Unit 1 timeline

Beginning of the Paleolithic Age

240,000 BCE

During the paleolithic age, people lived in small groups of about 20-30 people. They did not grow their own food or raise their own livestock, but instead practiced a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They live nomadically, meaning they followed their food and were dependent on warmer/inhabitable weather.

The beginning of Mesopotamia

12,000 BCE

People began to settle between the Euphrates and Tigris river, leading to the start of the historical region of civilization known as Mesopotamia. The area between these two rivers was very fertile, allowing ancient hunter-gatherers to slowly give up their nomadic lifestyle. For the first time, humans were able to remain in one place more permanently.

The start of the Neolithic age (end of the Paleolithic Age)

10,000 BCE

The Neolithic age is often referred to as the “stone age,” and it can be marked by the beginning of the agricultural revolution. During this age, humans moved away from their hunter-gatherer ways and began growing their own food and domesticating animals. Religion, economic systems, and specialized jobs emerged as humans began to have more free-time and a higher quality of life.

The Indus Valley civilization emerges

3300 BCE

People began to settle in the Indus valley, located in modern-day India and Pakistan. This valley was a prime area for early humans to settle, because it was near the Indus river. The river provided nutrients that kept the soil fertile for farming and allowed for the development of permanent settlements.

The start of the Egyptian Empire

3150 BCE

During the earliest stages of the Egyptian empire, the land was divided into two separate kingdoms. The area North of the Nile river was known as the Red Land, and the area south of the Nile river was called the White land. Attempts were made by the Southern Kingdom to unify Egypt, but they were unsuccessful until King Menes was able to conquer the North and establish the first dynasty.

Menes unites the upper and lower kingdoms of Egypt

2950 BCE

Menes, who is considered the first Pharaoh of Egypt, was able to unite the upper and lower kingdoms of Egypt through military conquest. This allowed for a single centralized monarchy to be put into place, along with the Pharaoh system. He can also be credited with the founding of Memphis, the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom.

The Old Kingdom of Egypt begins

2700 BCE

The old kingdom of Egypt was considered a time of stability and economic prosperity. During this period, the different parts of Egypt were unified and structures like the great pyramids were built. This kingdom had a strong centralized government, making it possible to gather a labor force large enough to undergo the process of building large and complex monuments.

The Pyramids of Giza are built

2540 BCE

The Pyramids of Giza were created by King Khufu and served as a symbol of power and strength for the Old Kingdom. The great Sphynx, a mythological creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human, was considered a spiritual guardian that protected the souls of Pharaohs on their way to the afterlife. These structures' size and intricacy suggest ancient Egypt was very technologically advanced.

The Old Kingdom of Egypt ends

2200 BCE

The old kingdom of Egypt fell as the result of several overlapping factors. This included corruption of government officials, over-spending, and invasions by various foreign groups. The final straw was a sudden and catastrophic loss of flooding from the Nile River, destroying Egypt's agriculture and ultimately bringing the old kingdom to an end.

The Middle Kingdom of Egypt begins

2055 BCE

The middle kingdom of Egypt can be referred to as an era of expansion and growth. During this time, Egypt began to establish colonies in Nubia and gained access to their rich mineral resources. They also traded resources with other civilizations like Kush, Syria, and Mesopotamia. Egypt moved away from the strong centralized government that was used during the Old Kingdom, and various pastimes like art and literature flourished.

The Shang dynasty starts

1750 BCE

The Shang dynasty was the first major ruler of China. This dynasty ruled through aristocracy, in which power was held exclusively by royalty. They established a farming-based society, and focused heavily on agriculture.

The New Kingdom of Egypt begins

1650 BCE

During the New Kingdom, Egypt became known as the most powerful civilization in Southwest Asia. This was an era of economic prosperity, and ancient Egyptians began using innovations like the chariot. They also learned to use bronze for tools and weapons from the Hyksos, a group of foreign invaders.

The Middle Kingdom of Egypt ends

1650 BCE

After the death of queen Sobekneferu, who had no living heirs, the 12th dynasty of Egypt was greatly weakened. This left the kingdom extremely vulnerable and gave room for the foreign settlers of Hyksos to take over the Nile delta. Soon after, Hyksos successfully defeated the Middle Kingdom and led the country into the New Kingdom.

The fall of the Indus Valley civilization

1300 BCE

The actual cause of the Indus Valley civilization’s disappearance is unknown. Archeologists believe that they may have been defeated through conquest from a different civilization, because they had no known weapons or army to protect themselves. It is also possible that environmental disaster or an earthquake made life impossible in the Indus Valley.

The New Kingdom of Egypt ends

1070 BCE

Under the leadership of Amenhotep IV, political instability began throughout the country. Shortly after his rule, Ramses II came into power (often referred to as "Ramses the Great") and temporarily restored the kingdom. However, the stability ended with attacks from foreign invaders called "Sea Peoples," and the kingdom collapsed shortly thereafter.

The Zhou dynasty starts

1045 BCE

When the Zhou dynasty came into power, they established a “mandate of heaven." A mandate of heaven states that Emperor's rule with divine power. This acts as a way to justify that a leader is not chosen by the people, but by the gods themselves. This led to the development of the dynastic cycle, in which one family rules until the people rebel and overthrow them. After the current dynasty is overthrown, a new dynasty is put into place and the cycle begins again.

The Shang dynasty ends

1045 BCE

The Shang dynasty was overthrown by King Wu of Zhou, who then established the Zhou dynasty. The final leader of the Shang dynasty, King Di Xin, was considered cruel and led to political unrest all throughout the country. He was known for torturing his subjects for entertainment and brought about war all throughout China, ultimately leading the Shang dynasty to an end.

The Zhou dynasty ends

256 BCE

The Zhou dynasty began to fall apart in 403 BCE, when civil war broke out all over China. Technological advances that took place during the Zhou dynasty (iron weapons, crossbows, etc) extended the conflict for 180 years, until a man named Qin Shihuangdi overthrew the Zhou and ended the civil war. The Zhou dynasty left a lasting impact on Chinese culture and is responsible for the development of Chinese written language.

The Qin dynasty starts

221 BCE

The Qin dynasty was established by Qin Shihuangdi, and was responsible for unifying China after the civil war. They established a system of roads and developed a single monetary system (a single form of currency). They also built the Grand Canal, which allowed for the transportation of raw materials inland. and oversaw the construction of the Great Wall of China.

The Qin dynasty ends

206 BCE

The Qin dynasty fell quickly after coming into power, mostly because of their harsh methods of discipline (including the burning of all books that did not support their ideas). They followed a system of legalism, which emphasized the importance of strict laws and punishments to maintain control. Under legalism, the need for moral values and deity worship was rejected and restricted, leading to unrest and eventually rebellion by the people.

The fall of the Egyptian empire

30 BCE

The Egyptian empire came to an end after a centuries-long drought from the Nile River. This put a strain on the country's economy, agriculture, and trade. The last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, allied herself with the Roman empire in an attempt to preserve the Kingdom. Eventually, when it became clear Egypt could no longer support itself, the country was annexed to the Roman's and the empire fell.