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100,000 BCE
Paleolithic Period
Humans adapted to their environment. They used resources that were available to them to build shelter (living in caves, huts, etc...). Many were hunters and gathered. Fire, spear points, and alt-alts were invented. -
10,000 BCE
Mesolithic Period
Humans used stones and bones to make hunting weapons (bows and arrows, fish hooks, harpoons). Many lived in camps near bodies of water. -
8000 BCE
Neolithic Period
Hunter-gatherers lived in villages and began farming and domesticating animals. Agriculture and cities were introduced. Advancement in pottery art, weaving, and cave arts. -
3500 BCE
Bronze Age
Ancient civilizations in the Mediterranean Region and in Asia emerged. Advances in architecture and art (potter's wheel and textiles). Empires began to emerge. -
2330 BCE
The Sumerian Empire
The first empire ever recorded in history. They were the first to introduce imperialism. It was founded by King Sargon of Akkad. The power to rule was passed down three generations, becoming the first dynasty. -
2000 BCE
The Minoans
Considered an advanced civilization at the time. Flourished in the Middle Bronze Age. Had a strong navy. Paintings on walls that depict daily life. -
2000 BCE
The Mayan Empire
A civilization with the only fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas. Noted for their art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Due to being in a high area where trade was present, they share and have influenced many surrounding civilizations. Had a city-centered civilization where kingdoms, empires, monumental palaces, and temples were built. -
1895 BCE
The Babylonian Empire
Hammurabi was one of the most famous Babylonian ruler. He compiled The Code of Hammurabi (any punishment should be equal to the crime committed). -
1600 BCE
Mycenaeans Civilization
Highly influenced by the Minoan civilization. Dominated most of mainland Greece and several islands. Extended trade relations to other Bronze Age cultures. -
1600 BCE
Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE- 1046 BCE)
First recorded Chinese dynasty where there is evidence provided. It was based on agriculture. The primary crops that were grown were millet, wheat, and barley. Silkworms, pigs, dogs, sheep, and oxen were raised. Advances in science and metal (bronze, copper, iron, gold). Chinese writing and a calendar based on the lunar and solar cycles were developed. -
1550 BCE
The Phoenicians (1550 BCE- 536 BCE)
A commercial empire that comprised of maritime traders. Highly popular for their purple dye production. Artisans were skilled in wood, ivory, and metalworking, and textile production. Inventors of the alphabetic writing system. -
800 BCE
The Etruscans
They were an advanced society with free morality. They had a written language, rich mineral resources, and was a major Mediterranean trading power. -
750 BCE
The Archaic Period (750 BCE- 480 BCE)
Development of art (pottery and sculpture) and advancements in political theory (the beginning of democracy). -
49
The Roman Civil War (Jan. 10, 49 BC- March 17, 45 BC)
Began when General Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River. Crossing this boundary was forbidden as it was intended to protect the Roman Republic from being overthrown. (Caesar vs Pompey) -
500
The Classical Period (500 BC- 323 BC)
Conflict between Greeks and the kingdom of Persia to the east began to rise. Athens reached its highest political and cultural heights- there was a full development of the democratic system, the building of the Parthenon on the Acropolis, the creation of the Greek tragedies, foundings of the philosophy by Socrates and Plato. -
793
The Vikings 793 CE
Their homeland was Scandinavia (modern-day Norway, Swedan, and Denmark) and they were invaders of Britain. They were not Christian and had never been invaded by the Romans or by Christian missionaries. -
1100
The Greek Dark Age (1100 BC - 800 BC)
After the Trojan War, there was a civil war between the Mycenaeans. A tribe called Dorians invaded with iron weapons. This invasion led to a loss of art, architecture, and writing evidence. The old Mycenaean economic and social structure (hierarchy and hereditary rule) were forgotten. -
1200
The Trojan War (1200 BC- 1180 BC)
The conflict between the kingdoms of Troy and Mycenaean people. The war began after Helen, the Mycenaean Queen of Sparta, was abducted by Paris, a Prince of Troy in Turkey. Menelaus, Helen's husband convinced his brother, King Agamemnon, to lead an expedition to retrieve her. One day, the people of Troy waken up to a large wooden horse outside of Troy. They pull the horse into the city. At night, the horse opened and the Greek warriors climbed out and captured and defeated the city of Troy. -
1300
The Renaissance (1300- 1600)
A "rebirth" period of European culture, artistry, politics, and economy. There was a rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature, and art. There were also many famous intellectuals, artists, scientists, and writers from this period. -
1300
Inca Empire (1300 CE- 1520 CE)
Skilled politicians and managed to govern a realm. Instead of a money tribute, they demanded labor and military service. Their capital was Machu Pichu. -
1325
Aztec Empire (1325 CE- 1521 CE)
Took refuge in the Lake Texcoco swamp and reclaimed an island by digging a complex system of drainage canals and raising floating fields. They built a temple and named the city, Tenoctitlan (also the capital). -
1397
The Black Plague (1342- 1353)
First known experience was in Europe when 12 Italian trading ships docked at the port of Messina on the island of Sicily after journeying through the Black Sea. Many of the people on the ship were covered in mysterious black boils that oozed blood and pus. After the plague, labor and skills were in great demand. -
1478
Spanish Inquisition 1478 CE
Under the ruling of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. There were many Jewish and Muslims who had settled in Spain. They were forced to convert to Christianity to participate in societal activities. -
1492
The Columbian Exchange
The trading of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas and Europe. -
Aug 28, 1565
St. Augustine, Florida
Was founded by Pedo Menéndez de Avilés on the day that was to honor St. Augustine. -
Jamestown, Virginia
America's first permanent English colony. The Virginia Company of London, a group of investors, sponsored the colony. However, the land was already occupied by the Algonquian who were led by the powerful leader, Powhatan. -
The Story of Squanto
He was a Native American who belonged to the Patuxet tribe. He was captured as a slave and bought by Catholic Friars. Although he was a slave, they educated him and taught him how to speak Spanish. Later, he returned to North America where he discovered that the Patuxet had all died. He acted as an interpreter and educated the whites on how to grow crops and on what foods to eat. -
The First African Slaves
The first documented Africans arrived in Virginia. They were from the kingdom of Ndongo in Angola, in West Central Africa. They were captured during a war with Portuguese. -
First Representative Government in America
Began in Jamestown, Virginia. This meeting allowed settlers to put input on the laws that were governing them. This meeting would be called the House of Burgesses. Members only met once a year. -
Mayflower Compact
The first document of Democracy in the New World. It would ensure a functioning social structure. -
French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) (1754- 1763)
War between France and Great Britain fought to determine who would control the vast colonial territory of North America, the Caribbean, and India. The singing of the Treaty of Paris ended the war. British received Canada from France and Florida from Spain. France was allowed to keep its West Indian sugar islands and gave Louisana to Spain. Although Britain won the war, they were left with a great amount of debt. This debt caused the escalation of tensions leading to the Revolutionary War. -
The Townshend Acts
A series of acts passed by the Parliament of Great Britain relating to the British colonies in North America. Purpose of this act was to raise revenue in the colonies to pay the salaries of governors and judges so that they would be independent of colonial rule, to create a more effective means of enforcing compliance with trade and shipping, to punish New York for failing to comply with the 1765 Quartering Act, and to est. that the British Parliament had the right to tax the colonies. -
The Tea Act
An Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. Its principal was to reduce the massive surplus of tea held by the British East India Company who was financially struggling. It was supposed to convince the colonists to purchase Company tea on with the Townshend duties were paid. This act granted the Company to ship its tea to North America and the right to the duty-free export of tea from Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty (who were disguised as Native Americans) boarded tea ships into the harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea imported by the British East India Company into the harbor. overboard. They were frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation". This was the first major act of defiance to British rule over the colonists; colonies wanted to fight for their independence. -
Revolutionary War (1775- 1783)
There was growing tension between Great Britain's 13 North American colonies and the colonial British government. Gunfire exchanged at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetters- "the shot heard round the world". Would lead to the creation of a new nation. -
Articles of Confederation
This was the first attempt to build a new country; to plan a new structured government. Each state would remain sovereign and independent (having their own laws and currency). The central government had little authority and the states gave little respect to any government but their own state's government. -
U.S Constitution
Described how the new U.S government would look. Creators of this constitution were aware that the world would change in the future and that The Constitution must be able to change and adapt as well. Embodied inside are Amendments and the three branches of government. -
Lewis and Clark (1804- 1806)
President Thomas Jefferson chose volunteers of the U.S Army to follow Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark to explore, map, and find a route across the Western half of the continent. They were to est. this new territory as the Americas before Britain and other European powers. They were also to study the area's plants, animal life, geography, and est. trade with local Indian tribes. Their expedition est. relations with 2 dozen indigenous nations. -
War of 1812 (1812- 1815)
War between America and Britain. America was infuriated that Britain attempted to restrict U.S. trade and at the British practice of impressment (kidnapping men to serve on the Naval vessels). In attempt to hurt Britain, Congress tried various trade embargoes (heavy taxes, import limits) however, it hurt America more. Eventually, all of this lead to the war. -
Treaty of Ghent
Ended the War of 1812. U.S. and Britain returned to the same relations before the war. The U.S. did not gain nor lose any territory. Impressment of men into the British Navy was not discussed. -
Trail of Tears (1831- 1877)
The removal of Native Americans from their land because white settlers resented them. While traveling to find a new home, many Native Americans lost their lives due to hypothermia, starvation, and sickness. -
The Civil War (April 12, 1861- April 6 1865)
War between the northern and southern states over slavery, states's rights, and westward expansion. Ended when the Confederate (south) surrender in 1865. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Issued by President Abraham Lincoln. This proclamation would free all slaves in the Confederacy, but not those who remained loyal to the Union. -
Mankato Massacre
Hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato, MN -
Reconstruction (1865-1877)
Post Union victory in the Civil war gave 4 million slaves their victory. However, rebuilding the South was challenging. New southern state legislatures passed "black codes" to control the labor and behavior of African Americans. This was a period when South challenge to integrate with the North and they were determining the legal status of African Americans. Led to Radical Reconstruction and the formation of the Ku Klux Klan. -
Beringia 12,000 years ago
Provided a pathway for intercontinental exchanges of plants, people, and animals during the last ice age. The exposure of land made it possible for humans to first passed from Asia to populate to the Americas.
