Up to 600 BCE
More content on The First Civilizations
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Classical period
100

Modern humans first appeared in this region. 

What is East Africa? 

100

Early civilizations evolved as food surpluses allowed for other occupations such as artisans, merchants and priests. These different occupations and skills resulted in competition for resources and the accumulation of wealth for some. The placement of different people as a result of those characteristics is called this. 

What is hierarchy? 

100

Founded in Northern India circa the 6th century CE, it rejected the caste system and it's leader was called "the enlightened one". It rejected caste, and stated that all people could achieve nirvana by following the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. It spread over the Silk Trade networks north to Afghanistan and east to East Asia. 

What is Buddhism? 

100

Rome, Constantinople, Damascus, Pataliputra, and Chang 'an. 

What are great cities of the classical era that were connected by the Silk Trade Networks? 

100

The classical period is circa this time period. 

What is 600 BCE to 600 CE? 

200

Early people who were hunter-gatherers developed these types of religions, focused on deities with features in nature such as animals, mountains and rivers. 

What is animism?

200

Early civilizations creation of governments, laws, tax collection and employment of people within the government are called this. 

What is bureaucracy? 

200

Ancient Persian monotheistic religion that focused on human free will and the eternal battle between the forces of good and evil. 

What is Zoroastrianism? 

200

Aegean sea, 1,000 city-states, polytheistic mythology, birthplace of democracy. 

What is ancient Greece? 

200
Philosophy founded during the Warring States period in East Asia circa the 6th century BCE (500s) that focused on the Analects - which described how people should behave in everyday life. Respect for authority and elders is central to this, as well as obedience. It is very patriarchal. It's influence spread throughout neighboring cultures in Asia. 

What is Confucianism? 

300

By this date, humans could be found on all of the continents, except Antarctica. 

What is 10,000 BCE? 

300

An independent state made up of a city and its surrounding territory. 

What is a city-state? 

300

The second Abrahamic faith, founded in the Levant by a Jew who lived in the Roman Empire and claimed to be the Messiah and offered salvation to all people. At first outlawed by the Roman government, eventually under Constantine it was legalized and later made the official religion of the Roman Empire. 

What is Christianity? 

300

At its height, the Roman Empire expanded as far north as this location in Europe. 

What is Scotland? 

300
A "Golden Age" of Chinese history circa the 200s BCE was marked by the invention of the magnetic compass, paper, the sternpost rudder and expanded as far as the Mediterranean Sea under this dynasty. 

What is the Han Dynasty? 

400

The time period approximately 10,000 years ago (8,000 BCE) this change occurred, people planted crops and domesticated animals for food. 

What is the Agricultural Revolution? 

400

Two rights that Egyptian women had that created greater equality than many patriarchal societies at the time (and thereafter). 

What are the rights of women to own property and to be legally recognized and equal to men in court? 

400

Belief system founded in Northern India (South Asia) that was founded circa 900 BCE that rejected caste. 

What is Jainism? 

400

The Roman Empire became so large it was divided into east and west. This was the name of the eastern half that had its capital in Constantinople. 

What is the Byzantine Empire? 

400

The way men could elevate their status and become part of the Han bureaucracy by studying and analyzing Confucian teachings to pass this test and work in the government. 

What is the civil service exam? 

500

Early civilizations were located in this region located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. 

What is Mesopotamia? 

500

Ancient cities along the Indus River Valley in this region included Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. They engaged in long distance trade, had planned cities and indoor plumbing. 

What is South Asia? 

500
Empire of the "Golden Age of Indi" due to ins centralized government in Pataliputra, advancements in medicine, mathematicians development of the numbering system using 0-9, and was patriarchal and strongly supported Hinduism to unify their empire. 

What is the Gupta Empire? 

500

1000 city-states, not unified, located on this sea. 

What is the Aegean Sea? 

500

Rebellions, foreign invasions, plagues, natural disasters, and corrupt leaders were indications that the ruling dynasty in China had lost this, which traditionally gave them the right to rule. 

What is the Mandate of Heaven? 

600

First known written language of the Sumerians. 

What is Cuneiform? 

600

Belief system that developed circa 2500 BCE or earlier in South Asia (northern India) whose scriptures are the Vedas and believe that the souls of people are reincarnated, and the social hierarchy is called the caste system. 

What is Hinduism? 

600
Indigenous belief system of Japan circa the 1st century ce. 

What is Shintoism? 

600

This body of water borders Anatolia to the north and was central to the wealth of the Byzantine Empire (and others throughout history). Ukraine and Russia are in conflict over who should control parts of it still today. 

What is the Black Sea? 

600

The Romans conquered much of the Greeks and borrowed and adapted their culture. This was different for women in Roman society than it was for women in Greek society. 

What is they had property rights and rights to pursue divorce? 

700

Writing system of the Egyptians. These scribes were higher up in the social hierarchy. 

What are hieroglyphics? 

700
This monotheistic belief system was founded in the Levant 4,000 years ago and codified their teachings in the Hebrew Scriptures. 

What is Judaism?

700

Belief system founded in Saudi Arabia (the middle east) by a Muslim merchant named Muhammed. It is an Abrahamic religion and spread rapidly throughout north Africa to Spain, the middle east, and central Asia. 

What is Islam?

700

Location of holy land for all three Abrahamic Religions. 

What are the Levant and the Middle East? 

700

Northern invaders such as the Goths, Vandals and Huns, failure to deal with devasting disease epidemics, debt and corruption brought about the decline of this portion of this empire. 

What is the western Roman Empire, which held its capital in Rome? 

800

Monuments found in the earliest city states that served as temples. 

What are ziggurats? 

800

Pharoah, Emperor, Shah, King, Queen, Empress, Sovereign, Chief, Sultan. 

What are all names for rulers of states? 

800

Belief system founded in the Punjab region of Northern India in the late 15th century. It is monotheistic. 

What is Sikhism? 

800

Region where Daoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism were founded, as well as where Buddhism spread and is still an extremely important belief system and has been syncretized and adapted along with local belief systems. 

What is East Asia? 

800

The first schism in Christianity was brought about by the split in this empire that led to two different leaders - the Pope in Western and Central Europe, and the Patriarch in Eastern Europe. 

What is the Roman Empire? 

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