History Timelines

World history as timelines, side by side.

32 timelines and 812 short texts, from the first humans to the fall of Constantinople, on one time axis, so you can see what was happening at the same time. Pick a bar to read its events in order.

Every timeline on one time axis, grouped by category. The same information is in the list below.7 mya100,000 BCE15,0005000 BCE300020001000 BCE5001 CE50010001500 CEPREHISTORIC WORLDANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATIONSANCIENT MIDDLE EASTANCIENT WORLDANCIENT ASIAWORLD TRADEANCIENT GREECECHINA AND EAST ASIAAMERICAANCIENT CARTHAGEROMEWORLD RELIGIONANCIENT PERSIAINVASIONThe First Human and the Migration Out of Africa: 7 million years ago – 14,000 BCE, 16 eventsFirst humansThe Origin of Agriculture: 12,500–4500 BCE, 16 eventsOrigin of agricultureSumer: 4500–1800 BCE, 15 eventsSumerAssyria: 2500–605 BCE, 25 eventsAssyriaAkkadia: 2334–2100 BCE, 15 eventsAkkadiaBabylonia: 1792–538 BCE, 28 eventsBabyloniaEgypt: 3500–30 BCE, 29 eventsEgyptPhoenicia: 3200 BCE – 100 CE, 23 eventsPhoeniciaThe First Writings: 3400 BCE – 200 CE, 15 eventsFirst writingsThe Mysterious Sea People and the Collapse of Bronze Age Civilizations: 1230–1100 BCE, 12 eventsSea PeoplesIndus Valley Civilization: 3300–1700 BCE, 12 eventsIndus ValleySilk Road and other Early Trade and Trading Routes in Ancient Age: 2600 BCE – 400 CE, 15 eventsSilk RoadAncient Maritime Trade: 1200 BCE – 550 CE, 15 eventsAncient Maritime TradeMinoans and Mycenaeans: 2000–1050 BCE, 12 eventsMinoans & MycenaeansThe Greek City-States: 800–338 BCE, 23 eventsGreek city-statesGreece and Persia at War: 546–331 BCE, 20 eventsGreco-Persian WarsPhilip and Alexander and the Rise and Fall of the Macedonian Empire: 359–301 BCE, 50 eventsMacedonian EmpireShang and Zhou Dynasties: 1600–700 BCE, 12 eventsShang & ZhouThe Spring-Autumn and Warring States Periods: 770–221 BCE, 13 eventsSpring-Autumn & Warring StatesQin and Han Dynasties: 221 BCE – 220 CE, 18 eventsQin & HanThe Ancient American Civilizations: 1200 BCE – 1532 CE, 24 eventsAncient AmericasAncient Carthage: 814–149 BCE, 30 eventsAncient CarthageThe Roman Empire: 753 BCE – 533 CE, 57 eventsThe Roman EmpireThe Roman Republic: 509–27 BCE, 34 eventsThe Roman RepublicThe Punic Wars: 264–146 BCE, 24 eventsThe Punic WarsThe Byzantine Empire: 285–1453 CE, 71 eventsThe Byzantine EmpireThe Birth and Spread of Christianity in Europe: 586 BCE – 597 CE, 43 eventsChristianityThe Birth and Spread of Buddhism: 563 BCE – 1193 CE, 20 eventsBuddhismThe Birth and Spread of Islam: 570–900 CE, 26 eventsIslamThe Persian Empire: 550–330 BCE, 16 eventsThe Persian EmpireThe Migration of Northern Tribal People in Eurasia and the Collapse of Empires: 200–493 CE, 41 eventsMigration PeriodThe Rise and Fall of the Vikings: 700–1450 CE, 42 eventsVikings
a timeline, first to last event; each tick is an eventThe axis is not even: before 5000 BCE it is squeezed, so the last 5,000 years get most of the room.

Every timeline by category

Prehistoric World

  1. The First Human and the Migration Out of Africa7 million years ago – 14,000 BCE · 16 events
  2. The Origin of Agriculture12,500–4500 BCE · 16 events

Ancient Mesopotamian Civilizations

  1. Sumer4500–1800 BCE · 15 events
  2. Assyria2500–605 BCE · 25 events
  3. Akkadia2334–2100 BCE · 15 events
  4. Babylonia1792–538 BCE · 28 events

Ancient Middle East

  1. Egypt3500–30 BCE · 29 events
  2. Phoenicia3200 BCE – 100 CE · 23 events

Ancient World

  1. The First Writings3400 BCE – 200 CE · 15 events
  2. The Mysterious Sea People and the Collapse of Bronze Age Civilizations1230–1100 BCE · 12 events

Ancient Asia

  1. Indus Valley Civilization3300–1700 BCE · 12 events

World Trade

  1. Silk Road and other Early Trade and Trading Routes in Ancient Age2600 BCE – 400 CE · 15 events
  2. Ancient Maritime Trade1200 BCE – 550 CE · 15 events

Ancient Greece

  1. Minoans and Mycenaeans2000–1050 BCE · 12 events
  2. The Greek City-States800–338 BCE · 23 events
  3. Greece and Persia at War546–331 BCE · 20 events
  4. Philip and Alexander and the Rise and Fall of the Macedonian Empire359–301 BCE · 50 events

China and East Asia

  1. Shang and Zhou Dynasties1600–700 BCE · 12 events
  2. The Spring-Autumn and Warring States Periods770–221 BCE · 13 events
  3. Qin and Han Dynasties221 BCE – 220 CE · 18 events

America

  1. The Ancient American Civilizations1200 BCE – 1532 CE · 24 events

Ancient Carthage

  1. Ancient Carthage814–149 BCE · 30 events

Rome

  1. The Roman Empire753 BCE – 533 CE · 57 events
  2. The Roman Republic509–27 BCE · 34 events
  3. The Punic Wars264–146 BCE · 24 events
  4. The Byzantine Empire285–1453 CE · 71 events

World Religion

  1. The Birth and Spread of Christianity in Europe586 BCE – 597 CE · 43 events
  2. The Birth and Spread of Buddhism563 BCE – 1193 CE · 20 events
  3. The Birth and Spread of Islam570–900 CE · 26 events

Ancient Persia

  1. The Persian Empire550–330 BCE · 16 events

Invasion

  1. The Migration of Northern Tribal People in Eurasia and the Collapse of Empires200–493 CE · 41 events
  2. The Rise and Fall of the Vikings700–1450 CE · 42 events