History Eras and Events

Eras of History

• Prehistory: Before written records (c. 3.3 million BCE - 3500 BCE)
  • Includes the development of early humans, agriculture, and civilizations
• Ancient History: Emergence of civilizations (c. 3500 BCE - 500 CE)
  • Includes ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China
• Medieval History: Middle Ages (c. 500 - 1500 CE)
  • Characterized by the rise of Christianity, feudalism, and the Crusades
• Early Modern History: Renaissance to Enlightenment (c. 1500 - 1800 CE)
  • Includes the Renaissance, Reformation, and the emergence of nation-states
• Modern History: Industrialization to present day (c. 1800 CE - present)
  • Marked by industrialization, imperialism, world wars, and globalization

Historical Periods

• Stone Age: Early human development and tool use (c. 3.3 million BCE - 3000 BCE)
• Bronze Age: Development of metal tools and early civilizations (c. 3000 BCE - 1200 BCE)
• Iron Age: Widespread use of iron and development of complex societies (c. 1200 BCE - 500 CE)
• Middle Ages: Feudalism and the rise of Christianity (c. 500 - 1500 CE)
• Renaissance: Cultural and intellectual revival in Europe (c. 1300 - 1600 CE)
• Enlightenment: Emergence of reason and scientific inquiry (c. 1600 - 1800 CE)
• Industrial Revolution: Transformation of industry and society (c. 1700 - 1900 CE)

Historical Events

• Crusades: Series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims (1095 - 1291 CE)
• Black Death: Pandemic that devastated Europe (1346 - 1353 CE)
• Columbian Exchange: Transfer of plants, animals, and cultures between the Old and New Worlds (1492 CE)
• American and French Revolutions: Establishment of modern democracies (1775 - 1783 CE and 1789 - 1799 CE)
• World War I and II: Global conflicts that shaped the modern world (1914 - 1918 CE and 1939 - 1945 CE)

Historical Figures

• Alexander the Great: Ancient Greek king and conqueror (356 - 323 BCE)
• Julius Caesar: Roman general and statesman (100 - 44 BCE)
• Leonardo da Vinci: Renaissance artist and polymath (1452 - 1519 CE)
• Napoleon Bonaparte: French military leader and emperor (1769 - 1821 CE)
• Abraham Lincoln: American president and abolitionist (1809 - 1865 CE)