World History Timeline

Prehistory

• Spanned from the emergence of humans to the development of writing (c. 3500 BCE)
• Divided into three periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic
• Characterized by the development of stone tools, agriculture, and the rise of cities

Ancient Civilizations

• Mesopotamia (c. 3500 - 539 BCE):
  • Invented writing (cuneiform) and the wheel
  • Established city-states like Babylon and Ur
• Ancient Egypt (c. 3100 - 30 BCE):
  • Developed hieroglyphic writing and a system of mathematics
  • Built the Great Pyramids of Giza
• Ancient Greece (c. 8th century - 146 CE):
  • Made significant contributions to philosophy, theater, and democracy
  • Established city-states like Athens and Sparta
• Ancient Rome (c. 8th century BCE - 476 CE):
  • Developed a system of governance, architecture, and engineering
  • Expanded through conquests, establishing the Roman Empire

Middle Ages

• Lasted from the fall of the Western Roman Empire (c. 476 CE) to the Renaissance (c. 1450 CE)
• Characterized by the rise of feudalism, the Catholic Church, and trade guilds
• Saw the emergence of nations like England, France, and Germany

Early Modern Period

• Spanned from the Renaissance (c. 1450 CE) to the French Revolution (c. 1789 CE)
• Marked by the rise of nation-states, exploration, and the Enlightenment
• Saw the emergence of modern science, philosophy, and art

Modern Period

• Lasted from the French Revolution (c. 1789 CE) to the present
• Characterized by the rise of industrialization, imperialism, and global politics
• Saw the emergence of new nation-states, ideologies, and global conflicts

Contemporary History

• Characterized by the rise of globalization, technology, and cultural exchange
• Marked by significant events like World War II, the Cold War, and the fall of communism
• Ongoing trends include the rise of globalization, environmental concerns, and social movements