3100-1000 BCE

Cite
Save
Share This
Email this content

Share Link

Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780191735363.timeline.0001?p=emailAgz2Xe.zWWqgo&d=/10.1093/acref/9780191735363.timeline.0001
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Timeline: 3100-1000 BCE

Years: c. 3100 BCE - c. 1000 BCE	Subject: History, Ancient history (non-classical to 500 CE)
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191735363

Jump to a year:

BCE CE

Year	Event
c. 3100 BCE	Sumer develops as the first centre of Mesopotamian civilization Go to Sumer in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory Neolithic Politics Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Upper and Lower Egypt are unified into a single kingdom, inaugurating the first Egyptian dynasty Go to Egypt, ancient in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt The Egyptians paint murals on the walls of tombs, designed to help the occupants in the next world Go to Egyptian art in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Painting Religion Africa North Africa Egypt Writing is developed, at Sumer, as cuneiform script on clay tablets Go to Sumer in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory Communication Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq The Egyptian hieroglyphic script develops at much the same time as the Sumerian cuneiform Go to writing in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory Africa North Africa Egypt The invention of writing marks the transition, in academic terms, from prehistory to history Go to writing in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory Communication Mesopotamia Africa North Africa Egypt Asia West Asia Iraq The pharaoh Narmer celebrates a victory with a sculpted relief showing his personal dominance over the enemy Go to Narmer (3150 bce) in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Sculpture Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 3000 BCE	An easily portable writing surface is developed, from the papyrus plant of the Nile Go to papyrus in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Technology Africa North Africa Egypt The lever is in use in both Mesopotamia and Egypt Go to Egyptian and Mesopotamian technology in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Technology Inventions and discoveries Mesopotamia Africa North Africa Egypt Asia West Asia Iraq The llama and the alpaca, two south American members of the camel family, are domesticated Go to llama in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Andean Civilizations Social and domestic Society Latin America Peru South America The sculptors of the Cyclades produce stylized and formal figures, mainly female, in white marble Go to Cycladic art in The Oxford Companion to Western Art (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Sculpture Europe Greece Wheels are in use on carts, particularly where wood is easily available and the ground rough - as in the forests of Europe Go to wheel in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Social and domestic Technology Inventions and discoveries Society Slavery arrives as part of the package of civilization, along with armies, public works and social hierarchies Go to slavery in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Slavery Society Complex societies, with sophisticated temple architecture, develop at sites such as Aspero and Caral in the Norte Chico region of Peru Go to Aspero, Peru in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Civilizations of Peru Andean Civilizations Latin America Peru South America On the steppes of central Asia tribesmen tame, breed and eventually ride horses Go to horses in The Oxford Classical Dictionary (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Social and domestic Asia Central Asia Society Oxen are given the heavy work of pulling the plough, previously done by men Go to plough in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Social and domestic Africa North Africa Asia West Asia Society Potters in Mesopotamia turn their pots on wheels Go to potter's wheel in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Technology Inventions and discoveries Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq The people known as Phoenicians are in the region of modern Lebanon from around this date Go to Phoenicians in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration The Phoenicians Lebanon and Syria Society Semitic tribes move up from the Arabian peninsula, through Sinai into Palestine and Syria Go to Sumer in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Asia West Asia Society The language of a single tribe in eastern Europe, as recently as 3000 BC, is the ancestor of all modern Indo-European languages Go to Indo-European languages in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Social and domestic Europe Society The ass, until now roaming wild from northeast Africa to Mesopotamia, is domesticated in Egypt Go to ass in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Social and domestic Africa North Africa Egypt Society The earliest known currency, consisting of gold bars, is in use in Egypt and Mesopotamia Go to Sumer in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Commerce and industry Mesopotamia Africa North Africa Egypt Asia West Asia Iraq Society The world's earliest known board game, senet, is played in Egypt Go to Games in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Sports and games Africa North Africa Egypt Society
c. 2850 BCE	The Chinese discover that the cocoon of a certain worm can be unwound, spun as thread and then woven - thus creating silk Go to silk in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Technology Inventions and discoveries Asia East Asia China
c. 2800 BCE	Objects are cast in bronze, at Ur in Mesopotamia - introducing what is later called the Bronze Age Go to Bronze Age in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Technology Inventions and discoveries Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq The harp and the lyre are in use as musical instruments in Mesopotamia Go to lyre in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Performing arts Music Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Byblos (modern Jbeil) evolves to become the most important seaport and city of Phoenicia Go to Byblos in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Social and domestic The Phoenicians Lebanon and Syria Society
2781 BCE	Sirius rises in this year on the first day of the first Egyptian month - a rare event which possibly launches the Egyptian calendar system Go to Sothic cycle in A Dictionary of Astronomy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Science Astronomy and space Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 2620 BCE	Imhotep creates the first pyramid - the 'step pyramid' at Saqqara - as a tomb for the pharaoh Djoser Go to Imhotep (fl. c.2700 bc) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Architecture Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 2600 BCE	The Canaanites migrate into the region which will become known by their name, establishing themselves around what is now Jerusalem Go to Canaanites in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Jerusalem Asia West Asia Palestine and Israel Society
c. 2580 BCE	Egypt enters the period known as the Old Kingdom, its first era of monumental architecture Go to Old Kingdom in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Architecture Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 2500 BCE	At Huaca Prieta, the earliest known farming community in South America, squash, gourds and chili are cultivated Go to Saladoid Culture in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Andean Civilizations Social and domestic Society Latin America Peru South America The delicate seals of the Indus civilization are in a script as yet undeciphered Go to Indus civilization in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Communication Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Pakistan The first and largest of the three great pyramids at Giza is built for the pharaoh Khufu, later known to the Greeks as Cheops Go to Khufu (2609–2584bce) in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Seven Wonders of the World Architecture Religion Africa North Africa Egypt The inhabitants of Huaca Prieta grow cotton, from which they weave a coarse cloth Go to cotton in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic South America The treasures found in the royal cemetery at Ur include a depiction of soldiers in copper helmets, armed with battleaxes Go to Ur in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Decorative arts Weapons Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq A small neolithic community builds a village at Skara Brae in the Orkneys, of stone houses with built-in stone furniture Go to Skara Brae, Orkney, Scotland in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Architecture British architecture Scotland British Isles Europe Britain A superb passage grave is built at Newgrange in Ireland Go to Newgrange, Co. Meath, Ireland in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Architecture British architecture Religion British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Yarns of spun cotton survive at Mohenjo-daro, one of the two great cities of the Indus civilization Go to Mohenjo-Daro in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Science Social and domestic Technology Inventions and discoveries Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Pakistan Society Some ninety royal servants, including soldiers, grooms and female musicians, are buried alive in the tomb of a royal couple at Ur Go to Ur, Iraq in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Social and domestic Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Society A boat of cedar planks, some 44 metres long, is buried at Giza Go to Egypt in The Oxford Companion to Archaeology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Travel and transport Africa North Africa Egypt Society Enuma Elish, the Babylonian creation story, spreads in oral form Go to Enuma Elish in A Dictionary of Creation Myths (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Literature Religion Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq A stone pestle and mortar is made at the neolithic site of Merthyr Mawr, in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales Go to Mortar and Pestle in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America (1 ed.) Harappa becomes one of the main cities of the Indus civilization Go to Harappā in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Pakistan Trade links, probably by sea in Phoenician ships from Byblos, are established between Egypt and Phoenicia Go to Byblos in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Commerce and industry The Phoenicians Egypt Lebanon and Syria Society The largest sculpture of the ancient world, a sphinx with the face of the pharaoh Khufu, is carved in situ at Giza Go to Sphinx (West Asia) in A Dictionary of World Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Sculpture Africa North Africa Egypt The ruling family of Ur plays a board game which appears to be the same as modern backgammon Go to Ur, Iraq in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Sports and games Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Society At Stonehenge, constructed and altered over many centuries, the largest stones are put in place Go to Stonehenge in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion British Isles Europe Britain To preserve bodies in perpetuity, the Egyptian ruling class develops the elaborate and lengthy process of mummifying an eviscerated corpse Go to mummification in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Africa North Africa Egypt It is not known when cats are first domesticated, but from the start of Egyptian civilization they are sacred animals in temples Go to Bastet (West Asia) in A Dictionary of World Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Africa North Africa Egypt To ensure continued comfort in the afterlife, rich Egyptians have models placed in their tombs of the necessary servants and utensils Go to shabti in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 2400 BCE	Clay tablets discovered at Ebla reveal a busy trading economy reinforced by aggressive military policies Go to Ebla in The Oxford Classical Dictionary (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Commerce and industry Asia West Asia Lebanon and Syria Society The rich trading city of Mari, on the Euphrates, is an important centre in northern Mesopotamia Go to Mari, Iran in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Lebanon and Syria
c. 2350 BCE	Sargon conquers the other Mesopotamian states and establishes a dynasty with a new capital at Akkad, close to modern Baghdad Go to Sargon in The Oxford Companion to World Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq
c. 2200 BCE	A ring of large standing stones is raised in England at Avebury, now a village in Wiltshire Go to Avebury in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Religion British Isles Europe Britain
c. 2000 BCE	Mentuhotep II wins control of all Egypt, establishing the period known as the Middle Kingdom Go to Middle Kingdom in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt Bantu-speaking tribes begin to spread through Africa, from their original homelands south of the Sahara Go to Bantu in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Africa Central Africa East Africa Society Knossos, and other such palaces, are built for dynasties in Minoan Crete Go to Knossos in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Architecture Science Europe Greece The water buffalo, domesticated somewhere in southeast Asia, features on the seals of the Indus civilization Go to Indus civilization in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Social and domestic Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Pakistan Society Trade is carried on from Crete round the Mediterranean as far west as Sicily and in the east down to Egypt Go to Minoan civilization in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Sicily Europe Greece The god Ashur is worshipped at a shrine on the Tigris known by his name (the origin of the word Assyria) Go to Ashur in The Oxford Companion to World Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Religion Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Lebanon and Syria Africa south of the equatorial forests is largely inhabited by the Khoisan, of whom the San and the Hottentots are the modern survivors Go to Khoisan in Encyclopedia of Africa (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Africa Central Africa East Africa South Africa West Africa Society Medicine men in Peru practise trephination, cutting holes in the skulls of brave or foolhardy patients Go to Disease in The Oxford Companion to Archaeology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Andean Civilizations Science Medicine Latin America Peru South America The cemetery at Los Millares in Spain contains more than 100 beehive tombs Go to Los Millares Culture in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Architecture Religion Europe Spain Rice is by now grown in the Indus Valley civilization, in the region of Lothal in modern Pakistan, and in parts of China and Korea Go to Indus Valley civilization in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) The elephant is tamed in the Indus civilization Go to Indus Valley civilization in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Social and domestic Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Pakistan Society The centre of power in Egypt moves to the interior, with the capital at Thebes rather than Memphis Go to Thebes, Egypt in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt The red jungle fowl is domesticated as poultry in southeast Asia Go to junglefowl noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Social and domestic Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Society Administrative records and accounts at Knossos are kept in a script, as yet undeciphered, known as Linear A Go to Knossos in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Europe Greece The Beaker people arrive in Britain, bringing several desirable commodities - including horses, alcohol and bronze Go to Beaker culture in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic Migration British Isles Europe Society Britain
c. from 2000 BCE	The Neolithic era ends at different times in different places, applying even today to any remote tribe still using stone tools Go to Neolithic in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Neolithic
1850 BCE	Wrestlers are painted on the walls of an Egyptian tomb, performing most of the holds and falls still in use today See this event in other timelines: Arts Painting Sports and games Africa North Africa Egypt Society
c. 1830 BCE	Babylonia or Babylon is a tiny region, about 50 miles across, when Amorites establish there the first Babylonian dynasty Go to Babylon in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq
c. 1800 BCE	Abraham leaves Ur and moves with his tribe and flocks towards Canaan Go to Abraham in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Judaism Migration Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Society In Mesopotamia the new weapon is a light chariot, drawn by two horses Go to chariot in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Weapons Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq
c. 1750 BCE	Shamshi-Adad I conquers Ashur and the surrounding areas, beginning Assyria's first brief period as a regional power Go to Assyria in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Lebanon and Syria A mathematical papyrus, copied out by Ahmes, an Egyptian scribe, offers some of the world's first exam questions Go to Scribes in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Science Africa North Africa Egypt Babylonian astronomers name many of the constellations and identify the planets Go to Babylonia in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Science Astronomy and space Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Zimri-Lim builds himself a spectacular palace with some 300 rooms in his capital city of Mari to the north of Babylon Go to Mari, Iran in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Lebanon and Syria Priests in Babylon make loans from the temple treasure, introducing the concept of banking Go to banks in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Commerce and industry Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Society The Babylonians introduce an important step in the story of arithmetic - the concept of place value in numbers Go to place value notation in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Science Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq
c. from 1750 BCE	Over many centuries Indo-European tribes (Greeks, Germans, Balts, Italics, Celts) move into new territories throughout western Europe Go to Indo‐European and Indo‐Europeans in Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Celts Migration Europe Society
c. 1740 BCE	Shamshi-Adad I conquers the rich and ancient kingdom of Mari, and puts on the throne his son Yasmah-Adad Go to Mari, Iran in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Lebanon and Syria
c. 1728 BCE	Hammurabi inherits the relatively minor kingdom of Babylon Go to Hammurabi in A Dictionary of the Bible (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Hammurabi begins a programme of conquest and coalition which will vastly extend the Babylonian empire Go to HAMMURABI in The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq
c. 1720 BCE	The Code of Hammurabi gives a detailed picture of Babylonian law and society Go to HAMMURABI in The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq The Code of Hammurabi is the first surviving document to record the law relating to slaves Go to HAMMURABI in The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Slavery Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Society
c. 1700 BCE	The biblical account suggests that around this period the Hebrews are a captive tribe in Egypt Go to Israelites in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Slavery Africa North Africa Egypt Society Hammurabi, in the process of winning control over the whole of Mesopotamia, conquers the northern territories of Mari and Ashur Go to HAMMURABI in The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Lebanon and Syria The Hittites build an empire based on their stronghold at Hattusa (now Bogazkale) in Anatolia Go to Hittites in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Asia West Asia Turkey Hammurabi destroys Mari (concealing for posterity an extraordinary cuneiform archive not discovered until 1933) Go to Mari Tablets in The Oxford Companion to the Bible (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Mesopotamia Lebanon and Syria More than 25,000 cuneiform tablets (unearthed since 1933 at Mari) provide a detailed account of Assyria in the late 18th century BC Go to Mari Tablets in The Oxford Companion to the Bible (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Lebanon and Syria Ashur, or Assyria, sinks into almost a millennium of fluctuating but largely diminished fortunes Go to Assyria in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Lebanon and Syria
c. 1630 BCE	The Hyksos, arriving from the middle east, win control of Egypt and rule for a century Go to Hyksos in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt Asia West Asia
c. 1600 BCE	A bull-fighting fresco in the palace of Knossos is linked with the island's cult of the bull Go to Knossos culture in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Painting Religion Europe Greece The characters written in Chinese documents of the Shang dynasty are directly related to those still in use today Go to Shang in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Asia East Asia China
c. 1550 BCE	Egyptian tombs include paintings of a kind to help the occupants in the next world, whether in the Book of the Dead or on the walls Go to Egyptian Book of the Dead in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Painting Religion Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1540 BCE	The New Kingdom begins in Egypt, bringing the most spectacular of all the dynasties Go to New Kingdom in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt The god Osiris, in his tall white headdress, represents in Egyptian tombs the idea of resurrection in the next world Go to Osiris in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1531 BCE	Babylon is destroyed by the Hittites, invaders from Anatolia, but re-establishes itself in subsequent centuries Go to Babylon in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Assyria and Babylon Politics Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq
c. 1525 BCE	The eruption of a volcano, on the island of Thera, entombs and preserves houses with frescoes in the Minoan city of Akrotiri Go to Thera in The Grove Encyclopedia of Classical Art and Architecture (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Painting Europe Greece
c. 1520 BCE	Thutmose I extends Egyptian control as far up the Nile as Abu Hamad Go to Thutmose I in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Conquest and colonization Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1500 BCE	The Maya are believed to have lived in the same region from about 1500 BC to the present day - America's longest example of continuity Go to Maya in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Mesoamerican civilization Migration Society Latin America Central America Mexico A copper trumpet is in use in Egypt, forerunner of the brass instruments of the orchestra Go to copper in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Performing arts Music Africa North Africa Egypt The Jews adopt a long-established Egyptian ritual - the circumcision of boys Go to Circumcision in Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Judaism Social and domestic Africa North Africa Egypt Society The Slavs settle in the regions of eastern Europe and western Russia Go to Slavs in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Bohemia Europe Czech Republic Poland Russia Society The temples of Karnak and Luxor, in ancient Thebes, introduce the massive stone architecture of column and lintel Go to Thebes, Egypt in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Architecture Africa North Africa Egypt Indo-European tribes, known collectively as Aryans, enter India from the northwest Go to Aryans in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Pakistan Society Indo-European tribes, speaking Baltic languages, settle in the regions of modern Lithuania and Latvia Go to Indo‐European and Indo‐Europeans in Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Europe Society The gods Amen and Re are merged at Thebes as Amen-Re, the most important deity in the Egyptian pantheon Go to Amen in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Africa North Africa Egypt Texts written at Mycenae, in the script known as Linear B, are the earliest surviving version of Greek Go to Linear B in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Europe Greece The camel, in both its single-humped and double-humped varieties, is domesticated in north Africa and Asia Go to Camels in The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Social and domestic Society The Chinese develop a form of scroll, made of strips of bamboo threaded together and rolled up like a wooden blind Go to scroll binding, East Asia in The Oxford Companion to the Book (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Communication Asia East Asia China The composite bow, accurate to 200 yards, is used by warriors in Asia fighting from chariots and on horseback Go to bow in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Weapons Asia Central Asia West Asia The first steps towards a phonetic alphabet are taken in Phoenicia Go to Phoenicia in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: The Phoenicians Asia West Asia Lebanon and Syria The Hittites, in Anatolia, are the first people to work iron - introducing what is later called the Iron Age Go to Iron Age in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Technology Inventions and discoveries Asia West Asia Turkey The Aryans bring into India the roots of Hinduism, with the Brahmans as a priestly caste Go to Brahmans in A Dictionary of Asian Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Sacrificial hymns of the Aryans, gathered in the Rigveda, become the earliest Sanskrit literature Go to Veda in The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Literature Poetry Religion Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic)
1500 BCE to 1500 CE	On the grass plains of north America humans gradually hunt to extinction several American species, including the camel, mammoth and horse Go to mammoth in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: North America Canada
c. 1490 BCE	Hatshepsut takes power in Egypt, and is unusual in being a female pharaoh Go to Hatshepsut (c. 1540–c. 1481 bc) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt
1469 BCE	The Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose III defeats his enemies at Megiddo, in history's first fully described battle and siege Go to Thutmose III in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: War Battles Asia West Asia Palestine and Israel
c. 1450 BCE	Rich Egyptian households have the latest luxury items, small bottles of coloured glass to hold cosmetics Go to glass in Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Decorative arts Social and domestic Africa North Africa Egypt Society
c. 1425 BCE	All the towns and palaces of Crete, except Knossos itself, are destroyed by fire - probably by invaders from Mycenae Go to Knossos culture in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Europe Greece
c. 1400 BCE	The massive architecture of Mycenaean cities such as Tiryns is said in Greek legend to have been built by one-eyed giants, the Cyclopes Go to Tiryns in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Architecture Europe Greece The so-called Treasury of Atreus, at Mycenae, is the most spectacular of the beehive tombs of this period Go to tholos in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Architecture Europe Greece Wine features prominently in the Mycenaean society of this time, as remembered and depicted in Homer Go to Mycenae in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) The clepsydra, or water clock, is developed in Egypt Go to cle'psydra in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Technology Inventions and discoveries Africa North Africa Egypt The Great City Shang, on a site later known as An-yang, develops as the capital of China's first dynasty Go to Shang in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Asia East Asia China Chopsticks are in use in China, with bronze versions featuring in Shang tombs Go to Shang in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Social and domestic Asia East Asia China Society Ancestor worship, a central theme of Chinese history, is practised by the royal family and high nobility in Shang times Go to ancestor worship in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Asia East Asia China China produces superb bronzes, in the ritual vessels for sacrifices to the ancestors Go to Chinese art in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Decorative arts Religion Asia East Asia China All the separate regions of Mesopotamia are by now ruled by aristocracies of warriors fighting from light chariots Go to chariot in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: War Iraq
c. 1380 BCE	The pharaoh Amenhotep III commissions the great temple to Amen-Re at Luxor Go to Amun (West Asia) in A Dictionary of World Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Architecture Religion Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1353 BCE	The Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep IV adopts a new deity, Aten, and changes his name to Akhenaten Go to Akhenaten in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1350 BCE	The pharaoh Akhenaten creates a new capital city on the Nile at Tell el Amarna Go to Akhenaten in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1345 BCE	The Amarna letters, an invaluable collection of cuneiform tablets, are written at the court of the pharaoh Akhenaten Go to Tell el-Amarna Tablets in The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Africa North Africa Egypt The Amarna tablets contain extensive correspondence between the Akhenaten government in Egypt and subject princes in Phoenicia Go to Tell el-Amarna Tablets in The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: The Phoenicians Egypt Lebanon and Syria
c. 1340 BCE	One of the regular sitters to the court sculptor Thutmose is the pharaoh's wife, Nefertiti Go to Nefertiti (active 14th century bc) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Arts Sculpture Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1333 BCE	With the return to favour of the god Amen, the young Tutankhaten's name is changed to Tutankhamun Go to Tutankhamun (died c.1352 bc) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1324 BCE	The young Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamun, dies and is buried in a suitable tomb Go to Tutankhamun (died c.1352 bc) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1300 BCE	Chinese priests record on oracle bones the result of their divination, thus providing the earliest examples of Chinese characters Go to Chinese writing system in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Asia East Asia China Mycenae prevails as the dominant power throughout the Peloponnese and the entire Aegean Go to Mycenaean civilization in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Conquest and colonization Europe Greece The earliest known suit of armour, made of bronze, survives from a tomb in Mycenaean Greece Go to Mycenaean civilization in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Science War Europe Greece Seafarers reach and colonize Fiji, lying between Melanesia and Polynesia Go to Polynesians in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Society Mycenaean merchants trade as far west as Spain and have links with neolithic societies far away in the interior of Europe Go to Mycenaean civilization in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Europe Greece
c. 1200 BCE	Palaces in Mycenae are destroyed, probably by the so-called Sea Peoples from the west and south coasts of Turkey Go to Mycenaean civilization in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: War Europe Greece Mysterious raiders from the sea cause chaos throughout the eastern Mediterranean, from Greece to Palestine and Egypt Go to Sea Peoples in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Africa North Africa Asia West Asia Europe Society San Lorenzo develops as the first centre of America's earliest civilization, that of the Olmecs Go to San Lorenzo, Mexico in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Mesoamerican civilization Latin America Central America Mexico The Philistines settle in the region which, as Palestine, will become known by their name Go to Philistines in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Migration Asia West Asia Palestine and Israel Society Stone tablets, engraved by Moses to signify God's covenant with his people, are placed in a sacred chest - the ark of the covenant Go to Ark of the Covenant in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Judaism Asia West Asia
1279 BCE	Ramses II, perhaps the greatest of Egypt's pharaohs, begins a reign of sixty-six years Go to Ramses II in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1275 BCE	An indecisive battle between the Hittites and the Egyptians, at Kadesh, stabilizes the frontier between the two empires Go to Kadesh, battle of (1300 bc) in The Oxford Companion to Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: War Battles Africa North Africa Egypt Asia West Asia Lebanon and Syria
c. 1250 BCE	Moses is with the Hebrew tribes in Sinai, after the exodus from Egypt Go to Moses in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Judaism Migration Asia West Asia Society Not for the first time, the city of Troy is destroyed - on this occasion probably by Mycenaean Greeks Go to Troy in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: War Asia West Asia Turkey The god of the Hebrews, announcing to Moses 'I Am Who I Am', acquires his name - YHWH, meaning 'He Who Is' Go to Yahweh in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Religion Judaism Asia West Asia Ramses II creates a spectacular temple in his own honour at Abu Simbel Go to Ramses II in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Architecture Africa North Africa Egypt
c. 1150 BCE	Mycenae and other states of the Peloponnese are overwhelmed by invading Dorian Greeks Go to Dorians in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: War Europe Greece
c. 1100 BCE	The Phoenicians develop the war galley, with a sharp battering ram in the bow Go to galley in The Oxford Dictionary of the Renaissance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Weapons The Phoenicians Asia West Asia Lebanon and Syria Phoenician sailors use the pole star for navigational purposes Go to Pole Star in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Science Astronomy and space The Phoenicians Asia West Asia Lebanon and Syria Athens, not reached by the invading Dorians, becomes a surviving outpost of Mycenaean civilization Go to Mycenaean civilization in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Ancient Athens Europe Greece
c. 1050 BCE	Samson is one of many Hebrew chieftains fighting the Philistines for possession of Canaan Go to Samson in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: War Asia West Asia Palestine and Israel The Zhou defeat the Shang, and establish a new dynasty with a capital at Ch'ang-an (now Xi'an) Go to Zhou in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Asia East Asia China
c. 1020 BCE	Saul, anointed king of Israel by Samuel, establishes himself at Gibeah, just north of Jerusalem Go to Saul in A Dictionary of the Bible (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Politics Dynasties and royalty Judaism Jerusalem Asia West Asia Palestine and Israel
c. 1000 BCE	The Jews write down the Torah, the earliest part of the text subsequently known to Christians as the Old Testament Go to Torah in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Religion Judaism Asia West Asia Palestine and Israel Petra acquires importance and wealth from its position on caravan routes from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Go to Petra in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Commerce and industry Asia West Asia Society The Israelites, settled in Canaan, become the first people in history to decide that their god is the only god Go to Israelites in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Religion Judaism Asia West Asia Palestine and Israel The abacus is used as an everyday method of calculation by Phoenicians and Babylonians Go to abacus in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Assyria and Babylon Commerce and industry The Phoenicians Mesopotamia Asia West Asia Iraq Lebanon and Syria Society By now the mammoth, the giant bison and the horse are all extinct in America, partly because of the warming climate and partly because of the success of humans with spears Go to Clovis culture in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE American Indians North America The Israelites are defeated by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, with Saul and three of his sons dying during or after the battle Go to Saul in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE War Battles Asia West Asia Palestine and Israel Massive stone heads carved by the Olmecs provide a dramatic beginning to the story of American sculpture Go to Olmec in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Mesoamerican civilization Arts Sculpture Latin America Central America Mexico The nomadic fighters of the steppes, nimble on horseback and shooting arrows as they go, pioneer the techniques of cavalry warfare Go to horses in The Oxford Classical Dictionary (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE War Asia Central Asia Tyre and Sidon have by now replaced Byblos as the dominant cities within Phoenicia Go to Tyre in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Commerce and industry The Phoenicians Lebanon and Syria Society The Olmecs raise large clay platforms, probably with temples at the top, beginning the long American tradition of sacred pyramids Go to Olmec in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Mesoamerican civilization Architecture American architecture Religion Latin America Central America Mexico Iron reheated with carbon is found to be much harder, being transformed into steel Go to steel in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Technology Inventions and discoveries Asia West Asia Burial mounds feature in the Ohio valley, built first in the Adena culture and then by Hopewell tribes Go to Adena Complex in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Architecture American architecture Religion American Indians North America United States

Jump to a year:

BCE CE

Oxford University Press

PRINTED FROM OXFORD REFERENCE (www.oxfordreference.com). (c) Copyright Oxford University Press, 2023. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single entry from a reference work in OR for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 24 May 2025

Browse All

Browse All

Share Link

Timeline: 3100-1000 BCE

Browse All

Browse All

Recently viewed (0)

Recently viewed (0)

Share Link

Timeline: 3100-1000 BCE