Major Eras of History

Study Notes

Prehistory: Before written records (circa 2.5 million BCE - 3500 BCE)
- Characterized by hunter-gatherer societies and early agriculture
- Development of tools, language, and social structures
Ancient History: 3500 BCE - 500 CE
- Emergence of civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome
- Development of writing, cities, and complex societies
Medieval History: 500 CE - 1500 CE
- Rise of Christianity, feudalism, and monarchies in Europe
- Decline of the Roman Empire and the rise of Islam
Early Modern History: 1500 CE - 1800 CE
- Age of Exploration, colonialism, and the emergence of nation-states
- Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment
Modern History: 1800 CE - present
- Industrialization, imperialism, and the rise of global powers
- World wars, Cold War, and contemporary global issues

Neolithic Revolution: 10,000 BCE - 4000 BCE
- Transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural settlements
Rise of Empires: 3000 BCE - 500 CE
- Development of complex societies, trade, and imperialism
The Crusades: 1095 CE - 1291 CE
- Series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims
The Renaissance: 1300 CE - 1600 CE
- Cultural and artistic revival in Europe
The Industrial Revolution: 1760 CE - 1840 CE
- Transition from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing

Ancient: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra
Medieval: Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionheart
Early Modern: Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Napoleon Bonaparte
Modern: Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr.

Prehistory: 2.5 million BCE - 3500 BCE, characterized by hunter-gatherer societies and early agriculture, with development of tools, language, and social structures.
Ancient History: 3500 BCE - 500 CE, emergence of civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, with development of writing, cities, and complex societies.
Medieval History: 500 CE - 1500 CE, rise of Christianity, feudalism, and monarchies in Europe, with decline of the Roman Empire and rise of Islam.
Early Modern History: 1500 CE - 1800 CE, age of exploration, colonialism, and emergence of nation-states, with scientific revolution and the Enlightenment.
Modern History: 1800 CE - present, industrialization, imperialism, and rise of global powers, with world wars, Cold War, and contemporary global issues.

Neolithic Revolution: 10,000 BCE - 4000 BCE, transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural settlements.
Rise of Empires: 3000 BCE - 500 CE, development of complex societies, trade, and imperialism.
The Crusades: 1095 CE - 1291 CE, series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims.
The Renaissance: 1300 CE - 1600 CE, cultural and artistic revival in Europe.
The Industrial Revolution: 1760 CE - 1840 CE, transition from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing.

Ancient: Socrates, philosopher who explored ethics and knowledge; Plato, student of Socrates and founder of the Academy; Aristotle, student of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great; Julius Caesar, Roman general and statesman; Cleopatra, last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
Medieval: Charlemagne, king of the Franks who united Western Europe; William the Conqueror, king of England; Richard the Lionheart, king of England and leader of the Third Crusade.
Early Modern: Leonardo da Vinci, polymath and pioneer of the Renaissance; Galileo Galilei, physicist, mathematician, and astronomer; Isaac Newton, physicist and mathematician; Napoleon Bonaparte, French military leader and emperor.
Modern: Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States; Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement; Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Martin Luther King Jr., leader of the American civil rights movement.