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Sections everyone should do from the doc:

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Sections everyone should do from the doc:

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Everyone needs to make 10 posts from these sections:

Each post needs at least one sentence and a picture or corresponding link

Emma: H and E

Jordyn: G and I

Grayci: F and C

Ashlynn: Pick between, A, B, and D

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A federally funded expedition in 1804 that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark went on to see if they could find a route to the Pacific Ocean by the Columbia and Missouri rivers.

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Abolitionist that founded an anti-slavery newspaper called the Liberator in 1831.

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Granted all men the right to vote regardless of race, ethnicity or previous enslavement.

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Passed by Congress February 26, 1869, and ratified February 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote.
To former abolitionists and to the Radical Republicans in Congress who fashioned Reconstruction after the Civil War, the 15th Amendment, enacted in 1870, appeared to signify the fulfillment of all promises to African Americans. Set free by the 13th amendment, with citizenship guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, Black males were given the vote by the 15th Amendment. In retrospect, it can be seen that the 15th Amendment was in reality only another step in the struggle for equality that would continue for more than a century before African Americans could begin to participate fully in American public and civic life.

African Americans exercised the right to vote and held office in many Southern states through the 1880s, but in the early 1890s, steps were taken to ensure subsequent "white supremacy." Literacy tests for the vote, "grandfather clauses" excluding from the franchise all whose ancestors had not voted in the 1860s, and other devices to disenfranchise African Americans were written into the laws of former Confederate states.

Social and economic segregation were added to Black America's loss of political power. In 1896, the Supreme Court decision Plessy v. Ferguson legalized "separate but equal" facilities for the races. For more than 50 years, the overwhelming majority of African American citizens were reduced to second-class citizenship under the "Jim Crow" segregation system. During that time, African Americans sought to secure their rights and improve their position through organizations such as National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League and through the individual efforts of reformers like Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, and A. Philip Randolph.

The most direct attack on the problem of African American disenfranchisement came in 1965. Prompted by reports of continuing discriminatory voting practices in many Southern states, President Lyndon B. Johnson, himself a southerner, urged Congress on March 15, 1965, to pass legislation "which will make it impossible to thwart the 15th Amendment." He reminded Congress that "we cannot have government for all the people until we first make certain it is government of and by all the people."

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, extended in 1970, 1975, and 1982, abolished all remaining deterrents to exercising the right to vote and authorized federal supervision of voter registration where necessary. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the act involving federal oversight of voting rules in nine states.

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15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Voting Rights (1870)

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EnlargeDownload Link Citation: The House Joint Resolution Proposing the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, December 7, 1868; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789-1999; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives View All Pages in the National Archives Catalog View Transcript Passed by Congress February 26, 1869, and ratified February 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote.

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The New England colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut were known for their fishing, lumber and shipbuilding.

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The Middle Colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware were known for their farming, shipbuilding, textiles, and iron.

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The southern colonies of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia were known for their plantation agriculture that used slave labor as well as their exportation of cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and cotton.

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Map of DeSoto's 1539-43 exploration through the Southeast

Virginia was the first successful southern colony. While Puritan zeal was fueling New England's mercantile development, and Penn's Quaker experiment was turning the middle colonies into America's bread basket, the South was turning to cash crops. Geography and motive rendered the development of these colonies distinct from those that lay to the North.

Immediately to Virginia's north was Maryland. Begun as a Catholic experiment, the colony's economy would soon come to mirror that of Virginia, as tobacco became the most important crop. To the south lay the Carolinas, created after the English Civil War had been concluded. In the Deep South was Georgia, the last of the original thirteen colonies. Challenges from Spain and France led the king to desire a buffer zone between the cash crops of the Carolinas and foreign enemies. Georgia, a colony of debtors, would fulfill that need.

The Southern colonies included Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia.

English American Southerners would not enjoy the generally good health of their New England counterparts. Outbreaks of malaria and yellow fever kept life expectancies lower. Since the northern colonies attracted religious dissenters, they tended to migrate in families. Such family connections were less prevalent in the South.

The economy of growing cash crops would require a labor force that would be unknown north of Maryland. Slaves and indentured servants, although present in the North, were much more important to the South. They were the backbone of the Southern economy.

Settlers in the Southern colonies came to America to seek economic prosperity they could not find in Old England. The English countryside provided a grand existence of stately manors and high living. But rural England was full, and by law those great estates could only be passed on to the eldest son. America provided more space to realize a lifestyle the new arrivals could never dream to achieve in their native land.

Monticello
Follow Thomas Jefferson through a day. You will gain a sense of the extraordinary range of his talents, his insatiable thirst for knowledge, his watchful use of time, and the larger community that lived and worked at Monticello.
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Was the president of the Confederate States of American during the Civil War (1861-65).

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Law that required the return of a slave back to their owns even if they were caught in a free state.

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This article was most recently revised and updated by

Fugitive Slave Acts, in U.S. history, statutes passed by Congress in 1793 and 1850 (and repealed in 1864) that provided for the seizure and return of runaway slaves who escaped from one state into another or into a federal territory. The 1793 law enforced Article IV, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution in authorizing any federal district judge or circuit court judge, or any state magistrate, to decide finally and without a jury trial the status of an alleged fugitive slave.

The measure met with strong opposition in the Northern states, some of which enacted personal-liberty laws to hamper the execution of the federal law; these laws provided that fugitives who appealed an original decision against them were entitled to a jury trial. As early as 1810 individual dissatisfaction with the law of 1793 had taken the form of systematic assistance rendered to Black slaves escaping from the South to New England or Canada-via the Underground Railroad.

The demand from the South for more effective legislation resulted in enactment of a second Fugitive Slave Act in 1850. Under this law fugitives could not testify on their own behalf, nor were they permitted a trial by jury. Heavy penalties were imposed upon federal marshals who refused to enforce the law or from whom a fugitive escaped; penalties were also imposed on individuals who helped slaves to escape. Finally, under the 1850 act, special commissioners were to have concurrent jurisdiction with the U.S. courts in enforcing the law. The severity of the 1850 measure led to abuses and defeated its purpose. The number of abolitionists increased, the operations of the Underground Railroad became more efficient, and new personal-liberty laws were enacted in many Northern states. These state laws were among the grievances officially referred to by South Carolina in December 1860 as justification for its secession from the Union. Attempts to carry into effect the law of 1850 aroused much bitterness and probably had as much to do with inciting sectional hostility as did the controversy over slavery in the territories.

For some time during the American Civil War, the Fugitive Slave Acts were considered to still hold in the case of Blacks fleeing from masters in border states that were loyal to the Union government. It was not until June 28, 1864, that the acts were repealed.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Adam Augustyn.

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Fugitive Slave Acts | Definition & History

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Fugitive Slave Acts, in U.S. history, statutes passed by Congress in 1793 and 1850 (repealed in 1864) that provided for the seizure and return of runaway slaves who escaped from one state into another or into federal territory. Learn more about the Fugitive Slave Acts in this article.

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The case of "separate but equal" racial segregation laws known as Jim Crow laws that the court decided was not against the Constitution.

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How did Plessy v. Ferguson affect segregation in the United States?

Plessy v. Ferguson, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on May 18, 1896, by a seven-to-one majority (one justice did not participate), advanced the controversial " separate but equal" doctrine for assessing the constitutionality of racial segregation laws. Plessy v. Ferguson was the first major inquiry into the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment's (1868) equal-protection clause, which prohibits the states from denying "equal protection of the laws" to any person within their jurisdictions. Although the majority opinion did not contain the phrase "separate but equal," it gave constitutional sanction to laws designed to achieve racial segregation by means of separate and supposedly equal public facilities and services for African Americans and whites. It served as a controlling judicial precedent until it was overturned by the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954).

Background

The case originated in 1892 as a challenge to Louisiana's Separate Car Act (1890). The law required that all railroads operating in the state provide "equal but separate accommodations" for white and African American passengers and prohibited passengers from entering accommodations other than those to which they had been assigned on the basis of their race. In 1891 a group of Creole professionals in New Orleans formed the Citizens' Committee to Test the Constitutionality of the Separate Car Law. They hired Albion Tourgée, a Reconstruction-era judge and social reformer, as their legal counsel. As plaintiff in the test case the committee chose a person of mixed race in order to support its contention that the law could not be consistently applied, because it failed to define the white and "coloured" races. Homer Plessy, who was seven-eighths white and one-eighth African American, purchased a rail ticket for travel within Louisiana and took a seat in a car reserved for white passengers. (The state Supreme Court had ruled earlier that the law could not be applied to interstate travel.) After refusing to move to a car for African Americans, he was arrested and charged with violating the Separate Car Act. At Plessy's trial in U.S. District Court, Judge John H. Ferguson dismissed his contention that the act was unconstitutional. After the state Supreme Court affirmed the district court's ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari, and oral arguments were heard on April 13, 1896. The court rendered its decision one month later, on May 18.

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Plessy v. Ferguson | Summary, Ruling, Background, & Impact

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Plessy v. Ferguson, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on May 18, 1896, by a seven-to-one majority (one justice did not participate), advanced the controversial 'separate but equal' doctrine for assessing the constitutionality of racial segregation laws.

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Built the successful Carnegie Steel Company which was huge for railroads, but is also known for using his money philanthropic work.

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Hieroglyphics were the formal writing system used in ancient Egypt, consisting of over 700 symbols that represented objects, sounds, or ideas.

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One important characteristic of Rome was its advanced legal and political system, including the Twelve Tables and the concept of a representative government, which laid the foundation for modern law and governance.

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What was the Roman Republic?

This article was most recently revised and updated by

Roman Republic, (509-27 bce), the ancient state centred on the city of Rome that began in 509 bce, when the Romans replaced their monarchy with elected magistrates, and lasted until 27 bce, when the Roman Empire was established. A brief treatment of the Roman Republic follows. For full treatment, see ancient Rome.

The early historical record

The early Roman Republic (509-264 bce) and the preceding regal period (753-509 bce) are the most poorly documented periods of Roman history. Historical writing in Rome did not begin until the late 3rd century bce, when Rome had already completed its conquest of Italy, established itself as a major power of the ancient world, and become involved in a gigantic struggle with Carthage for control of the western Mediterranean. The earliest Roman histories were brief résumés of facts and stories, but gradually historians embellished the sparse factual material (such as the list of annual magistrates from the beginning of the republic onward, religious records, and the texts of some laws and treaties) with both native and Greek folklore. Consequently, over time, historical facts about early Rome suffered from patriotic reinterpretation involving exaggerations of the truth, the suppression of embarrassing facts, and invention.

Ancient Roman historians initially differed over the precise date of Rome's foundation. By the end of the republic, however, it was generally accepted that Rome had been founded in 753 bce and that the republic had begun in 509 bce, following the overthrow of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last of Rome's seven kings. According to tradition, the first six kings had been benevolent rulers, but the last was a cruel tyrant who was overthrown by a popular uprising.

The prevalent modern view is that the monarchy at Rome was incidentally terminated through military defeat and foreign intervention. This theory sees Rome as a site highly prized by the Etruscans (the people of the central Italian region of Etruria) in the 6th century bce. Porsenna, the Etruscan king of Clusium, defeated the Romans and expelled Tarquinius Superbus. Yet before Porsenna could establish himself as monarch, he was forced to withdraw, leaving Rome without a king. Rather than restoring their king, the Romans replaced the kingship with two annually elected magistrates called consuls.

During the early Roman Republic, important new political offices and institutions were created, and old ones were adapted to cope with the changing needs of the state. According to the ancient historians, these changes and innovations resulted from a political struggle between two social orders, the patricians and the plebeians, that began during the first years of the republic and lasted for more than 200 years. The discrepancies, inconsistencies, and logical fallacies in the account of Livy, one of Rome's greatest historians, make it evident that this thesis of a struggle of the orders is a gross oversimplification of a highly complex series of events that had no single cause.

Early government

The two consuls (who had come to replace the king) were primarily generals whose task it was to lead Rome's armies in war. In times of military emergency, when unity of command was sometimes necessary, Rome appointed a dictator in place of the consuls, who, however, could not hold supreme military command for longer than six months.

The Senate, which may have existed under the monarchy and served as an advisory council for the king, now advised both magistrates and the Roman people. Although in theory the people were sovereign and the Senate only offered advice, in actual practice the Senate wielded enormous power because of the collective prestige of its members.

During the republic there were two different popular assemblies, the centuriate assembly and the tribal assembly. The centuriate assembly was military in nature; it voted on war and peace and elected all those magistrates who exercised imperium (military power). The tribal assembly was a nonmilitary civilian assembly that elected those magistrates who did not exercise imperium. It did most of the legislating and sat as a court for serious public offenses.

In 451 bce Rome received its first written law code, inscribed upon 12 bronze tablets and publicly displayed in the forum. Its provisions concerned such matters as legal procedure, debt foreclosure, paternal authority over children, property rights, inheritance, and funerary regulations. This so-called Law of the Twelve Tables was to form the basis of all subsequent Roman private law.

The expansion of Rome

During the 6th century bce, Rome became one of the more important states in Latium-owing to the achievements of its Etruscan overlords-but Tibur ( Tivoli), Praeneste, and Tusculum were equally important Latin states. Although the Latins dwelled in politically independent towns, their common language and culture produced cooperation in religion, law, and warfare. (This cooperation has come to be known as the Latin League.) The Latin states occasionally waged war among themselves, but in times of common danger they banded together for mutual defense.

Toward the end of the 5th century bce, the Romans began to expand at the expense of the Etruscan states, possibly propelled by population growth. Rome's first two major wars against organized states were fought with Fidenae (437-426 bce), a town near Rome, and against Veii, an important Etruscan city. Before Roman strength increased further, a marauding Gallic tribe swept down the Po River valley and sacked Rome in 390 bce; the invaders departed, however, after they received a ransom in gold. Forty years of hard fighting in Latium and Etruria were required to restore Rome's power. When Rome became increasingly dominant in the Latin League, the Latins took up arms against Rome to maintain their independence. The ensuing Latin War (340-338 bce) was quickly decided in Rome's favour.

Rome was now the master of central Italy and spent the next decade pushing forward its frontier through conquest and colonization. After three wars against the Samnites in the north (the third in 298-290 bce) and the Pyrrhic War (280-275 bce) against Greek towns in the south, Rome was the unquestioned master of Italy.

Soon, Rome's success led it into conflict with Carthage, an established commercial power in northern Africa, for control of the Mediterranean. The ensuing battles, known as the Punic Wars, spanned the years 264-146 bce. Two great military geniuses were among the leaders in these wars. Hannibal led the Carthaginian forces from about 220 to 200, when he was defeated by the Roman commander Scipio Africanus the Elder. The Romans occupied Carthage and eventually destroyed it completely in 146.

The defeat of this powerful rival sustained the Romans' acquisitive momentum, and they set their sights on the entire Mediterranean area. To the east, the Romans defeated Syria, Macedonia, Greece, and Egypt, all of which had until then been part of the decaying Hellenistic empire. The Romans also destroyed the Achaean League and burned Corinth (146 bce). Won through massive effort and with inevitable losses, the newly acquired lands and diverse peoples populating them proved a challenge to govern effectively. The Romans organized the conquered peoples into provinces -under the control of appointed governors with absolute power over all non-Roman citizens-and stationed troops in each, ready to exercise appropriate force if necessary.

In Rome proper, the majority of citizens suffered the consequences of living in a nation that had its eyes invariably trained on the far horizon. Roman farmers were unable to raise crops to compete economically with produce from the provinces, and many migrated to the city. For a time the common people were placated with bread and circuses, as the authorities attempted to divert their attention from the gap between their standard of living and that of the aristocracy. Slavery fueled the Roman economy, and its rewards for the wealthy turned out to be disastrous for the working classes. Tensions grew and civil wars erupted. The ensuing period of unrest and revolution marked the transition of Rome from a republic to an empire.

Notable figures in the civil wars included Gaius Marius, a military leader who was elected consul seven times, and Sulla, an army officer. The later stages of the civil wars encompassed the careers of Pompey, the orator Cicero, and Julius Caesar, who eventually took full power over Rome as its dictator. After his assassination in 44 bce, the triumvirate of Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian, Caesar's nephew, ruled. It was not long before Octavian went to war against Antony in northern Africa, and after his victory at Actium (31 bce) he was crowned Rome's first emperor, Augustus.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Adam Augustyn.

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Roman Republic | Definition, Dates, History, Government, Map, & Facts

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Roman Republic, the ancient state centered on the city of Rome that began in 509 BCE, when the Romans replaced their monarchy with elected magistrates, and lasted until 27 BCE, when the Roman Empire was established. It expanded through conquest and colonization and became a major power of the ancient world.

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Ancient Greece, particularly Athens, developed direct democracy, where male citizens could vote on laws and policies in the Assembly, establishing principles of civic participation, majority rule, and political equality that influenced modern democratic governments.

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Democracy in ancient Greece served as one of the first forms of self-rule government in the ancient world. The system and ideas employed by the ancient Greeks had profound influences on how democracy developed, and its impact on the formation of the U.S. government.

Subjects

Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations

The ancient Greeks were the first to create a democracy. The word "democracy" comes from two Greek words that mean people ( demos) and rule ( kratos). Democracy is the idea that the citizens of a country should take an active role in the government of their country and manage it directly or through elected representatives. In addition, it supports the idea that the people can replace their government through peaceful transfers of power rather than violent uprising or revolution. Thus, a key part of democracy is that the people have a voice.

The first known democracy in the world was in Athens. Athenian democracy developed around the fifth century B.C.E. The Greek idea of democracy was different from present-day democracy because, in Athens, all adult citizens were required to take an active part in the government. If they did not fulfill their duty they would be fined and sometimes marked with red paint. The Athenian definition of "citizens" was also different from modern-day citizens: only free men were considered citizens in Athens. Women, children, and slaves were not considered citizens and therefore could not vote.

Each year 500 names were chosen from all the citizens of ancient Athens. Those 500 citizens had to actively serve in the government for one year. During that year, they were responsible for making new laws and controlled all parts of the political process. When a new law was proposed, all the citizens of Athens had the opportunity to vote on it. To vote, citizens had to attend the assembly on the day the vote took place. This form of government is called direct democracy.

The United States has a representative democracy. Representative democracy is a government in which citizens vote for representatives who create and change laws that govern the people rather than getting to vote directly on the laws themselves.

Media Credits

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Director

Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

Author

National Geographic Society

Production Managers

Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society

Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

Program Specialists

Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society, National Geographic Society

Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

October 19, 2023

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Democracy in ancient Greece served as one of the first forms of self-rule government in the ancient world. The system and ideas employed by the ancient Greeks had profound influences on how democracy developed, and its impact on the formation of the U.S. government.

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The Great Wall of China, built primarily during the Qin and Ming Dynasties, was a massive defensive structure spanning thousands of miles, designed to protect China from northern invasions, facilitate trade and communication, and symbolize the strength and unity of the empire.

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Wrote the Declaration of Independence, outlining the colonies’ grievances against Britain and establishing the idea that all men have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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A diplomat and statesman, he helped secure French support for the Revolution, played a key role in negotiating peace with Britain, and contributed to the creation of the U.S. government.

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Served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, leading the colonies to victory through key battles like Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown and later became the first U.S. president.

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A strong advocate for independence, he helped draft the Declaration of Independence, defended British soldiers in the Boston Massacre trial, and later helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris (1783), which ended the war.

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Enforced strict policies, including the Stamp Act and Intolerable Acts, which angered colonists and fueled their desire for independence.

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The American Revolution was caused by growing colonial resentment toward British rule, driven by taxation without representation, restrictive laws like the Intolerable Acts, and a desire for self-governance, ultimately leading to the fight for independence.

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When choosing a credible source, it is important to find a trusted and reliable author, someone who is well informed on the topic.

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"Whether you are a journalist, researcher, writer, or someone in the professional fields, it is important to know how to identify real information and use it accurately. That's our real challenge in the 21st century." - Lee E. Krahenbuhl, Communication Studies Program Coordinator

With the infinite amount of information online, it can be difficult to decipher what is true and accurate and what is not. Once you know the trick to identifying reliable information, you can quickly determine if what you're reading is accurate or not.
What is reliable information?
Reliable information must come from dependable sources. According to UGA Libraries, a reliable source will provide a "thorough, well-reasoned theory, argument, etc. based on strong evidence." Widely credible sources include:

Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles and books

Trade or professional articles or books

Magazine articles, books and newspaper articles from well-established companies

Other sources like websites and blog posts can be reliable but require further evaluation.

You may be asking yourself, "what source is best for me?" Depending on the type of information you need, your sources may vary. For example, if you are writing a research paper about the psychology of communication you want to look at journal articles and research-based reports. This is because those types of sources typically include more information on the topic at hand.
How to identify reliable sources
What makes a source reliable? To determine whether a source is reliable or not you must look at certain criteria. That criteria are as follows:

1. Authority: Who is the author? What are their credentials? Do they have knowledgeable experience in the field they are writing about? What is their reputation?

2. Accuracy: Compare the author's information to that which you already know is reliable. Are there proper citations? Is the information biased? If so, does it affect research conclusions

3. Coverage: Is the information relevant to your topic and does it meet your needs? Consider what you need such as statistics, charts, and graphs.

4. Currency: Is your topic constantly evolving? Topics in technology and medical innovation require sources that are up to date.

The importance of reliable information
The internet is scattered with biased, misleading, and altogether incorrect information and that is why it is important to follow the above criteria. The importance of using reliable sources truly boils down to effective communication. If your knowledge is based on unreliable information you will not be a trustworthy asset to your company.

Credible communication is key in business success and that is why you should not just grab any information off the internet. Using unreliable sources results in negative consequences. Credibility is especially important to business professionals because using unreliable data can cause internal and external stakeholders to question your decisions and rely solely on their own opinions rather than factual data.

Hence, using credible sources for information will increase your reputation and trustworthiness. An article by the Ivey Business Journal supports this idea by expressing that trust is a key factor in building loyalty, increasing credibility, and supporting effective communication.

So remember, it is important to develop your skills in identifying reliable resources because it will ultimately help you become an effective communicator and trustworthy leader.

Are you looking to expand your communication skill set? Stevenson University Online's Master's in Communication Studies program equips working professionals with the skills to identify and deliver reliable information.

Stevenson University Online offers Bachelor's and Master's programs that can equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's professional landscape. Programs include Business Communication, Business and Technology Management, and Communication Studies. All courses are online, allowing you to continue working while pursuing your degree. For more information, please contact us at suo-inquiry@stevenson.edu or 1-877-531-7118.

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"Whether you are a journalist, researcher, writer, or someone in the professional fields, it is important to know how to identify real information and use it accurately. That's our real challenge in the 21st century." - Lee E.

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A secondary source is interpreted information from a primary source.

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Research Guides: Primary Sources Research Guide: What Are Secondary Sources?

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Research Guides: Primary Sources Research Guide: What Are Secondary Sources?

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A primary source is information received from first-hand experience on the event or topic.

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The Westward Expansion was fueled by farming and economic interest, it was a big reason for the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

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Cherokee tribe is made up of seven clans, and each clan has a specific task, such as farming, hunting, etc.

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The Choctaw Tribe was one of the first tribes to be forced to leave their lands during the Trail of Tears.

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The five civilized tribes include Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes.

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A law put in place by the US government, forcing Native Americans to be removed from their homelands.

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The tribes were forced to travel over 1000 miles from the Appalachian Mountains to Oklahoma.

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A period in time that is designated to a new/distinct order.

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Image Credits

prehistory showing men and women working

Image: Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images / Background: Tolchik / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Used under Getty Images license

Historians rely on written records and archaeological evidence to understand more about human history. They use these resources to divide human existence into five main historical eras: Prehistory, Classical, Middle Ages, Early Modern, and Modern eras. Keep reading to learn the main civilizations, technological achievements, important historical figures, and significant events during these major time periods in history.

Prehistory (to 600 B.C.)

The Prehistoric era in human history reflects the period between the appearance of humans on the planet (roughly 2.5 million years ago) and 600 B.C. ( Before Christ) or 1200 B.C., depending on the region. It indicates the period on Earth in which there was human activity, but little to no records of human history. This era is also known as the Foundational era, as many foundations of human civilization occurred during this span of time.

Major Periods of the Prehistoric Era

The Prehistoric era can be divided into three shorter eras based on the advancements that occurred in those time periods. They include:

The Stone Age (2.5 million B.C. to 3000 B.C.) - documents the human migration from Africa and first use of tools by Neanderthals, Denisovans and early humans

The Bronze Age (3000 B.C. to 1300 B.C.) - humans settle in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and ancient Egypt; invention of the wheel and metalworking

The Iron Age (1300 B.C. to 600 B.C.) - formation of planned cities, introduction of ironworks, steel, and writing systems

Classical Era (600 B.C.-A.D. 476)

The Classical era, also known as Classical antiquity, began roughly around 600 B.C. in most of the world. It marked the beginning of a philosophical period in world history as well as the first recorded sources of human history. Politically, the Classical era saw the rise - and fall - of most world empires.

Classical Civilizations and Empires

The Classical era was mainly centered around the civilizations on the Mediterranean Sea and their contributions to world culture. These empires included:

Ancient Greece (600 B.C. to A.D. 600) - foundation of democracy, philosophy, mathematics, drama, and poetry

Ancient Rome (753 B.C. to A.D. 476) - political power that developed the legal system, irrigation, architecture, city roads, and Christianity

Persian Empire (550 B.C. to 330 B.C.) - Middle Eastern empire that practiced Zoroastrianism before Islam and fell to Alexander the Great in 330 B.C.

Byzantine Empire (A.D. 285 to A.D. 1453) - Mediterranean culture that incorporated practices and beliefs from ancient Greece and Rome; the only major power not to fall until after the Renaissance

The Middle Ages (A.D. 476 -A.D. 1450 )

The Middle Ages is also known as the Medieval or Post-Classical era. Historians refer to the early part of this period as the Dark Ages due to the loss of recorded history after the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476.

Image Credits

Middle Ages castle being attacked with period date

Image: Dorling Kindersley / Background: Tolchik / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Used under Getty Images license

Significant Periods of the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages was an unstable period that lasted for nearly a millennium. Historians often group the era into three distinct periods: the Early Middle Ages, the High Middle Ages and the Late Middle Ages.

Early Middle Ages (A.D. 476 to A.D. 1000) - also known as Late Antiquity; this period shows most powers rebuilding after the collapse of the Roman Empire and the beginning of Islam in the Middle East

High Middle Ages (A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1250) - 250-year period that saw the height of the Catholic church's power in the Crusades

Late Middle Ages (A.D. 1250 to A.D. 1450) - a period that saw the Black Plague, the beginning of European exploration and the invention of the printing press

Early Modern Era (A.D. 1450-A.D. 1750)

The Early Modern Era, which immediately followed the Middle Ages, saw a resurgence of the values and philosophies from the Classical era. When you think of Leonardo da Vinci, William Shakespeare, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Christopher Columbus, you're thinking of the Early Modern Era.

Image Credits

Early Modern Era Globe Theatre being built with period date

Image: Dorling Kindersley / Dorling Kindersley RF / Getty Images / Background: Tolchik / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Used under Getty Images license

Movements of the Early Modern Era

The major movements in politics, religion, and geography helped to guide human civilization into the Modern era. These movements include:

Renaissance Humanism (A.D. 1400 to A.D. 1500 ) - break from medieval scholasticism that incorporated Classical thought into Early Modern ideas

Protestant Reformation (A.D. 1517 to A.D. 1648) - religious movement in which Lutheranism (started by Martin Luther) broke with the Catholic church and redefined Christianity

The European Renaissance (A.D. 1450 to A.D. 1600) - known as a cultural "rebirth" in art, music, literature, society, and philosophy

The Enlightenment (A.D. 1650 to A.D. 1800) - an intellectual movement that is also called the Age of Reason; saw the re-examination of politics, economics and science before giving way to Romanticism in the 19th century

The European Renaissance, or "rebirth," occurred during this period, as well as the discovery and colonization of the Americas and the Age of Enlightenment.
Modern Era (A.D. 1750-Present)

The influences of both the Renaissance and the Enlightenment led to a technological boom in the Modern era, also known as the Late Modern era. The world of politics was rocked by wars, revolution and the end of the monarchy in many countries. The Modern era is truly a cumulation of millions of years of human development.

Major Periods of the Modern Era

Because our history of the last three centuries is so well documented, it's possible to examine each period of the Modern era on its own. These eras include:

First Industrial Revolution (A.D. 1760 to A.D. 1840) - beginning of the modern era that saw several technological innovations, including the invention of the cotton gin, the increase of city factories and mills and the completion of the Erie Canal

Revolutionary Period (A.D. 1764 to A.D. 1848) - period of revolutions around the world, including the American Revolution, French Revolution, Spanish-American Wars for Independence, Italian Revolutions, Greek War of Independence, and the Spring of Nations

Age of Imperialism (A.D. 1800 to A.D. 1914) - century of time in which France, Britain, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States colonized in other nations around the world

Victorian Era (A.D. 1837 to A.D. 1901) - reign of Queen Victoria I that saw increased urbanization, the American Civil War and the end of African slavery

Second Industrial Revolution (A.D. 1869 to A.D. 1914 ) - often referred to as the Technological Revolution; period in which the light bulb, the telephone, the airplane, and the Model T automobile were invented

World War I (A.D. 1914 to A.D. 1918) - worldwide conflict centered in Europe; also known as the Great War

Great Depression (A.D. 1929 to A.D. 1939) - extended period of worldwide economic hardship that started with the stock market crash in 1929

World War II (A.D. 1939 to A.D. 1945) - wartime period that began with Germany's invasion of Poland and ends with the surrender of Japan, the last standing Axis power

Contemporary Period (A.D. 1945 to current) - also known as the Information Age; the period in which technological advances define social, economic and political life

Society Forms Our History

So where does the Modern era end and the next era begin? The only way to know is to learn from these historical eras - and to know more about how society works in large and small ways. Continue your trip through human history and society with a list of key sociology terms and concepts. Then, explore the history of one region with a list of Roman emperors across time.

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Historical Eras: List of Major Time Periods in History

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Throughout time there have been historical eras with notable impacts on the world. Explore these time periods in history and the legacies they left behind.

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Document that announced the separation of the United States from Great Britain. It formally recognized the United States as independent.

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Document that established a union between the 13 states. It focused on a weak central government and states had the majority of the control. Essentially, states rule themselves, but come together if attacked.

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Document that established the structure of the United States government and the rights of citizens. It was written in 1787, then ratified and went into effect in 1789, and then Washington was elected President.

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The first ten amendments to the Constitution that protects the rights and freedoms of American citizens.

1st - Freedom of speech

2nd - Right to bear arms

3rd - Quartering solders

4th - Unreasonable searches and seizures

5th - Rights of persons accused by crimes

6th - Right to a speedy trial

7th - Right to a trial by jury

8th - No cruel and unusual punishment

9th - Rights kept by people

10th - Rights reserved to the states and people

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War between the Allies (Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan, and the United States) and Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire) from 1914 to 1918. The war started after a Serbian assassin killed the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. Main reasons the U.S. joined the war: Germany submarines attacked American merchant and passenger ships and Germany sent The Zimmermann Telegram. This was a coded message sent to Mexico from Germany, propositioning an alliance against the U.S. in exchange for land Germany had in the west.

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War between the Allies (Britain, United States, Soviet Union, France) and the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) from 1939 to 1945. It began when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. The United States joined the war after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. During this time, Germany established concentration camps, this was known as the Holocaust.

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The stock market crash of 1929, combined with bank failures and panics, led to a global economic crisis that lasted until 1939.

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Movement from 1954 to 1968 that aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination. It sough to ensure equality(voting, education, employment, public accommodations) and desegregation (schools, public spaces and transportation). Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin.

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Anti-War, specifically Vietnam War, movement which included protests and civil disobedience throughout the 1960s and 1970s. It aimed to promote nonviolence and establish peaceful policies and actions.

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Movement that focused on achieving equality for women, addressed issues such as women's suffrage, equal pay, property rights, employment equality, education, reproductive rights, domestic violence, and maternity leave. Led to the 1923 Equal Rights Amendment that ensured equal rights for women.