Timeline of the Ancient World By kilatheodora 4000 BCE Homo sapiens appear in different regions of the world 3500 BCE The Sumerians of Mesopotamia invent writing and the wheel 3100 BCE Egypt becomes unified 2800 BCE Building begins in Stonehenge, England 2500 BCE Indus civilization flourishes in India Period: 1600 BCE to 1100 BCE Mycenaean control of Greece Period: 1200 BCE to 400 BCE Olmecs civilization flourishes in western Mexico Period: 1000 BCE to 612 BCE New Assyrian Empire flourishes 753 BCE Foundation of Rome Period: 605 BCE to 562 BCE King Nebuchadnezzar rebuilds the city Babylon Period: 476 BCE to 431 BCE Golden age of Athens Period: 336 BCE to 323 BCE Alexander the Great rules the world Period: 27 BCE to 14 Augustus rules as the 1st Roman emperor 1 CE Birth of Christ 476 Western Roman Empire falls