Ancient Civilizations

First signs of Sumer

3300 BCE

Sumer is the oldest known civilization. It starts popping up around 3300 BC. They have agriculture and eventually developed the first form of writing.

First Sign of Indus Civilizations

2600 BCE

Around 2600 BC is when the first signs of Indus civilizations appear. These civilizations where very advance for their time. They developed things such as plumbing, grid based layout in cities, and air conditioning.

Old Kingdom Begins in Egypt

2300 BCE

This was the very start of Eygpt. During this time pharohs where seen as gods. The pyramids where built during this time.

Middle Kingdom Begins in Egypt

2030 BCE

The Middle Kingdom is often referred to as the golden age in Egypt. They did not build pyramids the kings where buried in hidden tombs. The Middle Kingdom was eventually ended by the Hyksos taking over.

Gilgamesh Written

2000 BCE

Gilgamesh is the first written story ever found. It was found in Sumer. It tells a story similar to Noah's ark about an epic flood

Fall of Sumer

2000 BCE

Sumer had begun to decline earlier constantly being taken over by other empires. Sumerian was hardly ever used to speak anymore although there was a short revival of it. Sumerian culture was replaced by a spoken language Semitic Akkadian.

Disappearance of Indus River Civilizations

1800 BCE

The decline of the Indus River Valley civilizations started around 1800 BC. This is important because we don't really know what happened to them. It just seems like they disappeared one day.

Shang Dynasty Beings

1766 BCE

The Shang dynasty is the first known dynasty in China. They developed writing as well as the silk making process. They also practiced ancestor worship.

New Kingdom Begins in Egypt

1550 BCE

The new Kingdom was an age of expansion. During this time Akhenaten ruled and tried to change Egypt to monotheistic. Hatshepsut the first known female pharaoh ruled

Writing is developed in Mesoamerica

700 BCE

The Mayans where the first to write in the americas. The writing is called glyphic cartouche. The Mayana saw writing as a gift from the gods.

Waring States Period

475 BCE

During the warning states period there was constant fighting between to states to rule the other. The was caused by the fall Zhou dynasty due to fuetal lords. The period lasted over 2 centuries and China was eventually united by Shi Huangdi who started the Qin dynasty.

Han Dynasty Beings

202 BCE

Gao Zu lead a peasant revolt to overthrow the Qin dynasty. The founding of Han dynasty is very important because it led to expansion and the Silk Road. The always had a less harsh rule.