Western Civilization

First use of bronze

3500 BCE

Bronze is a historically significant metal to the development of civilization. The low melting point of the tin and copper used to create bronze alloys allowed it to be worked on before iron was an option. The hardness of bronze is also higher than shaped iron allowing better tools to be made.

Cuneiform writing system is developed

3200 BCE

Cuneiform had the advantages of any form of written language. It enabled people to keep accurate records, and it enabled government decrees to be published so that the law could be enforced.

First dynasty in Egypt

2925 BCE

Dynasties helped keep Egypt united, which was no easy task. They used this system to increase trade and expand the empire through military campaigns.

Hammurabi's Codes are created

1771 BCE

Hammurabi's Codes are a collection of 282 rules, establishing standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. These were the first actual laws set in place.

New Kingdom begins in Egypt

1570 BCE

The New Kingdom was the golden age for Ancient Egypt. It was a time of great wealth and peace. Egypt at the time held fast amounts of political power.

The First Olympics in Greece

776 BCE

The purpose of the Olympic Games was for young men to show their physical qualities and to enforce the relationship between the various Greek cities. Only Greek men were allowed to participate in the Olympics but not women. The ancient Greeks loved competition of all sorts. Each year, the various city-states of Greece sent athletes to festivals of games, which were held to honor the gods.

Ancient Greece

700 BCE

Ancient Greece helped to develop democracy, inventing Western philosophy. It also greatly contributed to the development of math as we know it. They created pi and the Pythagorean theorem.

The Roman Empire

625 BCE

Rome was the center of western civilization and the center of Christianity. The ancient Romans conquered large amounts of land in Europe and northern Africa, built roads, and spread their language, Latin, far and wide.

The rise of Christianity

378 BCE

Christianity played a role in ending practices such as human sacrifice, and infanticide. Christianity in general affected the status of women by condemning marital infidelity, divorce, incest, and so on.

Alexander the Great

356 BCE

Alexander was one of the world's greatest military generals, he created a vast empire that stretched from Macedonia to Egypt and from Greece to part of India.