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Period: 100 to 170
Ptolemy
Not only making very accurate maps of the world, he wrote "Guide to Geography". -
150
2300 BC
The first city map was created in stone for Lagash, Mesopotamia. This is important because it was the very first map drawn in ancient time, proving that even the people who lived several thousand years ago were interested in geography and cartography of the world. -
200
600 B.C.
The oldest world map was created in ancient Babylon. However, the best known Babylonian world map, the Imago Mundi, was created in 600 B.C. This is very important becaause it initiated the cartography of world maps in history. -
250
500 BC
Hecataeus, a scholar of Miletus, produced the first book on geography. This is important because he recorded an early circumnavigation of the African contintent, improved onn the delineation of the shape and extent of the known regions of the world, and declared the Caspian to be an island sea -
300
4th century B.C
the Greek explorer Pytheas traveled through Northwest Europe and circled the British Isles. This is important because he found that the region was considerably more habitable than the thoery expected. This was one of the earliest discoveries made by traveling around -
350
3rd century B.c.
Erastothenes coined the term "geography". This is important because this was the beginning of geography in human history. -
400
100-170 A.D.
Ptolemy wrote "Guide to Geography". This was important because this included rough maps of the landmasses and a global grid system. This contributed to the technical aspects of cartography and understanding of geography -
May 1, 621
Islam began in Mecca
Islam began in Mecca. This is important because Islam claims about 1 billion worldwidr and has a great impact on all members. -
May 2, 1187
magnestic compass
The earliest navigators coasted from headland to headland; they did not require charts until adoption of the magnetic compass made it possible to proceed directly from one port to another. In 1178, the very first magnetic compass was adopted, which made transportation across the sea possible -
May 2, 1275
Mediterranean sea
The entire Mediterranean Sea was depicted on a sheep skin. This is important because it proved that people in this era were able to go across the sea and explore the world. -
Jan 1, 1347
Black Plague
The Black Plague, starting in Europe, wiped out a large portion of the world population. It showed how nature can limit human population growth. -
May 2, 1507
The first map of North and South Americas
The first map showing North and South America clearly separated from Asia was produced in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller. It was an immense map, 4 1/2 by 8 feet (1.4 by 2.4 metres), printed in 12 sheets. It is important because it was probably the first map on which the name America appeared, -
May 2, 1513
modern maps
Martin Waldseemüller of St. Dié prepared an edition with more than 20 modern maps in 1513. This is significant because modern maps were created and greatly distributed among many people. -
Aug 10, 1519
Magellan
Magellan left Spain in order to complete his expedition around the world. This is important because he later proved that the world is round. -
May 2, 1522
Surivivors of Magellan's circumnavigation arrived
Survivors of Magellan’s circumnavigation of the world had arrived in Sevilla (Seville) in 1522, giving Diego Ribero, cosmographer to the king of Spain, much new information. In 1529 he made a new chart of the world on which the vast extent of the Pacific was first shown. -
Period: May 2, 1524 to May 2, 1544
the first textbooks of geography
The Cosmographiae, textbooks of geography, astronomy, history, and natural sciences, all illustrated with maps and figures, first appeared in the 16th century. One of the earliest and best known was that of Petrus Apianus in 1524, the popularity of which extended to 15 more editions. That of Sebastian Münster, published in 1544, was larger and remained authoritative and in demand until the end of the century. This reflects the general eagerness of the times for learning, especially geography. -
John Smith
Capt. John Smith’s maps of Virginia and New England, the first to come from the English colonies, were published in London in 1612. It is significant because it was one of the first maps depictng the New World. -
Period: to
African Slave Trade
The African Slave Trade from Africa to the Americas was a prime example of forced migration. -
Thomas Malthus
Malthus writes an essay on the Principle of Population which gives the view that people gorw exponentially while food only grows arithmetically. -
Louisiana purchase
Louisiana Purchase, US purchased France's N. America Colonies (1803). After it was bought from the French, it doubled the size of the United States. It was bought for a low price and it allowed the Americans to spread out west and expand the United States. It added to the agricultural power of the United States as well. -
Switzerland
A topographic survey of Switzerland was begun in 1832. This is important because many countries including Switzerland began to have interest in and explore the unknown world. -
Irish Potato Famine
This was a push factor that caused many Irish to immigrate to the United States. -
Dr. John Snow
Snow maps the distribution of deaths caused by cholera and finds the source of it, water. It saves lives and developed epidemology. -
Period: to
American Civil War (1861 - 65).
The importance of the Civil War can be found in most arguments in the ending of slavery in the United States. This important moral and cultural changing of attitudes was complimented by many other important outcomes. These include the surviving of the American democracy, the rise of a collective American economy, the rise of changing political parties, the strengthening of the federal government, the improving of race relations. -
First Transcontinental Railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad completed in US (1869). This contributed to a faster and more efficient communication thorughout the country. Suez Canal also opens. -
Boer War
Boer War (or South African War): conflict between British and Boers (descendants of Dutch settlers of South Africa). Causes rooted in longstanding territorial disputes and in friction over political rights for English and other “uitlanders” following 1886 discovery of vast gold deposits in Transvaal. British victorious as war ends in 1902. This is an important example of conflict between different ethnicities over territory. -
First Agricultural Revolution 8000 B.C.
The first agricultural revolution in the Fertile Crescent shifted hunting nomads to sedentary farmers. This was the start of settlements. -
British Industiral Revolution
The British Industrial Revolution was the start of the textile industry and it moved Britain from stage 2 to stage 3 of the demographic transition model. -
Great Depression
The Great Depression was an economic downfall in the history of U.S. which prevented many people from immigrating there. -
John Steinbeck
He writes the Grapes of Wrath which depicts a story of Okies during the Great Depression. -
Period: to
World War II
This was a time of ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Jew by Nazi Germans. The United States and Soveit Union emerged as superpowers. -
Period: to
Green Revolution
The Green Revolution helped feed many people and increase food supply by developing miracle seeds, irrigation, and fertilizers. -
Period: to
Cold War
The Cold War was the result of tensions between the Soviet Union and the U.S. This caused competion which led to travels to space and the development of the atomic bomb. -
India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan is created after Britian ends its coloial rule. However, the two states stll retain heavy marks of their past. -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a supranational organization, is formed for mutual defense between its members. -
9/11
The attack on the World Trade center was an act of terrorism of the Al'Qaeda, but it acted as a centripetal force to bring people together. -
Barak Obama
January 20, 2009 - Barack Obama takes the oath of office for President of the United States, becoming the first African-American president in the history of the nation. The Democratic Senator from Illinois comes into the office on a message of Change.