Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which Indian philosopher died in 483 BCE?
Which Indian philosopher died in 483 BCE?
- Siddhartha Gautama Buddha (correct)
- Eratosthenes
- Confucius
- Jesus
Who founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty in 305 BCE?
Who founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty in 305 BCE?
- Julius Caesar
- Ptolemy I (correct)
- Alexander the Great
- Constantine the Great
Which ancient civilization is credited with the invention of the wheel?
Which ancient civilization is credited with the invention of the wheel?
- Greeks
- Chinese
- Romans
- Sumerians (correct)
When did the Roman Empire come to an end?
When did the Roman Empire come to an end?
Who measured the Earth's circumference in 240 BCE?
Who measured the Earth's circumference in 240 BCE?
When did the Han Dynasty begin?
When did the Han Dynasty begin?
Who conquered Egypt and founded Alexandria in 332 BCE?
Who conquered Egypt and founded Alexandria in 332 BCE?
When did the Greek city-states revolt against Persian rule?
When did the Greek city-states revolt against Persian rule?
Who wrote The Comprehensive Book, which summed up the medical knowledge of the era?
Who wrote The Comprehensive Book, which summed up the medical knowledge of the era?
What was the outcome of the split between the eastern and western churches in 1054?
What was the outcome of the split between the eastern and western churches in 1054?
What was the significance of the year 1095 in the Middle Ages?
What was the significance of the year 1095 in the Middle Ages?
Who was the first scientist to form an accurate theory of optics?
Who was the first scientist to form an accurate theory of optics?
What was the consequence of the Crusaders' sack of Constantinople in 1204?
What was the consequence of the Crusaders' sack of Constantinople in 1204?
Who was declared the Great Khan in 1260?
Who was declared the Great Khan in 1260?
What was the significance of the year 1347-1351 in European history?
What was the significance of the year 1347-1351 in European history?
Who was the first female professional writer in Europe?
Who was the first female professional writer in Europe?
Who is credited with the invention of the modern television?
Who is credited with the invention of the modern television?
What was the key feature of the Wright brothers' powered aircraft?
What was the key feature of the Wright brothers' powered aircraft?
What was the primary advantage of Jacquard's loom?
What was the primary advantage of Jacquard's loom?
What was the original purpose of the jeepney in the Philippines?
What was the original purpose of the jeepney in the Philippines?
Who are credited with designing and operating the first engine-powered aircraft?
Who are credited with designing and operating the first engine-powered aircraft?
In what year did John Logie Baird successfully televise recognizable human faces?
In what year did John Logie Baird successfully televise recognizable human faces?
What was the original purpose of the drawloom before Jacquard's invention?
What was the original purpose of the drawloom before Jacquard's invention?
What was the name of the electronic vehicle developed by Filipino scientists?
What was the name of the electronic vehicle developed by Filipino scientists?
What event occurred in 1431?
What event occurred in 1431?
What was the impact of the heavy plough on European agriculture?
What was the impact of the heavy plough on European agriculture?
What were the Chinese alchemists attempting to invent when they accidentally discovered gunpowder?
What were the Chinese alchemists attempting to invent when they accidentally discovered gunpowder?
In what century did the Chinese first use paper money?
In what century did the Chinese first use paper money?
What was the result of the invention of gunpowder in warfare?
What was the result of the invention of gunpowder in warfare?
What was the name given to gunpowder by the Chinese?
What was the name given to gunpowder by the Chinese?
What was the impact of the heavy plough on the economy?
What was the impact of the heavy plough on the economy?
Who is credited with the invention of the Potter's Wheel?
Who is credited with the invention of the Potter's Wheel?
What was the primary material used to make papyrus?
What was the primary material used to make papyrus?
What was the primary purpose of the Shadoof?
What was the primary purpose of the Shadoof?
What was the Antikythera Mechanism used for?
What was the Antikythera Mechanism used for?
Who is credited with the demonstration of the use of the Aeolipile?
Who is credited with the demonstration of the use of the Aeolipile?
Approximately when was the Potter's Wheel invented?
Approximately when was the Potter's Wheel invented?
What was written on before the invention of papyrus?
What was written on before the invention of papyrus?
Where was the Antikythera Mechanism discovered?
Where was the Antikythera Mechanism discovered?
Study Notes
Ancient Period Timeline
- 525 BCE: Egypt falls to the Persians
- 509 BCE: Traditional date for the founding of the Roman Republic
- 499 BCE: Greek city-states revolt against Persian rule
- 483 BCE: Indian Philosopher Siddhartha Gautama Buddha dies, marking the beginning of Buddhism
- 479 BCE: Chinese Philosopher Confucius dies, marking the beginning of Confucianism
- 461-429 BCE: Golden Age of Greece
- 336 BCE: Alexander the Great rules Macedonia
- 334 BCE: Alexander fights and wins against Persians
- 332 BCE: Alexander conquers Egypt and founds Alexandria
- 326 BCE: Alexander reaches northern Punjab region (Pakistan)
- 324 BCE: Mauryan empire in Indian subcontinent
- 323 BCE: Alexander dies, and his empire falls
- 305 BCE: The first Greek Pharoah of Egypt, Ptolemy I, establishes the Ptolemaic Dynasty
- 240 BCE: Greek mathematician Eratosthenes measures the Earth's circumference
- 221-206 BCE: Beginning of the Qin Dynasty; construction of the Great Wall begins
- 206 BCE: The Han Dynasty uses the Silk Road for trading connection as far as the Mediterranean
- 60 BCE: Roman leaders Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caesar form the 1st Triumvirate
- 55 BCE: Julius Caesar invades Britain
- 44 BCE: Assassination of Julius Caesar
- 33 CE: Judean philosopher Jesus is executed by Rome, marking the beginning of Christianity
- 324 CE: Constantine the Great establishes his capital at Byzantium (Constantinople)
- 476 CE: Roman Empire Ends
Wheels
- The invention of the wheel is credited to the Sumerians
- The potter's wheel was invented around 3500 BCE
- The wheel was initially used for pottery, but later adapted for transportation purposes
Paper
- Around 3000 BCE, ancient Egyptians began writing on Papyrus, a material similar to thick paper
- Papyrus is made from the pith of the Cyperus papyrus plant
- It is lightweight, strong, durable, and portable
- Before papyrus, writing was done on stone
Shadoof
- The shadoof was invented and used for irrigation by the ancient Egyptians
- It is an operated device used for lifting water
- This invention made irrigation and farming more efficient
Antikythera Mechanism
- The Antikythera mechanism is an ancient analog computer orrery
- It was discovered in 1902 from the waters of Antikythera, Greece
- It is believed to have been used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendar and astrological purposes
Aeolipile
- Also known as Hero's Engine (Heron's Engine)
- It is believed to be the ancient precursor of the steam engine
- Hero of Alexandria is credited with the demonstration of the use of the aeolipile during the 1st century AD
Middle Ages Timeline
- High Middle Ages: 1000 to 1300 CE
- Scholasticism developed further as a philosophy of learning
- Vikings sail to North America (Canada)
- Murasaki Shikibu begins writing the Tale of Genji, the world's first novel
- Death of Arab mathematician and physicist Al-Hazen
- Eastern and western churches split; Catholicism rules in the west, while Eastern Orthodoxy rules in the east
- Late Middle Ages: 1300-1500 CE
- Dante Alighieri begins writing the Divine Comedy
- The Hundred Years War
- The Black Death (The Plague) kills 35 million people, one-third of the European population
- Ming Dynasty of China
- Geoffrey Chaucer begins writing the Canterbury Tales
- Christine de Pisan publishes The Book of the City of Ladies
- The "school" of navigation founded by Prince Henry the Navigator
- Joan of Arc, a turning point in the Hundred Year's War
- Thais conquer the Angkor Empire
- Aztecs become the dominant partner in a triple alliance with two nearby city-states and gain control of the Valley of Mexico
- Inca Empire
Heavy Plough
- One of the most important technological innovations during the Middle Ages
- The heavy plough turned European agriculture and economy around
- It stirred an agricultural revolution in Northern Europe, marked by higher and healthier agricultural yields and more efficient agricultural practices
Gunpowder
- Accidentally invented by Chinese alchemists around 850 AD
- Initially called "fire potion"
- Spread to most parts of Asia and Europe by the end of the 13th century
- Allowed for advanced warfare, from fiery arrows to cannons and grenades
- Ushered in an unprecedented advancement in warfare and combat throughout the Middle Ages
Paper Money
- The first known versions of paper money could be traced back to the Chinese in the 17th century AD
- An offshoot of the invention of block printing, similar to stamping
- Prior to the invention of the Jacquard Loom, a drawloom was used, which required two individuals to operate
Engine-Powered Airplane
- Orville and Wilbur Wright are credited with designing and successfully operating the first engine-powered aircraft
- Flying Machine patent (US patent #821393), showing that slightly-tilted wings were the key features of a powered aircraft
Television
- John Logie Baird is credited with the invention of the modern television
- Successfully televised objects in outline in 1924, recognizable human faces in 1925, moving objects in 1926, and projected colored images in 1928
- The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used this for its earliest television programming in 1929
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Description
Explore the significant events and figures of the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, including the rise of ancient civilizations and the lives of influential philosophers.
