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| 6106653230 | Paleolithic Era | Most of the 2 million-plus years during which our species has existed. Throughout this long time span, which runs to about 14,000 years ago, human beings learned only simple tool use, mainly through employing suitably shaped rocks and sticks for hunting and warfare. During this time, the human species developed into Homo erectus, and later Homo sapiens sapiens. The greatest achievement of the Paleolithic people was the spread of the human species over much of the Earth's surface. | 0 | |
| 6106654562 | Mesolithic Era | This term designates a span of several thousand years, from about 12,000 to 8000 B.C.E., during which human ability to fashion some tools and other implements improved greatly. The Mesolithic people's ability to domesticate more animals led to an increase in food supply and a subsequent increase in population growth. | 1 | |
| 6106656507 | Neolithic Revolution | The Neolithic revolution is the term for the invention of agriculture. This revolution in economic production began in the Middle East as early as 10,000 B.C.E. and gradually spread to other centers, including parts of India, north Africa, and Europe. With agriculture, human beings were able to settle more permanently in one spot and specialize in particular economic, political, and religious functions. Agriculture also created a great increase in the sheer number of people in the world. | 2 | |
| 6106660031 | Civilization | The word "civilization" comes from the Latin term for "city." Formal states, writing, cities, and monuments characterize civilizations. They also develop elaborate trading patterns and extensive political territories. While many of the ingredients of civilization had existed by 6000 or 5000 B.C.E., the origins of civilization, strictly speaking, date only to about 3500 B.C.E. The first civilization arose in the Middle East, along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Many of the accomplishments of the river -valley civilizations had lasting impact and are still fundamental to world history today. | 3 | |
| 6106668103 | Sumerians | The Sumerians were the most influential people of the Tigris-Euphrates region. By about 3500 B.C.E., the Sumerians had developed a cuneiform alphabet, the first known human writing. The Sumerians were also characterized by their development of astronomical sciences, intense religious beliefs, and tightly organized city-states. The Sumerians also improved the region's agricultural prosperity by learning about fertilizers and adopting silver to conduct an early form of commercial exchange. The Sumerians eventually fell to a people called the Akkadians, who continued much of the Sumerian culture in the Tigris-Euphrates region. | 4 | |
| 6106666456 | River Valley Civilizations | The first civilizations all sprang up alongside the banks of major rivers in order to irrigate their agricultural fields. The first river valley civilizations began in the Middle East and flourished for many centuries. They created a basic set of tools, intellectual concepts such as writing and mathematics, and political forms that would persist and spread to other parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Additionally, most of the river valley civilizations were in decline by 1000 B.C.E. | 5 | |
| 6106666457 | Tigris-Euphrates Civilization | This civilization was founded in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in a part of the Middle East long called Mesopotamia. It was one of the few cases of a civilization that started absolutely from scratch, with no examples to imitate. This civilization progressed mostly because of the accomplishments of the Sumerians. | 6 | |
| 6106671760 | Egyptian Society | Egyptian civilization emerged in northern Africa, along the Nile River, by about 3000 B.C.E. It benefited from trade and technological influence from Mesopotamia, but it produced different social structures and cultural expressions. Unlike Mesopotamian civilization, Egyptian civilization featured very durable and centralized state institutions. Mathematical achievements and impressive architectural forms, including the pyramids, also characterized Egyptian civilization. | 7 | |
| 6106671761 | Indian River Valley Civilization | A prosperous urban civilization emerged along the Indus River by 2500 B.C.E., supporting several large cities, including Harappa, whose houses had running water. Indus River peoples had trading contacts with Mesopotamia, but they developed a distinctive alphabet and artistic forms. Invasions by Indo-Europeans, however, resulted in such complete destruction of this culture that little is known about its subsequent influence on India. | 8 | |
| 6106673200 | Chinese River Valley Civilization | Civilization along the Huanghe River in China developed in considerable isolation, though some overland trading contact developed with India and the Middle East. In addition to the existence of an organized state that carefully regulated irrigation in the flood-prone river valley, the Chinese had produced advanced technology and elaborate intellectual life by about 2000 B.C.E. There was also less of a break between Chinese river valley society and the later emergence of civilization in China than in any other case. | 9 | |
| 6106674786 | The Shang Dynasty | The Shang ruled over the Huanghe River valley by about 1500 B.C.E. These rulers are noted for constructing substantial tombs and palaces. The Zhou took over the river valley from the Shang around 1000 B.C.E., ruling a loose coalition of regional lords. | 10 | |
| 6106678498 | Neolithic Age | (8000 - 5000 B.C.E) Time period when people used polished stone artifacts and were farmers. | 11 | |
| 6106681861 | Bronze Age | (4000 - 1500 B.C.E.) Subdivision of prehistory based on technological advancement in which bronze metalwork was developed in the Middle East. | 12 | |
| 6106705504 | Zhou dynasty | (1122 - 256 B.C.E.) First of Chinese classical civilizations. Ruled through alliances with regional princes. Extended territory to Yangzi River and promoted standard Mandarin Chinese language. | 13 | |
| 6106705506 | Era of Warring States | (402 - 201 B.C.E.) Time period between the Zhou and Qin dynasties in which regional rulers formed independent armies and reduced emperors to little more than figureheads. | 14 | |
| 6106709903 | Confucius, a.k.a. Kung Fuzi | (c. 551-478 B.C.E.) Chinese philosopher who wrote an elaborate political philosophy that became the core of China's cultural and political thinking for centuries. Those who adopted his teachings saw him not as a deity but as a master of ethics. | 15 | |
| 6106759197 | Han dynasty | (202 B.C.E.-220 C.E.) Followed the Qin dynasty. Expanded China's possessions to include Korea, Indochina, and central Asia. Era generally characterized by stability, prosperity, and peace. Contemporary of and often compared to the Roman Empire. | 16 | |
| 6106761302 | Legalism | Philosophy that gained ground during the Zhou and was dominant during the Qin dynasty which was rooted in the belief that laws should replace morality and a ruler must provide discipline to maintain order. | 17 | |
| 6106762782 | Caste system | Social relationship developed on a large scale uniquely in India. Five major castes regulated social status and work roles. Grew more complex over time into a multitude of subcastes. Governed society more than any political body. | 18 | |
| 6106765258 | Buddhism | The Indian prince Gautama became the Buddha, or "enlightened one," when he questioned the poverty and misery he saw. Generally seen as a reform movement out of Hinduism. Buddhism had its greatest effect outside of India, especially in southeast Asia. | 19 | |
| 6106766928 | Vedas | Meaning hymns to the gods; four ancient books of Aryan religious traditions in which can be found the origins of Hinduism. | 20 | |
| 6106769694 | Hellenistic period | After Alexander's death, Greek art, education, and culture merged with those in the Middle East. Trade and important scientific centers were established, such as Alexandria, Egypt. | 21 | |
| 6106772492 | Zoroastrianism | Persian religion developed by the prophet Zoroaster around 600 B.C.E. in which is taught that life is a battle between the opposing forces of good and evil, with humans having to choose between the two. | 22 | |
| 6106776006 | Herodotus | Greek historian called the "Father of History" who wrote an account of the Persian Wars in the Histories. | 23 | |
| 6106778312 | Byzantine Empire: | Successor to the Roman Empire in the eastern Mediterranean. It was artistically creative and active in trade. Its emperors, especially Justinian, tried to revive the heritage of Rome throughout its previous territory but failed. Many centuries of fighting Muslims led to its demise in 1453. | 24 |
