Timeline and Human achievements from 2500 BCE to 250 BCE

  • 4500 BCE

    Early agriculture in Nubia [African]

  • 2600 BCE

    Beginning of Indus Valley civilization [Asia (India)]

  • Period: 2575 BCE to 2134 BCE

    Old Kingdom [African (Egypt)]

  • Period: 2350 BCE to 2230 BCE

    Akkadian (Semitic) [Mesopotamian]

  • Period: 2110 BCE to 2004 BCE

    Third Dynasty of Ur (Sumerian) [Mesopotamian]

  • Period: 2040 BCE to 1640 BCE

    Middle Kingdom reigns in Egypt [Africa]

  • 2000 BCE

    Horses in use spreads all over western Asia

  • 2000 BCE

    Rise of Minoan civilization on Crete; early Greeks arrive in Greece [Mediterranean]

  • Period: 1900 BCE to 1600 BCE

    Old Babylonian (Semitic) [Mesopotamian]

  • 1800 BCE

    Abraham migrated to Canaan [Middle Eastern]

  • Period: 1750 BCE to 1045 BCE

    Shang dynasty [Asian (China)]

  • Period: 1696 BCE to 1200 BCE

    Hittites dominant in Anatolia [Mediterranean]

  • Period: 1640 BCE to 1532 BCE

    Hyksos dominate northern Egypt [African]

  • 1600 BCE

    Rise of Mycenaean civilization in Greece [Mediterranean]

  • 1532 BCE

    Beginning of New Kingdom [African]

  • Period: 1500 BCE to 1150 BCE

    Kassite ruled in Mesopotamian

  • 1450 BCE

    Destruction of Minoan palaces in Crete [Mediterranean]

  • Period: 1250 BCE to 1200 BCE

    B.C.E. Israelite occupation of Canaan [Middle Eastern]

  • 1200 BCE

    Destruction of Hittite kingdom [Mesopotamian]

  • Period: 1200 BCE to 1150 BCE

    Destruction of Mycenaean centers in Greece [Mediterranean]

  • 1150 BCE

    Philistines settle southern coast of Israel [Middle Eastern]

  • Period: 1045 BCE to 221 BCE

    Zhou dynasty [Asian (China)]

  • 1000 BCE

    Iron metallurgy reaches the Mediterranean

  • 1000 BCE

    Origin of Celtic culture in Central Europe

  • 1000 BCE

    Initial development of pastoral nomadism [Asian]

  • 1000 BCE

    Jerusalem made Israelite capital [Middle Eastern]

  • 969 BCE

    Hiram of Tyre comes to power [Middle Eastern]

  • 960 BCE

    Solomon builds First Temple [Middle Eastern

  • 916 BCE

    Division into two kingdoms of Israel and Judah [Middle Eastern]

  • 911 BCE

    Rise of Neo-Assyrian Empire [Mesopotamian]

  • 814 BCE

    Foundation of Carthage [Mediterranean]

  • 750 BCE

    Kings of Kush control Egypt [African]

  • 721 BCE

    Assyrian conquest of northern kingdom [Mesopotamian]

  • Period: 712 BCE to 660 BCE

    Nubian kings rule Egypt[African]

  • 701 BCE

    Assyrian humiliation of Tyre [Mesopotamian]

  • 701 BCE

    Assyrian humiliation of Tyre [Mesopotamian and Middle Eastern]

  • 700 BCE

    Scythians drive out Cimmerians and settle area north of Black Sea [Asian]

  • 671 BCE

    Assyrian conquest of Egypt [Mesopotamian and African]

  • Period: 626 BCE to 539 BCE

    Neo- Babylonian kingdom [Mesopotamian]

  • 612 BCE

    Fall of Assyria [Mesopotamian]

  • 600 BCE

    Iron metallurgy in China [Asian]

  • 587 BCE

    Capture of Jerusalem [Middle Eastern]

  • Period: 551 BCE to 479 BCE

    Life of Confucius [Asian (China)]

  • Period: 550 BCE to 300 BCE

    Rivalry of Carthaginians and Greeks in the western Mediterranean

  • 515 BCE

    Deportees from Babylon return to Jerusalem [Mesopotamian]

  • 500 BCE

    Celtic elites trade for Mediterranean goods

  • Period: 500 BCE to 291 BCE

    Migrations across Europe

  • 450 BCE

    Hanno the Phoenician explores West Africa [African]

  • 450 BCE

    Completion of Hebrew Bible [Middle Eastern]

  • 440 BCE

    Greek historian Herodotus reports on nomadic Scythians [Mediterranean]

  • 390 BCE

    Celts sack Rome [European]

  • Period: 354 BCE to 338 BCE

    Lord Shang brings Legalist reforms to Qin state [Asian (China)]

  • Period: 300 BCE to 350

    Kingdom of Meroë [African]

  • 298 BCE

    Ruler of Chinese state of Zhao equips troops like nomad horsemen [Asian (China)]