River valley

River Civilization Timeline

By jnienbe2
  • Map of the Cradle of Chinese Civilization
    6000 BCE

    Map of the Cradle of Chinese Civilization

    Yellow River Basin area inhabited by humans who farmed, kept animals and built permanent homes.
  • Period: 6000 BCE to

    Ancient China River Civilization

    The beginning date is 6000 B.C. There is no ending date, as the civilization never ended. But 1911 A.D. marks the end of the Chinese Empire being ruled by a Dynasty.
  • First City-States
    5000 BCE

    First City-States

    The Sumerian people create the first city-states, slowly but surely developing southern Mesopotamia
  • Period: 5000 BCE to 333 BCE

    Ancient Mesopotamia

  • Writing
    3500 BCE

    Writing

    Writing begins to as pictograms, eventually evolving into cuneiform script about 1000 years later.
  • First hieroglyhpics used
    3300 BCE

    First hieroglyhpics used

  • First Villages
    3300 BCE

    First Villages

    Villages are built in the Indus River Valley area by farmers.
  • Period: 3300 BCE to 332 BCE

    Ancient Egypt

    Upper and Lower Egypt were unified around 3100 B.C. but the first hieroglyphics were believed to be a couple hundred years prior, so we'll start with that. The end is debated but the most commonly accepted end seems to be 332 B.C. when Egypt was conquered by Alexander the Great.
  • Unification of Egypt under King Menes
    3100 BCE

    Unification of Egypt under King Menes

  • Larger towns and cities begin to develop.
    3000 BCE

    Larger towns and cities begin to develop.

  • Period: 3000 BCE to 1500 BCE

    Indus River Valley

    This Indus Valley was located in present day Pakistan and NW India. It lasted from about 3000 BC to 1500 BC
  • First stone pyramid built
    2700 BCE

    First stone pyramid built

  • Pyramids of Giza built
    2600 BCE

    Pyramids of Giza built

  • Indus Script Begins
    2500 BCE

    Indus Script Begins

    400 symbols comprise this writing system, many of which have been found on clay seals.
  • Trade with Mesopotamia
    2350 BCE

    Trade with Mesopotamia

    Civilizations in the Indus River Valley begin trading with Mesopotamia.
  • First World Empire
    2300 BCE

    First World Empire

    King Sargon of Akkad takes over and starts the first empire in the history of the world.
  • The Yellow River Basin
    2200 BCE

    The Yellow River Basin

    2200 BC-1700 BC: Xia Dynasty ruled in an area around the Yellow River Basin. It is the oldest known dynasty in China. The first leader, Yu the Great, was famous for his battles against floods on the Yellow River.
  • Intro of Amorites
    2100 BCE

    Intro of Amorites

    The Sumerians begin to decline and the Amorites, a nomadic people, make their way into Mesopotamia.
  • Decline
    1900 BCE

    Decline

    Climate change is believed to be the biggest factor. Cooler, drier weather modified the land, and the path of the Indus River changed.
  • Most cities were abandoned.
    1800 BCE

    Most cities were abandoned.

  • Conquering an Empire
    1792 BCE

    Conquering an Empire

    1792-49: King Hammurabi of Babylon conquers a large empire. He became famous for creating the first set of laws known as the Code of Hammurabi.
  • Indus River Valley is over.
    1500 BCE

    Indus River Valley is over.

    Aryans invade and take over the land.
  • Akhenatent and his queen Nefertiti - religious reform
    1353 BCE

    Akhenatent and his queen Nefertiti - religious reform

  • King Tutankhamen became pharaoh (and restored traditions)
    1336 BCE

    King Tutankhamen became pharaoh (and restored traditions)

  • Assyrians Take Over
    1300 BCE

    Assyrians Take Over

    The Babylonian Empire declined after King Hammurabi's death and was taken over by other groups but the Assyrians took over northern Mesopotamia at this time, stealing if from the Indo-European group, the Mitanni.
  • Ancient Chinese Writing
    1200 BCE

    Ancient Chinese Writing

    First examples of true writing in China. The writing was on oracle bones and bronze vessels.
  • Confucius
    551 BCE

    Confucius

    Confucius lived. Important Chinese teacher and philosopher famous for his beliefs in upholding hierarchy and family respect of elders.
  • Persian Empire Begins
    550 BCE

    Persian Empire Begins

    After many years of on-again-of-again power by the Assyrians, Cyrus the Great rises to power and the Persian Empire begins.
  • End of an Era
    333 BCE

    End of an Era

    The Greeks, with the help of Alexander the Great, conquer the Persian Empire, officially ending the Mesopotamian period.
  • Alexander the Great conquered Egypt
    332 BCE

    Alexander the Great conquered Egypt

  • Urban development is on the rise.
    265 BCE

    Urban development is on the rise.

    Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, the two largest cities, begin to flourish.
  • Early Monetary Coins
    221 BCE

    Early Monetary Coins

    Quin Shi Huangdi united China into an empire. He introduced one system for money, writing, weights and measures.
  • A symbol of Taoism – the Yin-Yang dyagram
    220 BCE

    A symbol of Taoism – the Yin-Yang dyagram

    Warring States period. Defensive walls begin to appear that later become the Great Wall of China and Taoism religion originated.
  • The First Buddhist Temple in China – White Horse Temple
    65

    The First Buddhist Temple in China – White Horse Temple

    Buddhism in China. Idea carried along the Silk Road from India.
  • Last Emperor Puyi of the Qing Dynasty to rule China

    Last Emperor Puyi of the Qing Dynasty to rule China

    Puyi – Emperor of Qing Dynasty as an adult. He was emperor when he was 2 years old until the empire ended when he was five.