A TIMELINE OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
By Tim Lambert
C. 35,000 BC The Cro-Magnon people enter Europe C. 9,000-8,000 BC Farming begins in the Middle East C. 8,000 BC Jericho, the first walled town, is built C. 6,500 BC Catal Huyuk, a town in what is now Turkey flourishes Farming begins in Northwest India C. 6,000 BC Farming spreads to Greece and later across Europe Rice is cultivated in Thailand C. 5,000 BC Farming begins in Egypt C. 4,000 BC Farming spreads to Northern Europe The plough is invented in the Middle East Bronze is used in the Middle East C. 3,500 BC The sail is invented in Egypt The potters wheel is invented in Iraq C. 3,300 BC Writing develops in Sumer and Egypt C. 3,000 BC Bronze is used in Thailand C. 2,500 BC Farming begins in Peru The Minoan Civilisation arises on Crete C. 2,000 BC Bronze is used in Northern Europe and in China The Hittite Civilisation arises in what is now Turkey C. 1.790 BC - 1,750 BC Hammurabi is king of Babylon C. 1,700 BC The Indus Valley Civilisation arises C. 1,600 BC The Mycenaean Civilisation in Greece arises C. 1,200 BC The Hittite Empire in Turkey collapses The Olmec Civilisation in Mexico arises C. 1,500 BC The Mycenaean Civilisation in Greece breaks down C. 1,000 BC King David rules Israel C. 900 BC The Phoenicians flourish is what is now Lebanon and go on long voyages The Chavin civilisation arises in Peru C. 880 BC The Assyrians of Northern Iraq begin to create a great empire 814 BC The Phoenicians found Carthage in Tunisia C. 800 BC A new civilisation arises in Greece The Etruscan civilisation arises in Italy 776 BC The first Olympic Games are held in Greece C. 750 BC Rome is founded C. 650 BC The Celts introduce iron tools and weapons into Britain The Chinese begin using iron The Assyrian Empire is at its peak 620s BC The Assyrian Empire is split by civil war 612 BC A rebellion led by Babylon brings the Assyrian Empire to an end. The Babylonians then create their own empire. C. 600 BC Hindu Civilisation arises in India C. 563 BC-483 BC Buddha lives 551-479 BC Kong-Fuzi or Confucius lives in China 559-529 BC Cyrus the Great founder of the Persian Empire reigns 550 BC Cyrus conquers Assyria 546 BC Cyrus conquers Lydia in Asia Minor 539 BC Babylon is captured by the Persians 525 BC The Persians conquer Egypt 490 BC The Greeks defeat the Persians at the Battle of Marathon 480 BC The Greeks defeat another Persian invasion 399 BC The Greek philosopher Socrates is condemned to death 391 BC The Romans defeat the Etruscans C. 427-347 BC The Greek philosopher Plato lives 384-322 BC The Greek philosopher Aristotle lives 338 BC Philip of Macedon conquers Greece 334 BC Alexander the Great invades the Persian Empire 333 BC Alexander wins the Battle of Issus 332 BC Alexander conquers Egypt 330 BC Alexander controls all of the Persian Empire 323 BC Alexander dies and his general split his empire between them C. 300 BC The Dong Son civilisation arises in South East Asia. It is known for its stone monuments and bronze work although the people also used iron. 273-236 BC The great Indian Emperor Asoka lives 264-241 BC The First Punic War between Rome and Carthage. Rome wins and gains Sicily.
218-201
The Second Punic War BC. The great Carthaginian general Hannibal leads an expedition through Spain over the Alps against Rome.
217 BC Hannibal crushes the Romans at Lake Trasimene
216 BC Hannibal crushes the Romans at Cannae
214 BC Work begins on the Great Wall of China
206 BC The Romans defeat the Carthaginians in Spain. They take control of southern Spain.
202 BC The Han dynasty is founded in China
200 BC The Chavin civilisation in Peru collapses
171 BC - 138 BC Mithradates is king of Parthia. He conquers an empire in Persia.
149-146 BC The Third Punic War. Rome destroys Carthage.
135 BC Roman slaves in Sicily rebel but are defeated
89 BC All Italians are given Roman citizenship
63 BC Roman general Pompey captures Jerusalem
58-51 BC Julius Caesar conquers Gaul
49 BC Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon
44 BC Julius Caesar is assassinated
31 BC Octavian?s fleet defeats the fleet of his rivals Mark Anthony and Cleopatra
30 BC Egypt becomes a Roman province
C. 4 BC Jesus is born
C. 29 AD The crucifixion
43 AD The Romans invade Britain
C 45 AD Paul begins his missionary journeys
64 AD Most of Rome is destroyed by fire. Nero uses Christians as a scapegoat.
98-117 AD Trajan is Emperor of Rome. The Roman Empire reaches its peak.
220 AD The Han dynasty in China ends
224 AD In Persia a member of the Sassanid family kills the last Parthian king and founds the Sassanid Empire
284-305 AD Diocletian is emperor of Rome. In 286 he divides the empire into two halves, East and West.
313 AD Emperor Constantine tolerates Christianity
C. 400 AD Writing is introduced into Japan
407 AD Germanic tribes overrun Gaul
410 AD Led by Alaric the Goths capture Rome
434-453 AD Attila is king of the Huns
451 Attila the Hun is defeated at Chalons in France
455 AD The Vandals capture Rome
476 AD The Western Roman Empire ends completely