c 3500 BCE Sumerians settle in Mesopotamia
c 3200 BCE Menes, first pharaoh, unites Egypt
c 3200 BCE Menes, first pharaoh, unites Egypt
c 2750 BCE Formal land-scale contracts written in cuneiform
c 2600 BCE Early surviving papyrus manuscripts
c 2600 BCE Early surviving papyrus manuscripts
c 2345 BCE Pyramid tests in tomb of Unas
c 1300 BCE Early Book of the Dead papyrus scrolls
c 1100 BCE Iron widely used for weapons and tools
c 1100 BCE Iron widely used for weapons and tools
Classical Antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world. It is the period in which Greek and Roman society flourished and wielded great influence throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.[i] Though the time period has been argued, most scholars agree that Classical Antiquity lasts from about 500 BCE to 500 CE
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world. It is the period in which Greek and Roman society flourished and wielded great influence throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.[i] Though the time period has been argued, most scholars agree that Classical Antiquity lasts from about 500 BCE to 500 CE
c 600 BCE Nebuchadnezzar builds the Tower of Babel
551 BCE Confucius is born
c 528 BCE Siddhartha Gautama becomes the supreme Buddha
516 BCE Israelites return from Babylonian exile
447 - 432 BCE Parthenon built in Athens
429 BCE Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Rex
551 BCE Confucius is born
c 528 BCE Siddhartha Gautama becomes the supreme Buddha
516 BCE Israelites return from Babylonian exile
447 - 432 BCE Parthenon built in Athens
429 BCE Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Rex
332-330 BCE Alexander the Great conquers Egypt
323 BCE Alexander the Great dies in Babylon
300 BCE Euclid’s geometry
c 250 BCE Small-seal calligraphy
c 221 BCE Shih Huang-ti unites China: the Great Wall underway
323 BCE Alexander the Great dies in Babylon
300 BCE Euclid’s geometry
c 250 BCE Small-seal calligraphy
c 221 BCE Shih Huang-ti unites China: the Great Wall underway
Influence of the Silk Road
The Silk Road, or Silk Route, is a series of trade and cultural transmission routes that were central to cultural interaction through regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East by linking traders, merchants, pilgrims, monks, soldiers, nomads, and urban dwellers from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea during various periods of time. Extending 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers), the Silk Road derives its name from the lucrative trade in Chinese silk carried out along its length, beginning during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the civilizations of China, the Indian subcontinent, Persia, Europe, and Arabia, opening long-distance, political and economic interactions between the civilizations. Though silk was certainly the major trade item from China, many other goods were traded, and religions, syncretic philosophies, and various technologies, as well as diseases, also travelled along the Silk Routes. In addition to economic trade, the Silk Road served as a means of carrying out cultural trade among the civilizations along its network. The main traders during antiquity were the Chinese, Persians, Greeks, Syrians, Romans, Armenians, Indians, and Bactrians, and from the 5th to the 8th century the Sogdians. During the coming of age of Islam, Arab traders became prominent.[ii]
The Silk Road, or Silk Route, is a series of trade and cultural transmission routes that were central to cultural interaction through regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East by linking traders, merchants, pilgrims, monks, soldiers, nomads, and urban dwellers from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea during various periods of time. Extending 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers), the Silk Road derives its name from the lucrative trade in Chinese silk carried out along its length, beginning during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the civilizations of China, the Indian subcontinent, Persia, Europe, and Arabia, opening long-distance, political and economic interactions between the civilizations. Though silk was certainly the major trade item from China, many other goods were traded, and religions, syncretic philosophies, and various technologies, as well as diseases, also travelled along the Silk Routes. In addition to economic trade, the Silk Road served as a means of carrying out cultural trade among the civilizations along its network. The main traders during antiquity were the Chinese, Persians, Greeks, Syrians, Romans, Armenians, Indians, and Bactrians, and from the 5th to the 8th century the Sogdians. During the coming of age of Islam, Arab traders became prominent.[ii]
c 190 BCE Parchment used for manuscripts
44 BCE Julius Caesar assassinated
29 BCE Vergil’s Georgics
44 BCE Julius Caesar assassinated
29 BCE Vergil’s Georgics
105 CE Ts’ai Lun invents paper
c 200 CE Regular-style calligraphy
330 CE Constantine moves Roman capital to Constantinople
Medieval Era
The various names for the period between 500 and 1500 CE --the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, and the Medieval Era--all reflect its position between the cultural achievements of the Roman Empire, which fell in 476 CE, and the flourishing of art and science in the Renaissance, which began around the 1400s. While the accomplishments of this period may not match those of adjacent eras, they nevertheless are significant.[iii] Attempts were made to be the successor to the formerly grand Roman empire were made by the Frankish Charlemagne in 800CE and the Holy Roman Empire, though neither were Roman. The "eastern or Byzantine empire did not experience this "Dark Ages" and the capitol of the eastern Roman Empire was transferred to Constantinople (present day Istanbul).
The various names for the period between 500 and 1500 CE --the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, and the Medieval Era--all reflect its position between the cultural achievements of the Roman Empire, which fell in 476 CE, and the flourishing of art and science in the Renaissance, which began around the 1400s. While the accomplishments of this period may not match those of adjacent eras, they nevertheless are significant.[iii] Attempts were made to be the successor to the formerly grand Roman empire were made by the Frankish Charlemagne in 800CE and the Holy Roman Empire, though neither were Roman. The "eastern or Byzantine empire did not experience this "Dark Ages" and the capitol of the eastern Roman Empire was transferred to Constantinople (present day Istanbul).
c 500 CE Unical lettering flourishes
570 CE Birth of Muhammad
570 CE Birth of Muhammad
c 751 CE Arabs learn paper making from Chinese prisoners
781 CE Alcuin establishes school at Aachen; Caroline minuscules are developed
800 CE Charlemagne crowned emperor
c 1000 CE Chinese calligraphy printed with perfection
c 1000 CE Gunpowder in use in China
c 1000 CE Gunpowder in use in China
1095 - 1099 CE First Crusade
c 1150 CE Compass is invented
1163 CE Notre Dame Cathedral begun in Paris
1209 CE Cambridge University founded
1215 CE King John signs Magna Carta
c 1150 CE Compass is invented
1163 CE Notre Dame Cathedral begun in Paris
1209 CE Cambridge University founded
1215 CE King John signs Magna Carta
c 1265 CE Marco Polo travels to China
1276 Paper mill established in Fabriano, Italy
1276 Paper mill established in Fabriano, Italy
Renaissance
A period from the 14th to the 17th century, considered the bridge between the Middle Ages and Modern history. It started as a cultural movement in Italy in the Late Medieval period and later spread to the rest of Europe. Although the invention of metal movable type sped the dissemination of ideas from the later 15th century, the changes of the Renaissance were not uniformly experienced across Europe. Renaissance, literally “rebirth,” the period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages and conventionally held to have been characterized by a surge of interest in Classical learning and values. The Renaissance also witnessed the discovery and exploration of new continents, the substitution of the Copernican for the Ptolemaic system of astronomy, the decline of the feudal system and the growth of commerce, and the invention or application of such potentially powerful innovations as paper, printing, the mariner’s compass, and gunpowder.[iv]
A period from the 14th to the 17th century, considered the bridge between the Middle Ages and Modern history. It started as a cultural movement in Italy in the Late Medieval period and later spread to the rest of Europe. Although the invention of metal movable type sped the dissemination of ideas from the later 15th century, the changes of the Renaissance were not uniformly experienced across Europe. Renaissance, literally “rebirth,” the period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages and conventionally held to have been characterized by a surge of interest in Classical learning and values. The Renaissance also witnessed the discovery and exploration of new continents, the substitution of the Copernican for the Ptolemaic system of astronomy, the decline of the feudal system and the growth of commerce, and the invention or application of such potentially powerful innovations as paper, printing, the mariner’s compass, and gunpowder.[iv]
c 1300 Relief printing on textiles in Europe
c 1306 Giotto completes the Arena Chapel frescoes
c 1320 CE Firearms used in Europe
1321 Dante completes The Divine Comedy
1348 Black Death decimates Florence, Italy
c 1387 CE Chaucer begins The Canterbury Tales
c 1306 Giotto completes the Arena Chapel frescoes
c 1320 CE Firearms used in Europe
1321 Dante completes The Divine Comedy
1348 Black Death decimates Florence, Italy
c 1387 CE Chaucer begins The Canterbury Tales
1423 Saint Christopher, early dated woodblock print
1446 CE Hangul, Korean alphabet
c 1450 Gutenberg perfects typorgaphic printing; the master of the Playing Cards perfects copperplate engraving
1446 CE Hangul, Korean alphabet
c 1450 Gutenberg perfects typorgaphic printing; the master of the Playing Cards perfects copperplate engraving
1457 Fust and Schoeffer, Psalter in Latin with two-color printed initials