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130,000 BCE
Neanderthals - (Ice Age)
Extinct human species, closest ancient human relatives, went extinct because they were unable to adapt to hunting methods during the Ice Age, long term inbreeding, Eurasia. -
99,000 BCE
Skhul People
Early modern humans, discovered in caves of Israel, among the earliest species in Eurasia. -
10,000 BCE
Jericho
One of the earliest settlements, people settled because of the springs found in close proximity to the city, helped sustain large population, oldest known protective wall in the world. -
10,000 BCE
Neolithic Revolution
Final division of the Stone Age, also known as the Agricultural Revolution, transition from a lifestyle of hunting to gathering to agriculture and settlement, resulted in a larger population of people. -
9000 BCE
Natufians
Hunter-gatherers, sedentary population, among the earliest farmers, located their settlements between coastal plains and hill country to maximize their food supply. -
7981 BCE
Fertile Crescent
Crescent shaped region found in the Middle-East, got its name because of it's half moon shape and the rich soil that could be found there. This area was also home to the oldest civilizations in history. -
7200 BCE
Faiyum
City located in Middle Egypt, region known for its fertility and abundance of plant and animal life, very appealing to groups of people which drew them in and brought them to that area. -
6500 BCE
Catalhoyuk
Example of an early Neolithic town where where transition to a settled existence was achieved, food produced by agriculture, surplus of food allowed for specialist crafts to develop among people. -
4500 BCE
Mesopotamia Sumer
Located in the Southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia, considered the cradle of civilization, earliest known civilization in the region of Southernmost Mesopotamia. -
3300 BCE
Out of Africa
A theory that states that the origins of modern humans came out of Africa, and that all modern-humans stem from a single group of Homo Sapiens who emigrated from Africa. -
3000 BCE
Yangzte River Valley
Longest river in Asia, used for water, irrigation, sanitation, transportation, social and economic importance. -
2900 BCE
Mesopotamia Babylon
Most famous city from ancient Mesopotamia, founded as a small port-town on the Euphrates River, ruins lie in Modern-day Iraq. -
2686 BCE
Egypt Old Kingdom
During this time, Egypt had a strong central government and a prosperous economy. Most famous for the time in which pyramids were built all over Egypt. Decline and destabilization led to the fall of the Old Kingdom. -
2500 BCE
Mohenjo Daro and Harappa
One of the largest cities in the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, recognized for achievements in building structure and design, well known for their organized layout, over 100 towns and villages existed in this region. -
2040 BCE
Egypt Middle Kingdom (Birth of TUT)
Time in which Upper and Lower Egypt reunited, led to increase in overall Egyptian culture, this period was the period following a time of political division, also known as the First Intermediate Period. -
356 BCE
Alexander the Great - Greece
King of the Ancient Greek Kingdom, ruler of Macedonia, member of the Argead dynasty, He conquered lots of land, including Persia, Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia and continued to expand his empire as a result. During his reign, he also united Greece and conquered the Persian Empire. -
221 BCE
Emperor Qin- China
Founder of the Qin dynasty, 1st emperor of unified China. The Qin dynasty was the first unified, power-centralized state in Chinese history. Only lasted for 15 years, but had great impact on dynasties to follow. -
300
Rise in Religion
300 CE = Christianity gets a boost, spread through the Roman Empire and received legal status, became the first official religion of the Roman Empire.
500 CE = Buddhism in India
600 CE = Islam in Iraq -
400
Alaric and the Goths sack Rome
Rome attacked by the Visigoths which were led by King Alaric. This event symbolized the fall of the Western Roman Empire. -
540
The Empire Strikes Back
Constantine divided the empire into 2 parts -- Rome, the capital of the Western empire & Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern empire. When Rome fell, it was only the Western Empire that fell. -
732
Battle of Tours
Charles Martel, a Christian defeated a large group of Spanish Moors which stopped the Muslim advance into Western Europe. The Muslim governor ended up being killed in the battle, and the Moors retreated. This battle ensured the dynasty of Charles Martel's family, the Carolingians. -
793
Vikings
Originated in Scandinavia, earned living through agriculture or fishing along the coast, raids began as they looked to gain land. -
800
Charlemagne
Also known as Charles the Great, King of the Franks, King of the Lombards, and Emperor of the Romans, united the majority of Western and Central Europe during the Middle Ages. During his ruling, he encouraged a cultural and intellectual revival across Europe. -
1066
Battle of Hastings
This battle completely changed who was in charge in England, fought between the Norman-French army and an English army, battle was fought because King Edward died without leaving an heir to the English throne, Norman-French army won the battle. -
1096
The Crusades
Series of religious wars in Western Europe and Asia, fought to gain control of the Holy Land and bring back Christianity to the Middle East, first crusade initiated by Pope Urban II, goal was to stop the expansion of Muslim states. -
1300
Mongols
Nomadic group of people from Central Asia, recognized as being fierce horsemen and warriors, Mongol clans united by their leader/ruler, Genghis Khan. His key to success was the use of horses by his clans. During his ruling, the Mongol Empire expanded across most of Eurasia. -
1337
Disease: Bubonic Plague
An infection that results from an infected flea biting a person, disease transmitted through direct contact with the infected area or by exposure to another person coughing. This disease resulted in a mass killing, known as the Black Death. -
1345
Biological Warfare -- Jani Beg
Biological Warfare used by Jani Beg in 1345 to infect and kill larger populations of people. He would shoot his dead soldiers over the wall as "bombs" to infect the people in the villages. -
1348
Sienna, Italy -- Plague
Plague invades Europe, many dead. 1949 -- The Plague continues to rage across Europe, killing many. -
1400
Renaissance begins in Florence
Renaissance started in Florence, Italy. It was also known as the "Age of Enlightenment" which put an end to the Middle Ages, New form of thinking called Humanism which described the way people thought about things. -
1531
Medici Family
Medici Family becomes hereditary Dukes of Florence, Ruled the city of Florence during the Renaissance, Had a major influence on growth of Italian Renaissance through support of the arts and Humanism. This family dynasty ended in 1737 after three centuries of their family ruling.
Members: Pope Leo X (1513), Pope Clement VII (1523), Catherine de’ Medici — Queen of France (1547), Pope Pius IV (1559) Marie de’ Medici — Queen of France (1600), Pope Leo XI (1605) -
French and Indian War
Known as the Seven Years War, main cause was the competition between Britain and France, English and French battled for colonial domination, expansion of British colonies (land) was threatening French territory and the trade routes that the French had control over. This battle was fought to determine who would be the stronger power in North America; either Britain or France. In the end, the British won the war. Britain was provided with enormous territorial gains in North America. -
Taxation Without Representation
Imposing taxes on people who have no control over taxing authority, this was one of the major causes for revolution, colonists resenting British parliament. This term became part of anti-British slogan when the 13 colonies decided to revolt against the British Empire. -
Boston Massacre
Street fight that took place in Boston Massachusetts between a "patriot" mob and a group of British soldiers. British soldiers shot and killed several people while being harassed by a mob in Boston. Several colonists were killed as a result. This event fueled anti-British views that helped start the Revolutionary War, -
Boston Tea-Party
Political protest that occurred in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists were frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation,” so they ended up dumping 342 chests of tea into the harbor. This event fueled the fight that was going on between Britain and America. -
Lexington and Concord
First military engagements of the Revolutionary War, British troops moved from Boston toward Lexington and Concord to seize the colonists' military supplies. The Americans won the battle, and the British retreated back to Boston. The importance of these battles were that the American army showed that they were worthy of respect. -
Cotton Gin
Cotton Gin invented by Eli Whitney. The invention of the cotton gin reduced the labor of removing seeds, but it did not reduce the need for slaves. Slaves were still needed to grow and pick the cotton in the fields. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson becomes the 3rd President of the United States. Jefferson was known as a Founding Father of the United States & is most famous for the writing of the Declaration of Independence. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States acquired the territory of Louisiana from France. To do this, they bought 828,000 square miles of land from France. -
Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark were asked by Thomas Jefferson to go on an expedition to explore and map-out the Western portion of the United Sates. This expedition was also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, and it was the first American expedition to cross the western territory of the United States. -
Technology
Many new inventions and new forms of technology starting to be created. -
War of 1812
War fought between the United States and Great Britain. This event had a large impact on the future of the US as a young country. Some of the causes of the war included Britain attempting to restrict U.S. trade and also the impressment of American seamen by the British Navy. -
Indian Removal Act
Act that was signed by Andrew Jackson. This law allowed the president to negotiate with Native Americans for their removal off of their land to territory located west of the Mississippi. Many tribes resisted the relocation of their homes which caused them to be forcibly moved. This march by Native Americans resulted in many deaths and became known as the "Trail of Tears". -
The Alamo/Battle of San Jacinto
This battle was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. The Texan Army went into battle against the Mexican Army who was larger and much more experienced, but the Texans defeated them in just 18 minutes. The result was that the Texans declared Independence from Mexico. -
The Oregon Trail
2,170 mile emigrant route that went across the United States, East to West, and connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. This route was used by many Americans to emigrate west. -
The Gold Rush
300,000 people rush into California from across the United States after the news that gold had been discovered by James W. Marshall. -
Bleeding Kansas
Also known as the Border War, series of violent civil confrontations that occurred in the United States. This emerged from political debates over the legality of slavery in Kansas. -
Harper's Ferry
John Brown, an abolitionist, leads a small group on a raid against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. This was done as an attempt to start an armed slave revolt and destroy the institution of slavery. -
Cotton Supply
South provided 2/3 of the world’s cotton supply during this time. -
The Middle Passage
A trade route where Africans were shipped to the New World. The Middle Passage is part of the trade where Africans were transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies and were tightly packed onto ships, in bad conditions, for days. -
First Bull Run
Also known as the First Battle of Manassas. This was the first major battle of the American Civil War and was a Confederate victory -
The Civil War
A war fought in the Unite States between the North and the South. Divided nation finally exploded over the issue of the enslavement of African Americans. 650,000 died, but Slaves were finally freed. North wins. -
Shiloh
Confederate forces attacked Union forces. This battle was a crucial victory for the Union during the Civil War. -
Homestead Act
Let to a flood of immigrants from Europe into the Midwest. Several laws in the United States which stated that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land, also known as a homestead. -
The March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea was a military campaign of the American Civil War conducted through Georgia. Union General William T. Sherman led 60,000 soldiers on a 285-mile march. The purpose of Sherman's March to the Sea was to frighten Georgia's civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. -
Grand Review of the Armies
The Grand Review of the Armies was a military procession and celebration in Washington, D.C., following the close of the American Civil War. -
Jim Crow Laws
Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States. These laws were also known as “Separate, but equal," which were never actually "equal". -
Teddy Roosevelt
Roosevelt served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909, and then also served as the 25th Vice President from March to September 1901. -
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre was the culmination of a gang war between Al Capone and Bugs Moran. The event included the murder of seven members and associates of Chicago's North Side Gang. The men were gathered at a Lincoln Park garage on the morning of Valentine's Day. -
World War II
Also known as the Second World War. Global war that lasted from 1939 until 1945 in which the majority of the world's countries formed two opposing military alliances known as the Allies and the Axis. World War 2 ended with the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers.
