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50,000 BCE
The Earliest Music
Some of the world's earliest music can be dated back to the Upper Paleolithic era, which was 50,000-10,000 B.C. Visual art depicting music was found that belonged to this time, although little is known over all about music in this era. The development of musical instruments also began at this time. -
3000 BCE
Musical Notation Systems
With the development of writing in 3,000 B.C came the invention of musical notation systems. Musical practices were becoming more popular. This allowed actual works of music to be recorded. Some fragments of ancient western notation from Ancient Greece and Rome still exist today. -
1000 BCE
Sounding brass and tinkling cymbal
Simple copper trumpets were used in Egypt as well as Cymbals in Israel by 1000 B.C. The invention of these metal instruments completed the range of available in these civilizations. We can find examples of music during this time in the Bible as well. -
600 BCE
Music in Ancient Greece
The Greeks drew a lot of inspiration for music from the Mesopotamian and Egyptian societies. They expanded on the instrument families (strings, flutes, reeds, brass, and drums). The Greeks used music for ceremonial and entertainment purposes. Two of the most popular Greek instruments were the lyre and the aulos. -
300 BCE
The Mechanical Organ
Different types of pipes were among some of the very first musical instruments. A scientist in Alexandria, by the name of Ctesibius, is credited with being the first to invent an organ - with a hand-operated pump sending air through a set of large Pipes. Each pipe is played by pressing a note on a board. This is the beginning of keyboard instruments. By the time of the Roman Empire, the pipe organ was one of the most popular instruments. -
200
Music in Ancient Rome
Just like the Greeks did with the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, the Romans based their music off of the Greeks. The Romans adjusted the Greek music to their own taste, however it remained monophonic and mode-based. Roman music also developed during the Early Christian Period when art forms were adapted into music. -
328
Music in the Olympic Games
In 328 B.C, Herodoros of Megara won the first of ten consecutive trumpet competitions in the Olympic Games. These trumpet contests were introduced into the 96th Olympic Games. The prizes consisted of great honor and announcing the names of the victors and sounding the start of the events. -
Chinese Bells
Bronze instruments became more popular because they were the preferred instruments for many of their rituals. These Chinese bells as well as pottery flutes have been found in tombs of the Shang dynasty. China also contributed to music history during this time by inventing the mouth organ.
