100,000 BC to 800 BC
100,000 - 20,000 BC
First modern Homo Sapiens in Africa about 100,000 BC. Homo Sapiens settles in Europe, Asia and Oceania about 40,000 BC. Migrations of Homo Sapiens to Americas across Bering Straits about 20,000 BC.
10,000 - 5,000The Ice Age ends about 10,000 BC. Transition from hunter-gatherer society to agriculture. The first cities emerge in Mesopotamia. First irrigation systems ca. 5,000 BC.
5,000 - 3,000 BCRise of the Sumerian Civilization and development of cuneiform writing ca. 3,400 BC. Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by Menes, the founder of the first Egyptian Dynasty ca. 3,100 BC.
3,000 - 2,000 BCInvention of the Egyptian hieroglyphs ca. 3,000. Legendary king of Uruk, Gilgamesh builds the famous wall of Uruk ca. 2750. Emergence of Minoan Civilization on the island of Crete ca. 2700. Construction of the Pyramid of Djoser ca. 2611 BC and the Great Pyramid of Giza by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) ca. 2560 BC. Erection of Stonehenge about 2,500-2200 BC. Rise of Indus Valley Civilization ca. 2500 BC. Foundation of the Akkadian Empire by Sargon of Akkad ca. 2330 BC. Emergence of the Chinese Civilization under the legendary Xia Dynasty ca. 2100.
2,000 - 1,500 BCRise of Assyria under Shamshi-Adad I in the 19th century BC. Foundation of the Babylonian Empire by Hammurabi in 1792 BC. Hammurabi's Code. Establishment of the Hittite Empire in the 18th century BC. Collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization about 1700 BC. Hyksos invasion of Egypt ca. 1650 BC. Shang Dynasty in China ca. 1600 BC. Emergence of the Mycenaean Culture in Greece ca. 1600 BC. Ahmose I expels the Hyksos from Egypt ca. 1550 BC. Sack of Babylon by Hittite king Mursili I ca. 1531 BC. Indoaryan arrival to the Indian subcontinent.
1,500 - 1,000 BCEstablishment of the Mitanni Kingdom ca. 1500 BC. Hatshepsut becomes Egyptian Pharaoh ca. 1479 BC. Collapse of the Minoan civilization about 1450 BC. Thutmose III overthrows his aunt Pharaoh Hatshepsut ca. 1458 BC. Pharaoh Akhenaten introduces worship of the sun disc. Pharaoh Tutankhamun dies at age of 18 in 1232 BC. The Battle of Kadesh fought between Egypt under Ramses II and the Hittites ends indecisively ca. 1274 BC. Israelite exodus from Egypt ca. 1250 BC. Invasion of the Sea Peoples ca. 1200 BC. Trojan War ca. 1190 BC. Assyria becomes a major power under Tiglath-Pileser I (1116-1077 BC). The second Chinese dynasty, the Shang Dynasty is overthrown by the Zhou Dynasty in 1046 BC. Saul unites the twelve Tribes of Israel and becomes the first king of the Kingdom of Israel in 1012 BC. David succeeds Saul as king of the Kingdom of Israel in 1004 BC.
1,000 - 900 BCRigveda, a collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns is composed about 1,000 BC. Rise of the Olmec Civilization in Mexico about 1,000 BC. Phoenician alphabet is developed ca. 1,000 BC. Phoenician city Tyre flourishes under King Hiram I (c. 969-936 BC). Solomon succeeds his father David as king of the Kingdom of Israel ca. 964 BC. Kingdom of Israel is divided into Israel and Judah on Solomon's death in 926 BC.
900 - 800 BCAssyria becomes a major power under Ashurnasirpal II (884-859 BC). Carthage is established by the Phoenicians in 814 BC. Greek alphabet ca. 800 BC. Composition of Upanishads about 800 BC.