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5000 BCE
Transportation: Ancient Fishing Boats
Traders used flat-bottomed boats for setting out from the coast. These boats do not require a wind sail, might have a stability rigger, and would be made out of rot-resistant wood planks or a log. -
1500 BCE
Technology: Navigation by Polaris
During Phoenician trade, Phoenicians would use Polaris, the brightest and constant star found in Ursa Minor, as a navigation system to guide the ships along trade routes successfully. -
Period: 1270 BCE to 90 BCE
Silk Road Trade Route, Goods and Secondary Trade Effects
The route was across land from western China to the Mediterranean. Trade made possible by the development of a camel hybrid capable of long dry trips by the Chinese, Indians, Parthians, and Central Asians. From West to East, items traded were: horses, alfalfa, grapes, melons, walnuts. From East to West, items traded were: silk, peaches, apricots, spices, pottery, and paper. Secondary trade effects: Chariot Warfare, the stirrup, music, diversity of populations, Buddhism, and Christianity. -
Period: 800 BCE to 1500 BCE
Indian Ocean Trade Route, Goods and Secondary Trade Effects
Trade was by water from Canton in China to southeast Asia to India to Eastern Africa and the Middle East. Traded: Pigments, Pearls, spices, bananas and other tropical fruits. Secondary Trade effect(s): Lateen Sail (which has a flattened triangular shape) that permitted sailing far away from the coast. -
700 BCE
Technology: Camel Saddle
The earliest known saddles were allegedly made by Assyrians. Saddles were status symbols used to show one's wealth. The saddle is a supportive structure for a rider, that is fastened to an animal's back by girth. -
551 BCE
Confucius
Birth of Confucius, who began the philosophy of Confucianism with the sole purpose of achieving harmony, the most important social value. -
507 BCE
Beginning of the Roman Republic
Legend stated that Ancient Rome was founded by the two brothers, and demi-gods, Romulus and Remus, on 21 April 753 BCE. The legend claims that, in an argument over who would rule the city (or, in another version, where the city would be located) Romulus killed Remus and named the city after himself. -
399 BCE
Trial and Death of Socrates
Socrates stood before a jury of 500 of his fellow Athenians accused of "refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state" and of "corrupting the youth." If found guilty, his penalty would be death. -
336 BCE
Alexander of Macedon
King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Persian Empire who is considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. He was inspiration for later conquerors such as Hannibal the Carthaginian and Napoleon. He is also known by the name, Alexander the Great. -
331 BCE
Caesar Augustus
Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman Empire, who led Rome's transformation from republic to empire during the tumultuous years following the assassination of his great-uncle and adoptive father Julius Caesar. -
275 BCE
Popular Trading Post: Berenike
Egyptian port city located on the Red Sea that was a major center of international trade from the third century BCE until its decline in the sixth century CE. It was founded in 275 BCE by the Egyptian king Ptolemy II to use as a harbor for importing African elephants from Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia. The city traded extensively with India, exchanging goods like cloth, pottery, beads, wood, and bamboo. -
Period: 271 BCE to 232 BCE
Ashoka's Rule
He was one of the most famous Indian emperors, who ruled about 271-232 BCE, converted to Buddhism and worked to spread the religion. Beginning around 254 BCE, he had several proclamations on Buddhist teachings carved into rocks, caves, and tall stone pillars. -
200 BCE
Trade Route and Transportation across the Taklamakan Desert
Instead of crossing the perilous Taklamakan, merchant caravans traveling to and from China branched over the northern and southern parts of the Desert. These routes were anchored around a series of oasis towns, which provided water and supplies to the caravans. The trade routes of the Taklamakan Desert, marked in red in the map, were used for hundreds of years. -
200 BCE
Art: Egyptian Faience Bowl
This is a brightly colored bowl, used for either funeral or ritual purposes, and made around approximately 200-150 BCE in a faience workshop in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. Egyptian faience-style pottery, made with a special blue-green ceramic glaze, was produced as early as 3500 BCE. -
138 BCE
Zhang Qian
He set out through the tall stone gates of Chang'an, the capital of Han dynasty China. He rode at the head of a caravan of 100 Han soldiers, riding into the dusty, unknown lands to the west, which became a part of the Silk Road trade route. -
100 BCE
Popular Trading Post: Aksum
Aksum was a wealthy kingdom that flourished between the first and seventh centuries in what is today Ethiopia, traded extensively with Greece and other foreign regions. It was linked to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean trade networks by its port city of Adulis, Aksum controlled the profitable African gold and ivory trade. It exported gold, gems, spices, incense and ivory to Greece, India, Sri Lanka, and Persia. -
64 BCE
Strabo the Geographer
He was a scholar who traveled to read the scholarship of others, and from places like the library at Alexandria, Egypt, he was able to collect and compare many sources in order to get a picture of the best state of knowledge about the known world. He probably traveled as far as the Red Sea, and on its ships and in its ports he could hear about other lands. -
23 BCE
Xin Dynasty Overthrown
Red Eyebrow Rebellion comprised of angry peasants and nomads overthrow the Xin Dynasty and Wang Mang. The Han Dynasty is restored. -
9 BCE
Xin Dynasty begins
Wang Mang declares himself emperor, interrupting the Han Dynasty. -
Period: 4 BCE to 30 BCE
Life of Jesus: Birth to Crucifixion
The beginning of Christianity, as reported throughout the Bible's New Testament. Born in Bethlehem in a manger surrounded by livestock, shepherds and wise men. Dies on a cross by crucifixion in front of the public who voted to release Barabbas, a murderer, and crucify Jesus instead.
