Ancient Civilizations and Middle Ages

Ancient Civilizations

• Mesopotamia: Cradle of civilization, Sumerians (3500 BCE), Babylonians, Assyrians
• Ancient Egypt: Pyramids (2580 BCE), Pharaonic dynasties (3100 BCE - 30 BCE), Hieroglyphics
• Ancient Greece: City-states (Athens, Sparta), Philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), Theater (Tragedy, Comedy)
• Ancient Rome: Republic (509 BCE), Empire (27 BCE), Law, Architecture, Engineering

Middle Ages

• Fall of Rome: 476 CE, Barbarian Invasions, Decline of Empire
• Feudalism: Lords, Vassals, Knights, Serfs
• Crusades: Christian Holy Wars (1095-1291)
• Black Death: Pandemic (1346-1353), 1/3 of Europe's population

Early Modern Period

• Renaissance: Revival of Classical Culture (14th-17th centuries)
• Age of Exploration: European Discoveries (15th-16th centuries)
• Reformation: Protestantism (1517), Catholic Counter-Reformation
• Enlightenment: Reason, Science, Democracy (17th-18th centuries)

Modern Period

• Industrial Revolution: Mechanization, Factory System (18th-19th centuries)
• Nationalism: Rise of Nation-States, Imperialism (19th-early 20th centuries)
• World War I: Global Conflict (1914-1918), Treaty of Versailles
• World War II: Global Conflict (1939-1945), Holocaust, Atomic Bomb

Contemporary Era

• Cold War: Ideological Conflict (1945-1991)
• Decolonization: End of Colonialism (mid-20th century)
• Globalization: Economic Interdependence, Digital Age (late 20th century-present)
• Modern Conflicts: Regional Wars, Terrorism, Refugee Crises

Ancient Civilizations

• Mesopotamia: Founded around 3500 BCE, home to Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians, known as the cradle of civilization.
• Ancient Egypt: Built pyramids around 2580 BCE, had pharaonic dynasties from 3100 BCE to 30 BCE, and developed hieroglyphics.
• Ancient Greece: Consisted of city-states like Athens and Sparta, was the birthplace of philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), and invented theater (tragedy and comedy).
• Ancient Rome: Transformed from a republic (509 BCE) to an empire (27 BCE), developed law, architecture, and engineering, and left a lasting legacy.

Middle Ages

• Fall of Rome: Occurred in 476 CE, marking the decline of the empire and the rise of barbarian invasions.
• Feudalism: A social hierarchy consisting of lords, vassals, knights, and serfs, characterized by a system of obligations and dependencies.
• Crusades: A series of Christian holy wars (1095-1291) aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim rule.
• Black Death: A devastating pandemic (1346-1353) that wiped out one-third of Europe's population.

Early Modern Period

• Renaissance: A cultural and intellectual revival (14th-17th centuries) that revived classical culture and ideals.
• Age of Exploration: A period of European discoveries (15th-16th centuries) that expanded global trade and exploration.
• Reformation: A Protestant movement (1517) that challenged Catholicism and led to the Catholic Counter-Reformation.
• Enlightenment: An intellectual and philosophical movement (17th-18th centuries) that emphasized reason, science, and democracy.

Modern Period

• Industrial Revolution: A transformative period (18th-19th centuries) marked by mechanization, the factory system, and the emergence of a new industrial economy.
• Nationalism: A movement that led to the rise of nation-states and imperialism (19th-early 20th centuries).
• World War I: A global conflict (1914-1918) that ended with the Treaty of Versailles and redrew the global map.
• World War II: A global conflict (1939-1945) that resulted in the Holocaust, the atomic bomb, and a new world order.

Contemporary Era

• Cold War: An ideological conflict (1945-1991) between the United States and the Soviet Union that shaped global politics and international relations.
• Decolonization: A process (mid-20th century) that marked the end of colonialism and the emergence of new independent nations.
• Globalization: A phenomenon characterized by economic interdependence, digitalization, and increased global connectivity (late 20th century-present).
• Modern Conflicts: Ongoing regional wars, terrorism, and refugee crises that continue to shape global politics and international relations.