCE to 480 BCE
The Archaic Period
During this time art became very popular, more specifically pottery and sculpture. Advancements in politics and culture were also common. -
Period: 600 BCE to 539 BCE
King Nebuchadnezzar II
After the fall of Babylonia, King Nebuchadnezzar II revived the Babylonian city-state and sent soldiers into Jerusalem in a rebellion. This rebellion is recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible. -
Period: 500 BCE to 336 BCE
The Classical Period
The Greeks began to come in conflict with the Kingdom of Persia. Athens also began to reach the greatest heights in politics- political systems and buildings. -
Period: 49 BCE to 44 BCE
Roman Civil War
This war was due to confrontation between political and military matters with Julius Caesar. In the end, Caesar was murdered leaving the thrown to his nephew Octavian. -
Period: 250 to 900
Mayan Empire
The period when Mayan civilizations reached their highest state of development. Mayan civilizations shared many features with other Pre-Columbian civilizations due to high degree of trade. They developed an agriculturally intensive, city centered civilization. -
410
Roman Empire
The last Roman soldiers left Britain and new people came in ships (Anglo-Saxons). -
Period: 525 to 330 BCE
Persian Empire
After the death of Kin Cyrus, his son Cambyses, rose to power and created the largest empire in human history that stretched form eastern Africa to India. -
570
Muhammad
Muhammad was born in Meccas and became the Prophet of an entire worldwide faith. He experienced a vision from God (Allah). -
630
Islam
Muhammed started the Islam faith with a large number of followers, after his death the faith split. -
732
Battle of Tours
Battle of Tours led by Charles Martel reunited the Kingdom of France. Which resulted in the defeat of the Muslims. -
771
Charlemagne
Charles Martel’s grandson, Charlemagne, became the King of all of present-day France and Germany. -
Period: 772 to 804
Defeat of Saxons
Charlemagne defeated the Saxons after a 30-year bloody struggle and brought them under Frankish supremacy. -
Period: 793 to 1066
First Viking Raid
Lasted for 300 years. Being successful shipbuilders, it was inevitable that they would begin exploring beyond their land. The raid began in Britain, then grew to Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man and England. -
Period: 874 to 930
Icelandic Age of Settlement
Claiming the land, they found as Althingi. This is when the ruling assembly of the Icelandic Commonwealth was founded. -
1066
Battle of Hastings
William, a Norman visitor, defeated King Harold destroying his forces and creating the fall of the Anglo-Saxon era. -
1095
Pope Urban II
A war to take back the Holy Land from the Empire of Islam. This led to the series of Crusades that lasted 200 years. -
1249
King Louis IX
Lead the Eighth Crusade against Egypt which ended in defeat the following year and his death in South Africa. King Louis IX was later made a saint. -
Period: 1300 to 1533
Inca Empire
Located in Chile and Peru, they were skilled politicians and managed to govern a realm that included 12 million people. they built road that connected Chan-Chan. -
1397
Black Plague
The first experience with Black Plague broke out. It is unsure how the plague spread, could have been from the Crusades or travelers on the silk road. -
Period: 1400 to
Renaissance
A time of rebirth after the Dark Ages. During this time, artists and scientists came forward (Botticelli, Donatello, Michelangelo, Galileo and Leonardo De Vinci) -
Period: 1400 to 1492
De Medici Family
With their shrewdness and intelligence, political gain through Queens and Popes, supporting scientists and artists of this day, there is no doubt that the De Medici Family was the ignitors of the Renaissance. -
Period: 1426 to 1521
Aztec Empire
A civilization that migrated from the south of Mexico to central Mexico.They traded and intermarried with other tribes and civilizations. -
Period: 1428 to 1440
Itzcoatl
Aztec civilization reached supremacy in the area in results of this emperor. -
1478
Spanish Inquisition
The desire to create a religious unity and weaken local political authorities was the reason behind this inquisition. Along with making a profit on those found guilt of heresy. -
1492
Columbus Voyage
Columbus had an idea that there was an all water route to Asia, which would allow them to fill huge ships with spices and other trade items. However, he never reached Asia, in fact we aren’t sure where he reached. But through his journals, they enslaved, tortured and murdered native people of the Caribbean Island. -
1492
Alhambra Decree
Was the banishing of Jews from Spain by King Ferdinand II. Because of this many jews converted to Catholicism. -
1500
Columbian Exchange
Between Spain, Portugal, France and England, explorers brought animals, spices, plants and diseases to the New World. These exchanges between the New World and Old World resulted in ecosystems and societies dramatically altered. -
1517
Martin Luther
A German Monk who used the new invention of the printing press to create a list of 95 complaints about the Catholic Church. -
Period: 1565 to
St. Augustine, Florida
Founded by Spaniard's. Goal of this location was to dig a quick fortification to protect themselves and their supplies. The intentions was more to be a base for further colonial ventures. St. Augustine is the first and oldest permanent settlement that is thriving to this day. -
Period: to
Roanoke, Virginia
Founded by England. Intentions for this colony was to allow England to scout for resources, claim territory and convert pagans and establish base camp for raids on Spanish ships. -
Period: to
Jamestown, Virginia
Founded by the English. Soon after settling they ran into many problems with the Native Americans that already lived there. However, they were able to make peace and learn new ways from the Native Americans. John Rolfe brought tobacco back to Virginia. -
Period: to
New Amsterdam
Founded by the Dutch, but after an unsuccessful colonization, the Dutch sold New Amsterdam to the West India Company that later named it Manhattan. -
African Slaves
The first documented Africans were from the kingdom Ndongo and were captured during a war with Portuguese. They were treated as indentured servants. After that the number of African slaves increased. -
House of Burgesses
First representative government in American began in Jamestown with the convening of a general assembly at the request of settlers who wanted input on the laws governing them. -
Period: to
Plymouth Colony
Located in the Massachusetts Bay, leaving the religious strife in Europe, the Pilgrim's landed in Plymouth Rock during the winter. With the support of Samoset and Squanto, the Pilgrims were able to survive the harsh winters and learn how to survive in America. -
English Bill of Rights
Protected British subjects from being taxed without consent of a truly representative Parliament. -
Sugar Act
In an effort to raise revenue and simultaneously interfere with the French in the Caribbean, a 6 pence tax on each gallon of molasses was imposed. -
Navigation Act
A law requiring raw materials produced in America to be shipped exclusively to England. -
Period: to
French & Indian War
A seven year long battle that included Austria, England, France, Great Britain, Prussia and Sweden. They were also fighting each other in the New World. Although the English won, the debt was so staggering that it almost crushed the English government. In order to repay this debt, British needed to imposes taxes on the colonies. -
Stamp act
A wildly unpopular tax in the colonies, contributing to its repeals the following year. -
Sons of Liberty
American patriots organization that originated in the North American colonies. Formed to protect the rights of the colonists and to take to the streets against the abuses of the British government. -
Townshend Act
Raise revenue in the colonies to pay the salaries of governors and judges, more meaningful way of enforcing laws, punish New York for not paying Quarterly Act and establish precedent in the parliment. -
Tea Act
Its purpose was to reduce the massive surplus of tea held by the financially troubled British East India Company in London warehouses and to help the struggling company survive. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty boarded tea ships anchored in the harbor and dumped the tea overboard. (Samuel Adams and John Adams). This followed the Tea Act. -
Intolerable Act
The purpose of this act to discourage colonial resistance. 5 acts were passed by the Parliament. -
First Continental Congress
This was organized to coordinate a protest against the acts of the government. It was divided, some wanted to preserve the peace at all costs; others felt the chance for peace was long past. -
Lexington and Concord
British General set out to Lexingotn where they could capture Colonial leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Then in Concord they plan to seize weapons and gun powder. -
Bunker Hill
As George Washington as Commander, his army saw their first official action here. -
Declaration of Independence
Put forth by Lafayette, the Declaration of Independence freed the colonies from British Rule. -
Battle Saratoga
Important victory for America. -
Yorktown
British was forced to surrender by the Americans and the French. -
Articles of Confederation
Similar to the constitution, but it gave less power to the central government and more to individual states. -
US Constitution
Addition of 10 amendments protecting certain civil rights. -
Period: to
United States Secretary of State
Thomas Jefferson was the first United States Secretary of State, serving under George Washington. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney built a machine that could effectively and efficiently removed the seeds from cotton plants. -
Vice President
John Adams was selected under George Washington as Vice President, who later became the 2nd President. -
Period: to
Jim Crow Laws
State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in Southern United States. -
Louisiana Territory
land acquired by the United States for a sum of $15 million. It nearly doubled the size of the US. -
Indian Tribal Removal
Jefferson relocated Indian tribes to the Louisiana territory west of the Mississippi River in order to open lands for eventual American settlers. -
Period: to
Lewis and Clark
After the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on an expedition to explore the new west. -
Slave Ban
Jefferson drafted and signed into law a bill banning the importation of slaves into the US. -
War of 1812
James Madison was President and was the last Big 5. The cause of this war was a series of economic sanctions2 by the British and French against the US, as a part of the Napoleonic Wars. -
Treaty of Ghent
After bickering, negotiators signed the Treaty of Ghent. This treaty returned US-British relations to the same status they had before the war. -
Indian Removal Act
Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, which gave federal government the power to exchange Native-held land east of the Mississippi for land in the west. -
Treaty of Travers de Sioux
Dakota would cede their Minnesota and Dakota lands to the US Government and would be paid by the US government yearly installments called "annuities". -
Abraham Lincoln
Won the election of 1860 as the first Republican pledging to keep slavery out of the states. -
Period: to
Civil War
Although the Revolution created the United States, the Civil War determined what kind of nation it would be- Sovereign national government or slaveholding country. -
Shadowing Wars
Wars such as Shiloh, Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Antietam, Vicksburg, Chickamauga and Atlanta shadowed even bigger campaigns in subsequent years. -
Little Crow
An influential Dakota leader, was convinced to lead a military effort even though he feared the war would end their nation. -
Mankato
Largest simultaneous hanging in US history. -
Period: to
Andrew Johnson
Under the administration of Jackson, new southern state legislatures passed restrictive "black codes" to control labor and behavior of former slaves and other African Americans. -
Radical Reconstruction
Former slaves were given full rights as voters and gained a voice in government for the first time in American history. -
Period: to
World War I
US remained neutral until participation in the War. The US made huge contributions such as supplies, raw material and money. -
Period: to
Great Depression
Severe world wide economic depression that took place after the stock market crashed. Wall Street panicked and wiped out millions of investors. -
Period: to
Dictators
After the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco established himself as Dictator. -
Period: to
World War II
Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Although this was a devastating time for Americans, many saw this as an opportunity to bring the country together after the Great Depression. The war offered many job opportunities in the US. -
War Protests
There were many movements during the Vietnam war that changed government policies and ultimately changed how Americans live today. These protests include Civil Rights, Student, Vietnam War, Women's Rights, Gay Rights and Environmental. -
Today Spain
Today Spain, after Franco's death, is considered a constitutional monarchy whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain.