Unit I Timeline
 All slides prepared by students in 8th period
 Mr. Celio does not vouch for the accuracy of
these slides- when in doubt, research
 If you choose to print these, do so as
handouts with 6 or more slides per page!
Development of Early Hominids
 The earliest humans formed 3-4 million years ago.
 They lived in Africa and were generally unskilled.
They were nomads and followed their food
throughout the African savannah.
 The earliest human forms paved the way for us, and
passed on simple ideas that are still used today.
Use of Stone Tools
 First stone tools were created 2,500,000 years
ago by homo sapiens.
 These tools included simple pots and pans
used for cooking and artistic tools to aid in
making sculptures and other artistic forms.
 The use of stone tools aided human life, and
made many tasks much easier, such as
cooking and sculpting.
Use of Fire
 Humans first began to use fire around
500,000 years ago.
 Small fires gave the early humans a source of
light and heat, and aided many tasks such as
cooking and metalworking.
Origin of Homo Sapiens Sapiens
 Homo Sapien Sapiens began to form around
200,000 years ago.
 They were the first anatomically modern
humans, and were the smartest humans to
date.
 Homo Sapiens Sapiens were the first humans
to travel throughout the world and live on
every continent except for Antarctica.
Agricultural Revolution
 The agricultural revolution started around
10,000 years ago.
 This began the shift from hunter-gatherer
societies to agricultural civilizations.
 By being able to stay/live in one place, early
civilizations were able to form.
Emergence of Neolithic Towns
 Neolithic Towns began to form around 4,000
BCE.
 These were some of the first permanent
settlements.
 Led to the rise of strong, early civilizations
and led to the creation of tools used with
agriculture.
Development of Metalworking
 Early metalworking can be traced to around
4,000 BCE.
 They melted metals and then put them into
molds to create simple metal tools such as
weapons.
 Improved work conditions and increased and
more efficient battle tools.
Invention of Cuneiform
 First signs of cuneiform can be dated to
around 3,000 BCE.
 This was the first known writing system.
 Cuneiform paved the way to future writing
systems and provided a basis for record
keeping and law codes.
Invention of Hieroglyphics
 Early hieroglyphics can be dated to around 2,700
BCE.
 These complex characters were the basis for the
Egyptian empire and can be found throughout the
empires.
 The hieroglyphics were used for record keeping
and as an art source. The invention of papyrus
came with the emergence of hieroglyphics.
Sumerian Civilization
 4500-2270 BC
 The first established civilization in the Tigris
and Euphrates river valley.
 Significance: Created the first written
language, organized irrigation systems and
the use of a specialized labor force
Bronze Age
 3300-300 BC
 The Bronze Age marks the beginning of using
metals like bronze and copper for tools,
weapons and other objects.
 Significance: The Bronze Age led us to the
Iron Age
Unification of Egypt
 3000 BC
 The unification of Egypt united upper Egypt
and lower Egypt by Menes
 Significance: It led to an age of prosperity in
which the Great Pyramids were built.
Construction of Pyramids at
Giza
 2560 BC
 They were tombs for past pharaohs of Egypt
and for storage of things that the pharaohs
would need in the afterlife.
 Significance: One of the oldest seven
wonders of the world
Invention of the Wheel
 2500 BC
 The wheel was invented in UR by the
Sumerians.
 Significance: It helped to transport things and
is still used today.
Sargon’s Empire
 2270-2215 BC
 Sargon was the first ruler of the Akkadian
Empire
 Significance: He conquered the Sumerian city
states
Epic Of Gilgamesh
 2150-2000 BC
 An epic poem similar to Noah’s Ark written in
Sumer
 Significance: One of the earliest know works
of literature.
Egyptian Middle Kingdom
 2055-1650 BC
 The Middle Kingdom was the 11th-14th
dynasties in transition from the Old to the
New kingdoms.
 Significance: Know as the golden age
because of it’s stability.
Code of Hammurabi
 1700 BC
 The Babylonian law code written by
Hammurabi.
 Significance: The first code of law ever
written
Hyksos invasion of Egypt
 Started around 1720-1710 BCE.
 When Egypt was invaded by the Hyksos and
they became very powerful until ruling all of
Northern Egypt.
 Significance- During their rule of Upper
Egypt, they established their capital in the
city of Avarius, forcing the line of Pharaohs to
move to Thebes and only rule Lower Egypt.
Egyptian New Kingdom
 Between 16th and 11th centuries BCE.
 Also referred to as the Egyptian Empire
 Period that followed the Second Intermediate
Period and was succeeded by the Third
Intermediate Period.
 Significance- Egypt’s most prosperous time
and marked the peak of its power.
Ramses II gains control of
Palestine
 Gained control during his first Syrian
Campaign in 1279 BCE
 He gained control and destroyed Egyptian
power in Palestine and drove the Egyptians
back into their old frontiers.
 This ended the days of the Egyptian Empire
Building of Stonehenge
 Built around 2500 BCE
 Located in the English county of Wiltshire,
Stonehenge is a large circular setting of
standing stones.
 Archeologists evidence suggests that
Stonehenge was used as a burial ground.
Hittite use of Iron
 Started in the 14th century BCE
 The Hittites were the first Indo-European
people to make and use iron.
 Their use of iron Started the Iron Age.
Creation of Phoenician trading
network
 11th century BCE
 This trading network between the
Mediterranean and Mesopotamia was reestablished by the Phoenicians in the Early
Iron Age.
 This network brought the Phoenician
Alphabet to the Greeks.
Creation of Phoenician Alphabet
 Created before 1050 BCE
 Their Alphabet was created when they
simplified their writing by using 22 different
signs to represent sounds.
 This Alphabet was adopted by many places
like Greece and made it easier to
communicate.
Abraham’s covenant with Yahweh
 Around 2000 BCE
 When god gave Abraham land and
descendants
 Important to Judaism
RULE OF CYRUS THE GREAT
•Lived through 559-530 B.C.E
•Created the powerful Persian state by extending Persian control
over the Medes in 550 B.C.E and years later he defeated the Lydian
kingdom
•He entered Mesopotamia in 539 and captured Babylon and won
their loyalty, he also issued an edict permitting the Hebrews to
return to Jerusalem with their sacred temple objects and to rebuild
their temple as well
•Throughout his conquest he demonstrated considerable wisdom
and compassion and organization of his empire
•He successfully obtained their favor of the priesthoods in his
conquered land by restoring temples and permitting a wide degree
of religious toleration
Rule of Darius
 521-486 B.C.E
 He added a new Persian province in western India
 Darius organized the empire by dividing it into provinces and placing
satraps to govern it
 Darius organized a campaign to Egypt where he defeated the Pharaoh’s
armies and secured the lands
 Darius’s power depended on the military
Creation of Zoroastrianism
 It emerged from a common prehistoric Indo-Iranian religious system
dating back to the early 2nd millennium
 Zoroaster was the creator and did not introduce a new god but
taught that Ahuramazda, who had long been one of the Iranians’
deities, was the only god and that his religion was the only perfect
one
 It spread throughout the Persian empire because of its acceptance of
the Great kings
Aryan Invasion
 Aryans were apart of the extensive group of Indo-European speaking
people who inhabited vast areas
 Aryan Invasions were thought to be the reason why the Harappan
Civilization came to an end
 The Aryan Invasion on India affected India in many ways such as the
Aryans brought the caste system, with Aryan rule agriculture
expanded rapidly with the invention of the iron plow,
 They brought the Vedas which were sacred texts in Hinduism
Solomon’s Reign
 King of the Hebrews in Jerusalem from 971
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931B.C
Sinned due to the amount of wives and
children he had.
Spread the word of the Lord by teachings.
Married the daughter of the Egyptian
Pharaoh.
Controlled all of Jerusalem during his reign.
Set the Jews free of slavery.
David’s rule Israel
 Between 1010 and 970 BCE
 He ruled and united the people of Israel and
led them to victory in battle.
 His rule paved the way for his Solomon to
build the Holy Temple.
Israel destroyed by the
Assyrians
 In 721 BC, the Assyrians raided the Israelite
capital at Samaria.
 Southern Israel such as Judah, was left to
fend for itself.
 The capture of Israel was no challenge and
almost no Assyrian men were killed.
 Their goal was to kill all the Jews.
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Babylon Captivity of Israelites
 Captured in between 586-538 BC by the
Babylonian Empire and used as slaves for
building, working and other deeds.
 According to the Bible, there was 3 deportations
of Jews and Israelites to Babylon.
 The Jews thought of it as a turning point in their
religion as they were saved in Egypt previously
and it was a chore to Yahweh for sinning after the
release of slavery in Egypt.
 It was predicted that they would fall to slavery in
Babylon.
Creation of Persian Empire
 Otherwise known as the Achaemenid Empire.
 Established in 550 BC by Cyrus the Great.
 Construction first started in 515 BC at Persepolis.
 Greatest leader was Cyrus the Great.
 Had a monarch type government in which one
person lead the whole empire (Cyrus the Great).
 The last king was Darius the Third.
 Empire is ended once Darius the Third.
 It is now modern day Iran.
Harappan Civilization
 Located in the Indus Valley near the Fertile Crescent.
 Had elaborately planned cities such as Mohenjo-
daro.
 Took advantage of the river system and used an
irrigation style farming technique which was an
excellent way of efficient farming.
 Discovered a weight system and created pottery
such as small figurines, rings and other crafts.
 Ceramics and shell working was popular in the
Harappan culture. It provided a sense of style and
divided the Elite from the Middle and Lower class.
Creation of Hinduism
 Hinduism emerged from the beliefs of the
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Aryan people.
Includes sacred texts such as the Vedas
Emerged in India at around 3500 B.C.E
Religious beliefs in ancient times was the
ideal of asceticism
The thoughts of the Dharma were a big
part of the creation of Hinduism
Conquest of India by Alexander
the Great
 Alexandrian conquest of India was only a
brief interruption
 It played a formative role because after his
departure the rise of the first dynasty to
control much of the region emerged
 327 B.C.E.
The Mauryan Empire
 Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the
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Mauryan Empire
The capital of the empire was at Pataliputra
in the Ganges river valley
King pocessed a large army and secret police
Empire was divided into provinces that were
ruled by governors
324-301 B.C.E.
The Arthasastra
 Highly centralized and even despotic
government
 “It is power and power alone which, only
when exercised by the king with impartiality,
and in proportion to guilt, over his son or his
enemy, maintains both his world and the
next”
 The Mauryan Empire-324-301 B.C.E.
Adoption of the Caste System
 Aryan people formed this caste system
 The Caste System
 Priests , warriors, commoners, peasants, and
the untouchables
 The Caste System was harsh and
strengthened social structure of India
 It was very hard to move up the Caste System
 1500-1000 B.C.E.
Creation of Jainism
 Believes in non-violence, non-stealing, and
truthfulness
 Founded by Mahavira
 Resembles Buddhism in rejecting the reality
of the material world
 269-232 B.C.E.
The Shang Dynasty
 Predominantly agricultural society rule by
and aristocratic class, who’s major occupation
war
 Villages were organized in clans and classes
were differentiated with the poor working for
elite families
 Best known for their mastery of the art of
bronze casting, fairly sophisticated writing
system
 16th century B.C.E.
Zhou Dynasty
 They overthrew the Shang Dynasty
 Located their capital in their home territory near
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the present-day city of Xian
Mandate of Heaven was used to determine the
rulers
Divided kingdom into territories
Advances in agriculture allowed Chinas
population to reach 20 million people
Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism were
developed
11th century B.C.E.
Development of Chinese
Writing
 Started when civilization started in 3000 B.C.
 People could keep records
 Consists of picture-like characters that
represent an idea
 Chinese characters haven’t changed much
since then as far as we know
Shang Bronze working
 The Shang Dynasty lasted from 1570-1045
B.C.
 During that time, they mastered the art of
bronze working
 Bronze was more advanced than anything
else; bronze was used for food containers and
ceremonial rites for ancestral purposes
Confucianism
 Confucian matured and started spreading the
word at 551 BCE
 Confucian provided a doctrine to the nation
building a social organization for China
 During the Han dynasty, it was altered to
State Confucianism, which was a
combination of Legalism and Confucianism
Daoism
 6th century BCE
 It was basically an easier form of
Confucianism
 During the Zhou dynasty, it was very popular
 It was a frame work for popular spiritualistic
beliefs among the common people
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Legalism
 300 BCE to 200 BCE
 Unlike Confucianism, they had harsh laws and
punishments.
 They used fear instead of the idea of reward
as a motivation for people to follow the ruler.
Period of the Warring States
 Late 5th century BCE
 It was the civil war between the different
states of China
 New weapons came such as iron weapons,
the foot soldier, and the cross-bow, and the
introduction of cavalry
Qin dynasty
 From 221 to 206 BCE
 It was ruled by Qin Shi Huangdi, a legalist
 He was a forceful ruler with a lot of ambition
 He extended China to modern day Vietnam
Han Empire
 202 BC - 221 CE
 It was considered the greatest empire in
Ancient China
 Liu Bang was the founder of the Han dynasty
 It was under the rule of the Han that
Confucianism became popular
First civil service
examinations
 The first civil service examination was under
the Han Dynasty in 165 BCE
 Positions for bureaucracy were selected
through civil service examinations rather than
hereditarily
Homer
 Date: 850 BCE
 Description: Homer is the author of the epics
The Iliad and The Odyssey
 Significance to history: The Iliad and The
Odyssey have a huge influence in the history
of literature, and is still studied in public
schools in America.
The invention of the Iron
Plow
 Date:
 Description:
 Significance to history
Greek Dark Age
 Date: 1100 BCE–750 BCE
 Description: The Greek Dark Age is the term used to
describe the time period between the Dorian
invasion of Greece and the end of the Mycenaean
Palatial civilization. During this period, many Greeks
crossed the Aegean Sea to different islands and
southwestern Asia.
 Significance: During this period, advances in
technology occurred, such as the replacement of
bronze with iron in the making of weapons, new
literature that is still used today was introduced, as
well as the Greeks adopting the now widely used
Origin of the Polis
Minoan civilization
Mycenaean Greece
 Date: 1600 BCE to 1100 BCE
 Description: This was a period in time where
the Mycenaean people flourished under
powerful monarchies.
 Significance to history: Mycenaean Greece
was the historical setting of many ancient
works of literature, such as the epics of
Homer, as well as many Greek myths, which
are also continually referenced in the modern
world.
Rise of Tyrants
Lycurgan Reforms
Origins of the Silk Road
Height of Sparta
6th and 5th Centuries
 Description:
Sparta was a major city-state of ancient Greece. They
became a major military power and remained that way
unhtil they were defeated by Thebes in 371 B.C.
 Significance:
They were one of the greatest military forces of the
timje. They set a very high standard for military
excellence. Everyone who came after them wanted to be
like them.
Rule of Pericles
461 to 429 B.C.E
 Description:
Pericles was born into a very influential family. He
ruled Athens during their “Golden Age.” This was
between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars. The period
in which he ruled was often called the Age of Pericles
 Significance:
Because Pericles was learned in and promoted
literature and the arts, Athens is known as the
educational and cultural center of the ancient Greek
world.
Plato
c.420 – 347 B.C.E
 Description:
He was considered by many as the greatest
philosopher of western civilization. He was fascinated
with the question of reality. He was one of Socrates’
disciples. He did not trust the workings of democracy. He
thought individuals could not live an ethical life unless
they lived in a rational state.
 Significance:
He established a school at Athens known as the
Academy (where Aristotle studied).
Aristotle
384 – 322 B.C.E
 Description:
He studied at the Academy, and later, tutored
Alexander the Great. He didn’t accept Plato’s theory of
Ideal forms, and wanted a government that arrected
human affairs. After examining 158 states and their
government, he identified that monarchy, aristocracy
and constitutional were good forms of government. He
believed that women were inferior to men.
 Significance:
His philosophical and political ideas played a big part
in the development of Western thought during the
middle ages.
Socrates
469 – 399 B.C.E
 Description:
His most famous pupil was Plato. He left no writing,
so most of what we know of him is from his pupils. He
taught his pupils for free, and believed that education
was only to improve the individual. He was sentenced to
death because he was accused of corrupting the youth
with his teachings.
 Significance:
He created the teaching method “Socratic Method”
which is a question and answer system in which it leads
the student to use their own reasoning.
The Golden Age of Athens
480 – 404 B.C.E
 Description:
Military and external affairs were controlled by 10
strategoi or generals. Pericles was the leader during the
Golden Age. Athens was the first and most important
polis.
 Significance:
Caused the other city states to raise themselves to a
higher standard and created democracy.
Persian War
547 – 478 B.C.E
 Description:
It was a war between the Greeks and the Persians. It
started with the conquering of Lonia. Greeks won the
war. Erxes, Cyrus the Great’s son, led the second
invasion. Cyrus the Great started the war. Greece was
involved because of revolt against Persians.
 Significance:
Made the Greek city states band together. Showed
people that they should stand up for what they believe.
Origins of Greek Tragedy
5th Century
 Description:
Aristotle and other writers proposed theories of how
tragedy developed by telling stories about people
thought to be responsible. It was performed in late
March / Early May as an honor for Dionysus. Tragedies
usually were about the downfall of a hero through the
will of the gods.
 Significance:
Set a standard for future playwrights.
Paleponnesian Wars
431 – 421 B.C.E
 Description:
War between Sparta and their allies vs. Athens and
their Allies. The Spartans surrounded the cities and then
starved out the occupants. A plague wiped out 1/3 of
Athenian population in 433. Pericles was the leader of the
Athenians in 429.
 Significance:
Showed that military strength can over power
smarts.
Punic Wars
 264-241 B.C.E.
 Known as the Punic Wars because the
Carthagians are in origin Phonecian.
 1st war
ROMAN DOMINANCE OF THE
MEDITERRANEAN
•Dated around 246-133 B.C.E.
• After the Romans conquered Italy they were drawn into new wars,
eventually winning those wars they dominated the Mediterranean.
•
Hellenistic Period
 During and after the period of Alexander the
Great around 334 B.C.E ~ 146 B.C.E
 Alexander the Great went around conquering
and left Greek culture behind him.
 “Hellenistic” is a Greek word meaning “to
imitate Greeks”
 It’s a period of spread of Greek culture such as
art, language, architecture, literature.
Founding of Rome
 753 B.C.E
 According to Roman legend, Rome was
founded by the twin brothers, Romulus and
Remus in 753 B.C.E
 Early Romans spoke Latin
 Rome became one of the most classical
civilization.
Roman Republic
 509 B.C.E ~ 31 B.C.E
 Rome changed from Monarchy to republican
government.
 Even at hard situations such as when Rome was
surrounded by enemies and was about to be
defeated, Roman Republic was victorious.
 After domination of Mediterranean Sea, process
of creating an empire weakened and Roman
Republic started failing.
 Decline and fall of Roman Republic started at 133
B.C.E and Roman Republic ended at 31 B.C.E
Building of the Parthenon
 Work began in 448 BC and was finished in 432 BC
 Burned by the Persians during construction
 Was built for the Greek goddess, Athena
 Built by Iktinos and Kallikrates
 Located on the Acropolis, a hill overlooking
Athens, Greece
 Significance: One of the few architectural relics
of Ancient, Greece, and the largest on still
standing.
Rise of Philip of Macedon
 During the 4th century BC
 Son of Amyntas III
 As soon as Philip took power, there were 4
main threats. He used his time wisely when
dealing with threats when the Illyrians failed
to act promptly on their attack.
 Used diplomacy and military force to achieve
his goals.
 Father of Alexander the Great
75 Empire of Alexander the
Great
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365-323 BC
Took reign after Philip II of Macedon
Alexander founded the Nile City of Alexandria
Tremendous Empire was hard to handle
because of different cultures and languages.
 20 million square miles of land
 Significance: One of the biggest Empires of
all time. Alexander created an Empire that no
other king had seen before
Creation of the council of the
plebs
 471B.C.E
 The Roman Republic, then, witnessed the interplay
of three major elements. Two consuls and other
officials served as magistrates and ran the state.
Adult males controlled by the wealthiest citizens,
elected these officials, while the Senate, a small
group of large landowners, advised them.
 It was important because the plebeians constituted
the considerately larger group of
“independent,underprivladged, poorer and
vulnerable men” as well as non-patrician large
landowners, less wealthy landholders, artisan,
merchants, and small farmers.
Rise of Caesar
 In 47 B.C.E Caesar became dictator and in 44
B.C.he became dictator for life.
 Ceasar gave land to the poor and increased
the size of the senate to 900 members. He
also reformed the calendar by introducing the
Egyptian solar year 365 days.
 In 44 B.C.E he was assonated by the leading
senators.
Age of Augustus
 31B.C.E- 14C.E
 His real name is Octavian. He changed it to
Augustus in 27 B.C.E when the senate award the
title of Augustus ,“ the revered one”, a fitting
title in view of his power, previously reserved for
gods.
 Augustus maintained a standing army of twenty
eight legions of 150,000 men. He conquered the
central and maritime Alps and then expanded
Roman control of the Balkan peninsula up toe
the Danube River.
The Good Emperors
(96 C.E-180 C.E)
 The Good Emperors were absolute monarchs
known for their tolerance and diplomacy.
 They treated the ruling class with respect,
cooperated with the Senate, and were
praised for their building programs, such as
bridges and roads.
 The Good Emperors created and maintained
a period of peace in Rome that lasted for 100
years.
Birth Of Christianity
(6 B.C.E 29 C.E)
 Christianity began with the teachings of
Jesus. Jesus taught to love God and one
another.
 Christianity spread through preaching and
through written epistles.
 Christianity became one of the major world
religions.
 The religion became an important part of the
development of Medieval Europe.
Diocletian’s Reforms
(284 C.E-305 C.E)
 Diocletian helped to restore order and
stability to a collapsing empire.
 Diocletian’s reforms included a new
governmental structure, a rigid economic and
social system, and a new state religion,
Christianity.
 He strengthened and enlarged the
bureaucracy as well as the military.
Founding of Constantinople
 324
 In 324 when Constantine defeated Licentious he
decided to found a new capital for the emperor.
1. It was ideally situated between the eastern
and northern military frontiers.2. It was to
become an important center of trade, located as
it was on major north-south and east-west trade
routes. Constantine wanted to honor his military
victory in a typically imperial fashion, and felt the
beauty of the city did just that.
 It was important, because after that date Roman
Empire had two emperors.
Edict of Milan
 AD 313
 A proclamation that permanently established
religious toleration for Christianity within the
Roman Empire. It was the outcome of a
political agreement concluded in Milan
between the Roman emperors Constantine I
and Licinius in February 313.
 It was important, because the emperor made
Christianity one of the few religions
approved.
Fall(s) of Rome 475-476 C.E
 There were many invasions on Rome. In the
east, the Sassanid Persians made inroads into
Roman territory. Germanic tribes also poured
into the Roman empire.