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The times before writing belong either to protohistory or to prehistory.

See Ancient history for the current version of this article.

See also Timeline of Ancient history.

Ancient history is the study of human civilizations from the advent of writing to the advent of urbanization. These events took place at different times in different locals. The first advent of writing was in the Middle Eastern civilization of Sumer in 3000 BCE (see Sumerian cuneiform). The advent of urbanization in Northern and Western Europe commenced following the the fall of Rome in 476 CE.^[1] Not all historians agree on these dates. Some historians date the end of ancient history with the death of the emperor Justinian I in 565 CE or the coming of Islam in 632 CE.^[2] The study of ancient history is greatly enhanced by the study of archeology due to the scarcity of historical source material. The breadth of ancient history includes 5 millennia.

Contents 1 Chronology 1.1 The 4th Millennium BCE (3999 BCE - 3000 BCE) 1.2 The 3rd Millennium BCE (2999 BCE - 2000 BCE) 1.3 The 2nd Millennium BCE (1999 BCE - 1000 BCE) 1.4 The 1st Millennium BCE (999 BCE - 1 BCE) 1.5 The 1st Millennium CE (1 CE - 1000 CE)

[edit] Chronology

See Civilization for list of prominent ancient civiliazations

[edit] The 4th Millennium BCE (3999 BCE - 3000 BCE)

Main article: 4th millennium BC

The fourth millennium before the Common Era (BCE) is considered the beginning of history because it was during this time that writing was developed. This is also the time when sophisticated metalworking was developed. For this reason, this period of history is often referred to as the Bronze Age. Smelting copper and tin creates bronze. The result is much stronger and more durable than stone. Neither development would have been possible without the Neolithic Revolution which transformed humanity from hunter gathers to farmers.

• West Asia (Main article: Ancient Near East history)
  • Sumer: the earliest known civilization in the world. Sumerian speaking people were the first to practice intensive, year-round agriculture (c 5300 BCE), and they were the first to develop a form of writing referred to as the cuneiform script (c 3500 BCE). The Sumerian civilization would continue more than 1500 years until they came under Amorite rule c. 1940 BCE.
  • Babylonian influence dominates Asia.
  • Iran: the Proto-Elamite civilization flourishes, c. 3200 BCE - 2700 BCE. The Proto-Elamite civilization was contemporary to the Sumarian civilization. The Proto-Elamite script was the writing system briefly in use for the ancient Elamite language before the introduction of Elamite cuneiform c. 2500 BCE - 331 BCE. The theorized Jiroft Civilization may have thrived in central and western Iran at this time.
• South Asia
  • Indus Valley Civilization 3000 BCE -1500 BCE
• East Asia
• Africa
  • Egypt: according to legend, the first dynasty is founded by Menes at Memphis c. 3100 BCE. Egyptians develop the use of papyrus during this time.
• America
• Europe
  • Greece: the Cycladic civilization flourishes, c. 3000 BCE - 2000 BCE. This civilization is best known for its best known for its schematic flat female idols carved out of the islands' pure white marble. Their agriculture was based on wheat, barley, sheep, goats, pigs and tuna, and they developed the technology to work copper. The Cycladic civilization faded as the Minoan civilization rose c. 2700 BCE.
  • Malta: the civilization of Malta was still in its prehistory during the 4th Millenium BCE as they had not yet developed a writing system, yet the people of Malta did build the world's oldest freestanding structures: the Ġgantija and Mnajdra megalithic temple complex: the world's oldest religious structures.
  • British Isles: the civilizations of the British Isles were still in their prehistory during the 4th Millenium BCE as they had not yet developed a writing system; however, the people of Ireland did build the Newgrange solar observatory c. 3300 BCE, and the people of Scotland established the Skara Brae settlement c. 3100 BCE - 2500 BCE.
• Australia

[edit] The 3rd Millennium BCE (2999 BCE - 2000 BCE)

Main article: 3rd millennium BC

• West Asia
  • The Sumerian civilization continues to thrive throughout the third millennium until they came under Amorite rule c. 1940 BCE.
  • Iran: the Elam civilization rises in Iran, c. 2700 BCE, and the Jiroft civilization flourishes simultaneously, c. 2550 BCE.
  • The Akkadian Empire peaked during the rule of Sargon of Akkad (c 2270 – 2215 BCE),

Egypt: Great Pyramid of Giza constructed c. 2570.

• South Asia
  • Indus Valley Civilization 3000 BCE -1500 BCE, Mature period 2600–1900 BCE
• East Asia
  • China: Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were mythical rulers of China from c. 2852 BCE to 2205 BCE followed by the The Xia Dynasty c. 2100 BCE – 1600 BCE founded by Yu the Great c. 2070 BCE.
• Africa
• America
• Europe
  • Minoan civilization flourished on Crete from approximately 2700 BCE - 1450 BCE
  • Hungary: evidence found of the domestication of the horse c. 2000 BCE
• Australia

[edit] The 2nd Millennium BCE (1999 BCE - 1000 BCE)

Main article: 2nd millennium BC

• West Asia
  • Sumer: came under Amorite rule c. 1940 BCE
  • Hittites begin to dominate the Middle East region c. 1600 BCE
• South Asia
  • Indus Valley Civilization 3000 BCE -1500 BCE, Mature period 2600–1900 BCE, replaced by Cemetery H culture c. 1900. Composition of the Rigveda is completed c. 1500 BCE.
• East Asia
  • China: the The Xia Dynasty continues until c. 1600 BCE when it is replaced by the Shang Dynasty c. 1600 BCE - 1100 BCE. Written Chinese makes its first appearance c. 1500 BCE. King Wu of Zhou overthrows the last king of the Shang Dynasty c. 1046 BCE , thus establishing the Zhou Dynasty .
• Africa
• America

Poverty Point culture flourishes in the Mississippi Valley c. 1700 BCE.

• Europe
  • Crete: Minoan civilization continued to flourished on until approximately 1450 BCE when Mycenaean Greece became dominate. The Trojan War may have occurred c. 1200 BCE.
  • Hallstatt culture flourishes c. 1200 BCE - 500 BCE
• Australia

[edit] The 1st Millennium BCE (999 BCE - 1 BCE)

Main article: 1st millennium BC

• West Asia
  • Iran: Mannaeans Kingdom Begins c. 1000 BCE. The Medes rises to prominence c. 728 BCE.
  • Assyria: Tiglath-Pileser III becomes the new king of Assyria c. 745 BCE. He conquers neighboring countries and turns Assyria into an empire.
  • History of Yemen: construction of Marib Dam begins c. 700 BC.
• South Asia
• East Asia
  • China: the Spring and Autumn Period begins c. 722 BCE. in China; Zhou Dynasty's power is diminishing. It is the era of the Hundred Schools of Thought
• Africa
• America
• Europe
  • Hallstatt culture flourishes until c. 500 BCE
  • Ancient Greece city-states rise c. 800 BCE. First recorded Olympics take place c. 776 BCE
  • Ancient Rome founded c. 753 (traditional date)
• Australia

[edit] The 1st Millennium CE (1 CE - 1000 CE)

Main article: 1st millennium

The first millennium included the peak of the Roman Empire and its subsequent decline in AD 475 brining an end to the period known as ancient history and begining the period known as the Middle Ages.

• West Asia
• South Asia
• East Asia
• Africa
• America
• Europe
• Australia