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The people of the Indus Valley began farming along the Indus River, these are some of the earliest accounts of agriculture.

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ca. 3150 BC - The First Egyptian Dynasty

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ca. 3150 BC - The First Egyptian Dynasty

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The kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt were united by King Narmer, who went on to establish the first Egyptian dynasty.

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Sumerian metalworks discovered that melting certain amounts of copper and tin would create bronze. They began to create bronze spearheads by the thousands.

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Sumerian scribes invented one of the first systems of writing called cuneiform, in which symbols would be pressed into moist clay and baked in the sun to preserve the writing.

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Pharaoh Khufu commissions the Great Pyramids of Giza. 20-27 years later, they would finally be finished and become one of the seven wonders of the world.

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Sargon of Akkad defeated the city-states of Sumer, taking control of the Mesopotamian region and creating the world’s first empire. The Akkadians adopted the Sumerian culture and helped it spread.

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The Old Kingdom of Egypt falls, and the Middle Kingdom is established. This era improved transportation and trade by digging a canal from the Nile to the Red Sea.

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Various farming settlements around the Huang He River grew into China’s first cities. According to legend, the first Chinese dynasty, the Xia Dynasty emerged around this time.

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A people called the Shang rose to power in northern China. Their dynasty would last from ca. 1700 BC to ca. 1027 BC. They were the first family of Chinese rulers to leave behind written records.

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A group of Indo-Europeans called the Hittites began to rule Asia Minor. Their separate city-states came together to form an empire that would rule Asia for another 450 years.

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A series of warlike rulers begin to restore Egypt’s power. They include Queen Ahhotep and Pharaoh Kamose, who both succeeded in driving out the Hyksos. This began the age of the New Kingdom.

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The Hittites grow as a military power due to the skill of their iron workers. They knew that iron was stronger than bronze and used it to harden their weapons of war, including chariots and spearheads.

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A seafaring people called the Minoans begin to dominate the trade of the Mediterranean. They were a an athletic people who loved nature and peace located on the island of Crete. Their civilization met a mysterious end at around ca. 1200 BC.

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The Egyptian New Kingdom expanded its trade and empire through conquest, but also created magnificent tombs and temples. The Pharaoh Ramses II was one of the great builders of the New Kingdom.

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The Shang dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou, who brought new ideas to Chinese civilization. They built roads and canals to improve trade, and introduced coined money to China.

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The Hebrews unite under three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon to form the Kingdom of Israel. They enjoyed a period of peace and great trading prosperity for around 100 years.

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The kingdom of Israel divides in two after a revolt over King Solomon’s lavish projects put a strain on the people. The kingdom spilts into the northern and southern kingdoms, Israel and Judah, respectively.

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Assyria became the greatest power in Southwest Asia due to its advanced military organization and state of the art weaponry. They defeated Syria, Palestine, Babylonia, and parts of Egypt. They also had a reputation as great builders.

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In order to avoid major political upheavals, the Athenians developed a democracy. This system of government allowed the city-state to thrive and develop an education system, as well as lead them into a Golden age under the statesman Pericles.

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Lead by King Cyrus, a military genius, Persia began to conquer their neighboring kingdoms. Cyrus was famous for his kindness toward his conquered peoples, he believed in honoring local customs and religions.

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Confucius was China's most influential scholar, laying the foundation for bureaucracy in China. confucianism was never a religion, but an ethical system based on principals of right and wrong.

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ca. 371 BC - The Military State of Sparta

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ca. 371 BC - The Military State of Sparta

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After barely putting down the revolts of the Messenians, the Spartans dedicated themselves to making Sparta a strong city state. At the cost of freedom and individuality, Sparta became the most powerful army in Greece.

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Shi Huangdi unified China under his autocracy. He murdered hundreds of Confucian scholars and burned evidence that would disagree with his reign. The peasants rebelled just three years after the second Qin emperor took office.

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However cruel the Qin dynasty may have been, it was responsible for the marvel of the Great Wall of China. Peasants were forced to work on the building of the wall that would protect the empire.

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ca. 150 BC - Hellenistic Culture in Decline

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ca. 150 BC - Hellenistic Culture in Decline

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The Hellenistic culture of the Greeks was slowly declining. The new city of Rome was growing and gaining strength. However, Rome would adapt many Greek styles, including their art, architecture, and philosophies.