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5000 BCE
First city-states in Mesopotamia
The Sumerian king, Lugal-Zaggisi, tried to form a coalition of Sumerian city-states against Sargon, but he was defeated by the Akkadian. -
3500 BCE
First Writings develop in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia developed the first writings in history. At first, it was mostly pictograms. It then slowly evolved to take form of cuneiform due to the inconvenience of trying to write using only pictures. -
2700 BCE
Xia Dynasty
First dynasty in traditional Chinese history. It was founded by Yu the Great in 2700 BCE. The dynasty grew to great power in the 45 years of Yu's reign as king.
Link: http://www.ducksters.com/history/china/xia_dynasty.php -
2560 BCE
Pyramids of Giza
The oldest of the seven wonders of the world, and the only one still mainly intact. They were built for three Egyptian kings: Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. the order of the pyramids corresponds to the kings that they were built for.
Link: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pyramids-of-Giza -
2500 BCE
Indus River Valley Civilization
Civilization begins along the Indus River. It later collapses ca. 2000 BCE possibly due change in course of the river or flooding. -
2500 BCE
Minoan Civilization
The Minoan civilization rose about 2500 BC and lasted until about 1400 BC. It was located on the island of Crete. The Minoans were were best known for the palaces they built, most of all the one at Knossos. -
2300 BCE
Kind Sargon's empire
King Sargon of Akkad was the ruler of the first empire in world history. He was the conqueror of the Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia -
2000 BCE
Hinduism is established
A very developed civilization dwells in the Indus Valley with its own religion and culture, and is believed to be the beginnings of Hinduism.
Link: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism -
1792 BCE
King Hammurabi's Rule (Mesopotamia)
King Hammurabi was the sixth king in the Babylonian dynasty. He set up a system of laws that became known as Hammurabi's Code, and it is all written in 'if-then' form. For example, if a man steals an ox, then he is to pay back 30 times its worth. King Hammurabi expanded his kingdom along the Euphrates River to unite Southern Mesopotamia. His reign ended in 1750 BCE.
Link: http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/hammurabi -
1500 BCE
Shang Dynasty
Bronze Age began around the same time the Shang dynasty emerged. Fuhao, wife of Wu-ting, was the first woman mentioned in Chinese history, and was the commander of an army of 10,000 soldiers.
Link: http://www.ushistory.org/civ/9b.asp -
1500 BCE
Aryans invade India
Aryans invade India from the north and spread through the Indus Valley down into the Ganges Valley -
1200 BCE
Evidence of writing in China
Instead of letters, the Chinese used mostly pictograms and later these developed into complex characters and signs. It is one of the most continuously used scripts in the world. -
1200 BCE
Trojan War
The Trojan War began when the Trojan Prince, Paris, stole another man's wife, the famous Helen. She was married to the king of Sparta, Menelaus. This caused the Trojans and the Greeks to go to war for 10 years. -
1050 BCE
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE) was the longest-lasting of China's dynasties. It began after the Shang were overthrown. The last part of the Zhou dynasty was famous for Confucianism and Taoism.
Link: http://www.ducksters.com/history/china/zhou_dynasty.php -
776 BCE
First Olympic games are held
The Olympic Games, originally just called the Sports Events, were first held as a one day event in Olympia. It wasn't until 684 BC that they were extended for three days, then five. -
700 BCE
Homer writes the Iliad and the Odyssey
Not much is known of Homer, the supposed author of these epics, but these literary works are still considered some of the greatest books ever written. The Iliad focused on the Trojan War, and the Odyssey told the story of Odysseus' ten year voyage home after the Trojan War. -
669 BCE
Ancient Egypt is established
King Menes founded the capital of ancient Egypt at White Walls (later known as Memphis), in the north, near the apex of the Nile River delta. The capital would grow into a great metropolis that dominated Egyptian society during the Old Kingdom period.
Link: http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/ancient-egypt -
656 BCE
Assyrians conquer Egypt
From 656 to 639 BCE, Assyrians ruled ancient Egypt. -
650 BCE
Buddhism
Buddhism is founded by Buddha Shakyamuni. He was a prince, born into royalty. In his twenties, he went in search of a greater meaning in life through meditating. Six years later, he achieved enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India
Link: http://www.aboutbuddhism.org/history-of-buddhism.htm/ -
525 BCE
Settlement of the Nile River valley begins
Egypt's first known settlements occurred mostly around the notorious Nile River at around 5000 B.C. Settlers included hunter-gatherers from southwest Asia and other parts of Africa. Egyptians thrived because of the rich, fertile banks of the Nile, which also provided water (obviously), transportation, and food.
Link: https://sites.google.com/site/explorethenileriver/sample-1 -
525 BCE
Persian conquest of Egypt
Persians rule Egypt. The Persians ruled Egypt from 525 BC, successfully fighting off the Libyans. After the Greek victory at Marathon in 490 BC, the Egyptians revolted (in 484 and again in 460 BC) with the help of the Athenians, but unsuccessfully. -
505 BCE
Cleisthenes introduces democracy in Athens
Cleisthenes is credited with reforming and introducing democracy, a government that gives the power to its citizens, to Athens. Because of this, historians have nicknamed him "the father of Athenian democracy" -
449 BCE
Construction of the Parthenon and the Acropolis in Athens begins
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431 BCE
The Peloponnesian Wars begins between Sparta and Athens
The Peloponnesian War was fought between Sparta and Athens for almost thirty years. Sparta wins the war when they become allies with the Persians, once enemies with Sparta. -
332 BCE
Alexander The Great conquers Egypt
In 332 BCE, Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and it marked the beginning of a Greek period in Egypt.
Link: http://www.eternalegypt.org/EternalEgyptWebsiteWeb/HomeServlet?ee_website_action_key=action.display.module&story_id=&language_id=1&module_id=330&text=text -
326 BCE
Alexander the Great crosses through India
Alexander the Great of ancient Macedonia crosses through India -
264 BCE
The Punic Wars
The Punic Wars were a set of three wars between Rome and Carthage. It is believed that were the largest wars to take place at that point in time. Rome was the victor of the first war, and this led to them replacing Carthage as a great naval power. -
47 BCE
Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome
At the Battle of Pharsalus, Julius Caesar defeated Pompey. This marked the end of the Republic of Rome. Julius Caesar made himself dictator for life after this victory -
44 BCE
Julius Caesar assassinated
Julius Caesar was assassinated because of a conspiracy made by many of the Roman senators. They were convinced that Julius Caesar's rule would not be beneficiary to Rome whatsoever. Because of this, the Roman senators tricked Julius into coming to a meeting where he was stabbed to death. -
31 BCE
Antony and Cleopatra are defeated by Augustus
At the Battle of Actium was fought at sea off the western coast of Greece. it combined the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra against Caesar Augustus. Augustus became the victor of this battle. -
27 BCE
Octavian becomes Caesar Augustus
Augustus was Julius Caesar's nephew and succeeded him after he was stabbed. He was the first emperor of Rome (even though he never took the title for himself). He fought to avenge Julius Caesar. -
476
Fall of the Roman Empire, Middle Ages begin
The Roman Empire is over thrown by the Germanic leader Odoacer in 467 C.E. Odoacer became the first barbaric leader to rule over Rome, and western Europe was dragged into the middle ages. http://www.thefinertimes.com/Middle-Ages/events-in-the-middle-ages.html -
Nov 28, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta mean 'The Great Charter.' It stated that everyone is subject to the law, even the king, and it described the rights of individuals, such as the right to a fair trial and the right to justice. King John was forced to sign it. -
Nov 14, 1315
The Great Famine
Due to bad weather and failed crops, the Great Famine of 1315 fell upon Europe. The famine created extreme levels of crime, disease, mass death, and even cannibalism. It lasted until 1322. -
Nov 14, 1337
The Hundred Years’ War
The Hundred Years War was fought from 1337 to 1453. It was a series of conflicts and struggles between Britain and France. Britain did well in the beginning, and the British controlled France and its territories for decades. https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/Hundred_Years.html -
Nov 14, 1348
The Black Death
The Black death, or bubonic plague, was spread by rodents and the unsanitary living conditions of peasants. It killed about 75 to 200 million people and is considered one of the most devastating epidemics in human history -
Jan 12, 1415
Henry the Navigator
Henry the Navigator was a Portuguese prince. While he was neither sailor nor navigator, he did support and sponsor explorations for Portugal to find a way to Asia by going around Africa. He was also involved in the beginning of the African slave trade. Link:
http://www.biography.com/people/henry-the-navigator -
Jan 12, 1441
African Slave Trade
Slavery had been around for a long time before the African slave trade began, all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman times. It still existed in Europe at this time, but the forms of it consisted more of domestic servants or farm workers. The people taken out of Africa were treated as objects, meant to bought and sold. The year 1441 began the African slave trade when Portuguese sailors took 12 Africans to Portugal. Link:
http://www.brycchancarey.com/slavery/chrono2.htm -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus Lands in Caribbean
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer that was sponsored by Spain to sail to the "New World" and conquer land for Spain. While he is credited with discovering America, that is wrong; he landed in the Caribbean islands, brought many diseases and enslaved some of the natives. -
Dec 5, 1503
Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa
da Vinci began work on the painting in 1503, in Sicily, Italy. He worked on it until about 1517. The woman in the painting believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo.. -
Dec 5, 1508
Michelangelo begins his painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
It was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. It is considered to be a very important piece of Renaissance art. -
Dec 5, 1509
Henry VIII becomes the king of England
King Henry VIII ruled over England until his death in 1547. He had a total of six wives, and only one of them bore him a son. 2 of his wives were executed, divorced two of them, and the only one to give birth to a son died in the process. -
Jan 12, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was from Portugal, born there around 1480. He was a sailor and created maps and was set on finding an easier route to the Spice Islands. His crew ended up circumnavigating to globe in one voyage. Link:
http://www.biography.com/people/ferdinand-magellan-9395202#synopsis -
Nov 17, 1558
Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England
Parents were Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She was nicknamed the Virgin Queen, because she never married and never had children, and Good Queen Bess. She ruled over England until her death in 1603. -
William Shakespeare builds the Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain's men. Many of Shakespeare's play were preformed here. It burned down in a fire in 1613, but later rebuilt. -
Louis the XIV Becomes King in
Louis the XIV was the first child born after his parents had been married for 23 years, which led to him believe even more that he was "a gift from God" and that he the full divine right to rule. He was crowned at 4 years old, but didn't actually come into power until he was in his twenties. He was an incredible military leader, and lived in immense luxury in the palace of Versailles. He also ended an edict that allowed religious tolerance in France, which would lead to the French Revolution -
Charles I Overthrown
Charles I became the kind of England when Queen Elizabeth died. He caused a lot of problems with religion and politics during his reign. He was tried and executed by beheading on January 30th, 1649. -
English Bill of Rights
Passed on December 16th, 1689, the English Bill of rights stated that the power of the king and queen would be limited, brought about more free speech, and started to move England towards a more democratic system. -
Frederick ll begins his reign in Prussia
Ch. 18
Frederick II, also known as Frederick the Great, came into power as the king of Prussia in 1740. He would continue to rule for 46 years, the longest reign of any Hohenzollern king. As a young man, he was tutored by Voltaire for three years. In 1752, he published a book titled "The Rise of the Great Powers," which outlined how to be a successful and fair ruler. -
British Army surrenders to the Americans
Ch. 18
The American Revolution began in 1776. It wasn't in the colonists' favor until the later years of the war, when they finally received help from the French. Most historians agree on the British Army's surrender at Yorktown the main event that solidified the American's victory. However, British troops weren't fully removed until 1782. -
The Treaty of Paris
Ch. 18
The Treaty of Paris was drawn up after the American colonists won their freedom from England. The treaty, Americans agreed not to continue persecuting Loyalists, and both countries decided not block creditors seeking debts from the war. Some of those who signed it include Richard Olson from England and Benjamin Franklin and John Adams from America. The final edition was signed on September 3, 1783, and was ratified by the Continental Congress the following year. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a prison on the east side of Paris, France. The prison somewhat symbolized how much more dictatorial the monarchy of France had become. It was stormed by an angry mob on a July afternoon in 1784. -
March on Versailles
7,000 working women gathered on October 5th, 1789 and marched on towards the palace in Versailles. They carried pitchforks, pikes, and muskets. -
Royal Family Attempts to Flee
The royal family of France was forced to move to Paris after peasant women marched on the palace of Versailles. They were practically imprisoned in the Tuileries Palace, and on the night of June 20th, 1791, they attempted to escape. They were almost to Austria when they were caught, the king recognized by a coin, and then carted back to Paris where they would later be put on trial and executed. -
Mary Wollstonecraft publishes A Vindication on the Rights of Women
Mary Wollstonecraft was born in 1759, and established a school with her sister and best friend in Connecticut
She would go on to write A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, which pressed for equal rights for women, in 1792. She died 10 days after her second daughter was born. -
Execution of the King
Louis XVI and the rest of the royal family had been basically imprisoned in the Tuileries Palace in Paris after thousands of women massacred the guards and demanded that the royal family move from Versailles to the capital city of Paris. They later tried to flee to Austria where the Queen's family lived, but were caught and Louis later convicted of treason. He was executed the day following his trial by the guillotine. -
Reign of Terror
Period of time when the two groups, the two major political factions in France, the Jacobins and Girondins, were continuously fighting. Many were executed on both sides. -
Napoleon Becomes Emperor of France
Napoleon Bonaparte had been a very successful military leader during the French Revolution. He became emperor of France in 1804, married twice, and did his best to make Europe the French Empire. He was later exiled and died in 1821.
