Time line

By Alex1210
  • Period: 250,000 BCE to 3000 BCE

    Stone Age

    Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) (~2.5 million BCE - 10,000 BCE): Earliest human period, characterized by simple stone tools and hunting-gathering societies.
    • Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) (~10,000 BCE - 6000 BCE): Transitional period; humans began to domesticate animals, develop early agriculture.
    • Neolithic (New Stone Age) (~10,000 BCE - 3000 BCE): Marked by the development of agriculture, domestication of plants and animals, and formation of permanent settlements.
  • Period: 4000 BCE to 2000 BCE

    First civilisations

    Mesopotamia (Sumer): One of the earliest known civilizations, emerging in the Fertile Crescent along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers around 4000 BCE.
    • Ancient Egypt: Developed around 3100 BCE along the Nile River.
    • Indus Valley Civilization: Flourished from approximately 3300 BCE to 1900 BCE
    • Ancient China: Early civilizations, such as the Yangshao (5000-3000 BCE) and Longshan (3000-1900 BCE)
  • Period: 3300 BCE to 1200 BCE

    Bronze Age

    Mesopotamia and Egypt: Around 3300 BCE, societies began using bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) for tools, weapons, and art. This period saw the rise of urban centers and social stratification.
    • Minoans (Crete): Flourished from approximately 2000-1450 BCE; known for their complex palaces and trade networks across the Mediterranean.
    • Mycenaean Greece: Dominated the Greek mainland from about 1600-
    1100 BCE. Known for fortified cities and warrior culture.
  • Period: 2000 BCE to 1000 BCE

    Judaism

    Emerged among the ancient Hebrews in the Levant. It is one of the earliest monotheistic faiths, with sacred texts including the Torah. Judaism laid the foundation for Christianity and Islam.
  • Period: 1200 BCE to 600 BCE

    Iron Age

    Iron Working: Use of iron became widespread around 1200 BCE, leading to more durable tools and weapons.
    • Assyrian and Babylonian Empires: Assyria rose to power in Mesopotamia, known for its military prowess and administrative innovations.
    • Hittites and Phoenicians: The Hittites, based in Anatolia, developed ironworking skills early on. The Phoenicians, famous for their seafaring and trade, developed one of the earliest alphabets.
  • Period: 323 BCE to 31 BCE

    Hellenistic cultures

    Alexander the Great: Conquered a vast empire from Greece to Egypt and as far east as India between 336 and 323 BCE. This led to the spread of Greek culture across the known world.
    • Hellenistic Period: Following Alexander's death, his empire divided into several Hellenistic kingdoms (e.g., the Ptolemaic kingdom in Egypt and the Seleucid Empire). Greek influence blended with local traditions in these regions, impacting art, science, philosophy, and language.