River valley

River Civilization Timeline

By jnienbe2
  • 6000 BCE

    Map of the Cradle of Chinese Civilization

    Map of the Cradle of Chinese Civilization
    Yellow River Basin area inhabited by humans who farmed, kept animals and built permanent homes.
  • Period: 6000 BCE to

    Ancient China River Civilization

    The beginning date is 6000 B.C. There is no ending date, as the civilization never ended. But 1911 A.D. marks the end of the Chinese Empire being ruled by a Dynasty.
  • 5000 BCE

    First City-States

    First City-States
    The Sumerian people create the first city-states, slowly but surely developing southern Mesopotamia
  • Period: 5000 BCE to 333 BCE

    Ancient Mesopotamia

  • 3500 BCE

    Writing

    Writing
    Writing begins to as pictograms, eventually evolving into cuneiform script about 1000 years later.
  • 3300 BCE

    First hieroglyhpics used

    First hieroglyhpics used
  • 3300 BCE

    First Villages

    First Villages
    Villages are built in the Indus River Valley area by farmers.
  • Period: 3300 BCE to 332 BCE

    Ancient Egypt

    Upper and Lower Egypt were unified around 3100 B.C. but the first hieroglyphics were believed to be a couple hundred years prior, so we'll start with that. The end is debated but the most commonly accepted end seems to be 332 B.C. when Egypt was conquered by Alexander the Great.
  • 3100 BCE

    Unification of Egypt under King Menes

    Unification of Egypt under King Menes
  • 3000 BCE

    Larger towns and cities begin to develop.

    Larger towns and cities begin to develop.
  • Period: 3000 BCE to 1500 BCE

    Indus River Valley

    This Indus Valley was located in present day Pakistan and NW India. It lasted from about 3000 BC to 1500 BC
  • 2700 BCE

    First stone pyramid built

    First stone pyramid built
  • 2600 BCE

    Pyramids of Giza built

    Pyramids of Giza built
  • 2500 BCE

    Indus Script Begins

    Indus Script Begins
    400 symbols comprise this writing system, many of which have been found on clay seals.
  • 2350 BCE

    Trade with Mesopotamia

    Trade with Mesopotamia
    Civilizations in the Indus River Valley begin trading with Mesopotamia.
  • 2300 BCE

    First World Empire

    First World Empire
    King Sargon of Akkad takes over and starts the first empire in the history of the world.
  • 2200 BCE

    The Yellow River Basin

    The Yellow River Basin
    2200 BC-1700 BC: Xia Dynasty ruled in an area around the Yellow River Basin. It is the oldest known dynasty in China. The first leader, Yu the Great, was famous for his battles against floods on the Yellow River.
  • 2100 BCE

    Intro of Amorites

    Intro of Amorites
    The Sumerians begin to decline and the Amorites, a nomadic people, make their way into Mesopotamia.
  • 1900 BCE

    Decline

    Decline
    Climate change is believed to be the biggest factor. Cooler, drier weather modified the land, and the path of the Indus River changed.
  • 1800 BCE

    Most cities were abandoned.

    Most cities were abandoned.
  • 1792 BCE

    Conquering an Empire

    Conquering an Empire
    1792-49: King Hammurabi of Babylon conquers a large empire. He became famous for creating the first set of laws known as the Code of Hammurabi.
  • 1500 BCE

    Indus River Valley is over.

    Indus River Valley is over.
    Aryans invade and take over the land.
  • 1353 BCE

    Akhenatent and his queen Nefertiti - religious reform

    Akhenatent and his queen Nefertiti - religious reform
  • 1336 BCE

    King Tutankhamen became pharaoh (and restored traditions)

    King Tutankhamen became pharaoh (and restored traditions)
  • 1300 BCE

    Assyrians Take Over

    Assyrians Take Over
    The Babylonian Empire declined after King Hammurabi's death and was taken over by other groups but the Assyrians took over northern Mesopotamia at this time, stealing if from the Indo-European group, the Mitanni.
  • 1200 BCE

    Ancient Chinese Writing

    Ancient Chinese Writing
    First examples of true writing in China. The writing was on oracle bones and bronze vessels.
  • 551 BCE

    Confucius

    Confucius
    Confucius lived. Important Chinese teacher and philosopher famous for his beliefs in upholding hierarchy and family respect of elders.
  • 550 BCE

    Persian Empire Begins

    Persian Empire Begins
    After many years of on-again-of-again power by the Assyrians, Cyrus the Great rises to power and the Persian Empire begins.
  • 333 BCE

    End of an Era

    End of an Era
    The Greeks, with the help of Alexander the Great, conquer the Persian Empire, officially ending the Mesopotamian period.
  • 332 BCE

    Alexander the Great conquered Egypt

    Alexander the Great conquered Egypt
  • 265 BCE

    Urban development is on the rise.

    Urban development is on the rise.
    Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, the two largest cities, begin to flourish.
  • 221 BCE

    Early Monetary Coins

    Early Monetary Coins
    Quin Shi Huangdi united China into an empire. He introduced one system for money, writing, weights and measures.
  • 220 BCE

    A symbol of Taoism – the Yin-Yang dyagram

    A symbol of Taoism – the Yin-Yang dyagram
    Warring States period. Defensive walls begin to appear that later become the Great Wall of China and Taoism religion originated.
  • 65

    The First Buddhist Temple in China – White Horse Temple

    The First Buddhist Temple in China – White Horse Temple
    Buddhism in China. Idea carried along the Silk Road from India.

  • Last Emperor Puyi of the Qing Dynasty to rule China

    Last Emperor Puyi of the Qing Dynasty to rule China
    Puyi – Emperor of Qing Dynasty as an adult. He was emperor when he was 2 years old until the empire ended when he was five.