Chronology History of the World from 2340 b.c.e to 480 b. c.e

Chronology

2340 B.C.E. Sargon, King of Akkad

Sargon builds Akkad  as the new seat of government and unites all of the Sumerian cities into one centrally organized  empire.

2205–1766 B.C.E. Xia Dynasty

Founded  by Emperor  Yu, it is traditionally accepted as China’s first historic dynasty.

2060 B.C.E. Third Dynasty of Ur Founded  (Sumeria)

Ur-Nammu of Ur seizes power  from  Utukhegal  and creates a new Sumerian dynasty. Under his son Shulgi the empire of Ur extends as far as Anatolia.

2055 B.C.E. Mentuhotep II Reunifies Egypt

After  a period  of strife  between  the  nobles  and  the kings  known  as the  First  Intermediate Period,  King Mentuhotep  reunites   the   kingdom   under   a   new dynasty.

2000 B.C.E. Great Stone Palaces at Knossos

The stone palaces at Knossos and Malia  are built on

Crete at around 2000.

2000 B.C.E. Babylonians  Develop Mathematic System The   Babylonians   develop   a   mathematical  system based on units of 60. They also divide a circle into a

360 units.

2000 B.C.E. Preclassic Period in Maya Zones

Permanent   settlements   mark  the  emergence  of  the Early Preclassic Period  in the Maya  zones  of Meso- america.

1991–1786  B.C.E.  Amenemhat   I  Founds   the  Middle

Kingdom

Amenemhat  I reduces  the  power  of the  nobles  and establishes a strong central government.

1900  B.C.E. Cotton Used for Textiles  in Asia and  Fishnets in Peru

Beginning around 1900 b.c.e., the Harappans begin growing   and  weaving  cotton   into  fabric;  Pacific Coast polities in central Peru continue  growing and weaving  cotton  into  fishnets, providing  a maritime basis for the emergence of Andean  civilizations.

2350–2198 B.C.E. Three Emperors  of China Period of the mythical Three Emperors—Yao, Shun, and

Yu —whose reigns are remembered  as a golden age.

2341–2181 B.C.E. Egypt’s Sixth Dynasty

During the course of the Sixth Dynasty, the powers of the pharaoh decrease. The growing power of the nobility limits the absolute  power of the Egyptian kings.

1900 B.C.E. Mycenaeans  Arrive in Greece

Around  1900  b.c.e., the Mycenaeans  arrive from the north  and  gain control  of Greece. This is the period of Greek history written  about  by Homer  and known as the Heroic period or Mycenaean age.

1900 B.C.E. Middle Minoan Culture

Minoan culture  reaches  its high point  with  the construction of great palaces at Phaistos.

1766–1122 B.C.E. Shang Dynasty

The Shang dynasty under Tang the Successful replaces the Xia in 1766.  The 30 kings of Shang dynasty  rule a largely agricultural society that  is established  in the Yellow River plain.

1792 B.C.E. Hammurabi Conquers Mesopotamia Hammurabi extends  the  power  of Babylon  over  all of  Mesopotamia and  develops  first  codified  law  in Hammurabi’s Code.

1720–1570 B.C.E. Hyskos Dynasties XV and XVI Sensing the  declining  power  of the  Egyptian  dynas- ties,  the  Hyksos  invade  Egypt  from  Syria-Palestine and  establish  their  capital  at  Avaris;  they  rule  as if they were Egyptian pharaohs.

1500 B.C.E. Aryans Conquer Harappan Civilization

The  Harappan civilization  declines  before  1500  due to   natural  causes.   The   weakened   Harrappans  are quickly conquered by northern invaders from the Eur- asian steppes known  as Aryans.  With it the Vedic age begins.

1500–1000 B.C.E. Early Vedic Age in India

Indo-European or  Aryan  peoples  spread  across  the

Indo-Gangetic plains in northern India.

1595  B.C.E. Hittites  Conquer Babylon,  Introduce Char- iot Warfare

The Hittites, under the command of King Mursilis, com- bined with the Kassites, defeat the Babylonian  army.

1580 B.C.E. New Kingdom of Egypt

The New Kingdom is established  by the pharaoh Ahmose who forces the Hyksos out of the Nile Delta in 1570 b.c.e.

1540 B.C.E. Egyptians Defeat Nubians

Ahmose subjugates  Nubia  in present-day Sudan.

1450 B.C.E. Greeks Conquer Minoans

After trading  with  the Minoans for a long period  of time, the Mycenaeans  conquer  them.

1400 B.C.E. Iron Age in Western  Asia

The use of iron  by the Hittites  gives them  a military advantage.

1375–1360 B.C.E. Akhenaten IV

In  1379,   Akhenaten IV  becomes  pharaoh and  the

Egyptian Empire begins to weaken.

1300 B.C.E. Andean Civilizations

Beginnings of complex  societies in the Lake Titicaca

Basin in the Andean highlands.

1288 B.C.E. Ramses II Fights the Hittites

Ramses  II  fights  to  regain  control   of  the  territory seized by the Hittites.  Ramses fights the Hittites  at the Battle of Kadesh.

1240 B.C.E. Philistine Kingdom Established

The  Philistines  establish   themselves  in  the  coastal plain of present-day Israel.

1240–1100 B.C.E. Israelites Established

Tradition has it that the Israelites, after escaping from Egypt, establish  themselves in Canaan. The Israelites organize  into  12 tribes  and  take  control  of the land through a combination of military victories and polit- ical assimilation.

1200  B.C.E. Olmec  Civilization  in Mexico  and Central

America

Olmec culture flourishes from 1200 to 500 in Meso- america.

1186 B.C.E. Ramses III

Ramses III of the Twentieth Dynasty,  the last power- ful pharaoh of Egypt.

1184 B.C.E. Trojan  War

Legend has it that  the  Greeks  unite  under  the  com- mand of Agamemnon and attack  Troy in Asia Minor. After a long siege, the Trojans  are forced to submit to the Greeks.

1140 B.C.E. Second Babylonian  Empire Begins

After an extended  period  of domination by the Kas- sites, the second Babylonian  empire emerges.

1122–256 B.C.E. Zhou  Dynasty in China

King Wu  defeats  the  Shang  dynasty  and  establishes the Zhou  dynasty.

1122–771 B.C.E. Western  Zhou

After  King  Wu’s  death,   his  brother  the  duke  of Zhou  consolidates  the power  of the Zhou  dynasty under   a  feudal  system  that   operates   successfully until 771.

1122 B.C.E. First Contact between China and Korea

Kija, a Shang prince, and his followers, fleeing the Zhou conquerors, establish several settlements  in Korea.

1100 B.C.E. Development of Phoenician  Alphabet Phoenicians  inherit  a script  of consonants and  add vowels to form a basis for an alphabet.

1100 B.C.E. Hallstatt Culture

Iron is used for the first time in Austria. From Austria the use of iron spreads throughout Europe.

1090 B.C.E. Nubia  Becomes Independent

With the breakup of the New Kingdom,  Nubia  once again becomes independent of Egypt.

1090 B.C.E. New Kingdom Dissolved

The end of the New Kingdom  coincides with the end of the Ramesid dynasty, and Egypt enters a long period of turmoil.

1070 B.C.E. Collapse of Assyria

The  Assyrian  Empire  collapses  under  the  assault  of

Aramaeans and Babylonians.

1050 B.C.E. Chavín Culture  in Peru

Chavín civilization  begins to extend over Peru.

1010 B.C.E. King Saul

Saul, the  first king  of the  Israelites,  is killed  by the

Philistines and succeeded by King David.

1000 B.C.E. Middle Preclassic in Maya Zones

End of the Early Preclassic period and beginning of the

Middle Preclassic in the Maya zones of Mesoamerica.

995 B.C.E. King David Captures Jerusalem

King  David  captures  the  Jebusite  city  of  Jerusalem and makes the city the capital.

945–730 B.C.E. Libyans Rule Egypt

About 945, Libyan settlers, under Shishak, seize con- trol of Egypt and found the Twenty-second Dynasty.

922 B.C.E. King Solomon

King Solomon  reigns  from  961  to  922.  During  his reign, he consolidates  the kingdom  of Israel.

900 B.C.E. Etruria

The  Etruscans   spread   in  Italy,  taking   control   and forming a loosely connected  league of cities.

1122 B.C.E. First Contact between China and Korea

Kija, a Shang prince, and his followers, fleeing the Zhou conquerors, establish several settlements  in Korea.

1100 B.C.E. Development of Phoenician  Alphabet Phoenicians  inherit  a script  of consonants and  add vowels to form a basis for an alphabet.

1100 B.C.E. Hallstatt Culture

Iron is used for the first time in Austria. From Austria the use of iron spreads throughout Europe.

1090 B.C.E. Nubia  Becomes Independent

With the breakup of the New Kingdom,  Nubia  once again becomes independent of Egypt.

1090 B.C.E. New Kingdom Dissolved

The end of the New Kingdom  coincides with the end of the Ramesid dynasty, and Egypt enters a long period of turmoil.

1070 B.C.E. Collapse of Assyria

The  Assyrian  Empire  collapses  under  the  assault  of

Aramaeans and Babylonians.

1050 B.C.E. Chavín Culture  in Peru

Chavín civilization  begins to extend over Peru.

1010 B.C.E. King Saul

Saul, the  first king  of the  Israelites,  is killed  by the

Philistines and succeeded by King David.

1000 B.C.E. Middle Preclassic in Maya Zones

End of the Early Preclassic period and beginning of the

Middle Preclassic in the Maya zones of Mesoamerica.

995 B.C.E. King David Captures Jerusalem

King  David  captures  the  Jebusite  city  of  Jerusalem and makes the city the capital.

945–730 B.C.E. Libyans Rule Egypt

About 945, Libyan settlers, under Shishak, seize con- trol of Egypt and found the Twenty-second Dynasty.

922 B.C.E. King Solomon

King Solomon  reigns  from  961  to  922.  During  his reign, he consolidates  the kingdom  of Israel.

900 B.C.E. Etruria

The  Etruscans   spread   in  Italy,  taking   control   and forming a loosely connected  league of cities.

814 B.C.E. Carthage Founded

Phoenicians,  from   present-day  Lebanon,   create   a colony  at  Carthage, in  present-day Tunisia,  and  it becomes an important world power  in its own right.

800–300 B.C.E. Upanishads Written

Indian   ascetics  write   a  collection   of  108   essays on philosophy that are incorporated into Hindu teachings.

800 B.C.E. Chavín Culture  in Peru

Chavín  culture  complex  emerges in Peruvian  Central

Highlands and central Pacific coast regions.

780–560 B.C.E. Greek Colonies  Established

The  Greeks  establish  a  series  of  colonies  in  Asia

Minor.

776 B.C.E. First Olympic Games

Sacred truces  among  the Greek  city-states  allow  the gathering  of athletes for regular  competitions.

770–256 B.C.E. Eastern Zhou

The Zhou  capital  at Hao  is destroyed  by invading northern tribesmen.   A  new  capital  is  established to the east at Luoyang, starting the Eastern Zhou period.

753 B.C.E. Rome Founded

Tradition has it that  Rome  was founded  in 753;  its founder  is Romulus,  said to be the son of a princess of Alba Longa.

747–716 B.C.E. Kushite Conquests in Egypt

The  Kushite  ruler  Piy  moves  down  the  Nile  from present-day Sudan and conquers  large parts of Egypt, including  Thebes and Memphis.

722 B.C.E. Kingdom of Israel Falls

After a three-year  siege, Samaria (the capital of Israel) falls to the Assyrians,  who  take  some 20,000 Israel- ites into slavery.

707–696 B.C.E. Kushite Dynastic Rule over Egypt

King Shabako  establishes  rule over Egypt and adopts many old Egyptian customs.

660 B.C.E. Empire of Japan Established

According  to  legend,  Jimmu  Tenno  invades  Japan’s main  island  Honshu. There  he establishes  himself as Japan’s  first emperor.  He creates  the  Yamato  family and is believed to be a direct ancestor  of Japan’s cur- rent emperor.

650–630 B.C.E. Second Messenian  War

The Messenians led by Aristomenes revolt against Sparta;  after  20  years,  Sparta  subdues  the  rebellion and reorganizes  itself into a military state.

650 B.C.E. Assyrians Destroy Babylon

An attempted revolt against the Assyrians by the Baby- lonians results in the destruction of Babylon.

626 B.C.E. Chaldean Empire Founded  by Nabopolasser The Chaldeans take control  of Babylon and establish a new dynasty.

621 B.C.E. Greek Lawgiver Draco

Athens  is  ruled  by  an  oligarchy,   but  a  nobleman, Draco,  is appointed to create a code of laws.

612 B.C.E. Nineveh Captured and Assyrian Empire Ends Nineveh,  the  capital  of  Babylon,  is  captured by  a coalition   of  armies.  The  seizure  of  Nineveh  is fol- lowed  by the  capture  of Harran in 610,  ending  the Assyrian Empire.

600–300 B.C.E. Hundred Schools of Philosophy  in China All China’s  classical  schools  of  philosophy develop during  this  era  of  political  division  as  the  Eastern Zhou  kings lose power.

594 B.C.E. Solon Becomes Archon

Athens  experiences   a  period   of  social  and  politi- cal upheaval and Solon, an esteemed Athenian, is appointed ruler of Athens.

588  B.C.E.  Nebuchadnezzar Takes  Jerusalem;  Babylo- nian Captivity

Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian  army  takes  Jerusalem, destroys the Jewish Temple, and takes many Jews into captivity. He builds the Hanging  Gardens  of Babylon.

566 B.C.E. Gautama Buddha

Prince  Siddhartha founds  Buddhism,  which  rejects the Vedic Hindu  caste system and the Vedas.

560 B.C.E. Peisistratus  Rules Athens

Following  the  resignation of  Solon,  Athens  is gov- erned by a group of leaders. One of them is Peisistra- tus, who makes three attempts to seize power,  finally succeeding on the third attempt.

559 B.C.E. Cyrus the Great

Cyrus   declares   himself  king   of  both   Persia  and

Media.

558 B.C.E. Zoroastrianism Is Founded

Zoroaster begins his work  as a prophet for the reli- gion of the Persians.

550 B.C.E. Laozi and Daoism

Laozi is the mythical  founder  of philosophy Daoism and reputed  author of its classic the Daodejing.

540–468 B.C.E. Mahavira Founds Jainism

Jainism is an extremely ascetic religion that  offers an alternative to Vedism-Hinduism.

539 B.C.E. Cyrus Takes Jerusalem

Cyrus  allows  the  Jews who  had  been  conquered by the Babylonians to return to Jerusalem after his defeat of the Babylonians.

525 B.C.E. Persians Conquer Egypt

The end of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty  when  the last pharaoh is defeated by King Cambyses II of Persia.

521 B.C.E. Darius

Cyrus is succeeded by Darius I in 521. Darius spends the   first  years   of  his  administration  suppressing revolts  that  develop  throughout the empire.  Darius reorganizes  the  Persian  Empire  into  separate  prov- inces,  or  satraps, each  with  its  own  governor  and tax system.

516 B.C.E. Darius Invades Indus Valley

Darius   invades   India,   capturing  the  Indus   Valley, which is annexed  to the Persian Empire.

509 B.C.E. Roman  Republic Founded

The Roman  Republic  is founded,  and  Junius  Brutus and Tarquinius serve as the first consuls of Rome.

508  B.C.E. Athenian  Democracy  Established  by Cleis- thenes

Cleisthenes  is appointed ruler,  enacts  fundamental reforms  that  become  the basis of the golden  age of Athens,  and  creates  the assembly made  up of Athe- nian males.

499 B.C.E. Greek City-States Revolt

The  Ionian  Greek  city-states  in Asian  Minor  revolt against  Persian rule.

490 B.C.E. Battle of Marathon                                            

The army of Athens and its allies meet the Persians on the plains  of Marathon, about  22 miles from  Athens. The  decisive  Greek  victory  at  Marathon ends  the

immediate  Persian threat.                                              

480 B.C.E. Thermopylae and Salamis

The Persians’ quest for world  domination is stopped for the second time, allowing  the flowering of Greek civilization,  especially in Athens.