Chronology of Humanity
Timothy Comeau • 2026
The story so far ...
By the end of the last Ice Age anatomically modern humans—who first emerged in Africa around 300,000 years ago—had already spread across nearly every habitable continent, adapting with remarkable flexibility to deserts, forests, coasts, and frozen tundra.
Over tens of millennia, small bands of hunter-gatherers developed language (at least 100,000–50,000 years ago), symbolic thought (by ~100,000 years ago), art (~45,000–35,000 years ago), and complex social structures (increasingly evident by ~50,000 years ago), leaving behind cave paintings (~45,000 years ago), tools (stone tools from ~300,000 years ago, becoming highly specialized by ~50,000 years ago), and burial rituals (~100,000 years ago) that suggest an increasingly rich inner and cultural life.
They survived climatic extremes, including the great glacial cycles, by innovating—mastering fire, crafting specialized tools, and forming cooperative networks. As the ice sheets began to retreat and global climates stabilized, these widely dispersed human populations stood at a threshold: poised, in a few regions, to transition from nomadic lifeways into settled agriculture, setting in motion the profound transformations that would eventually give rise to civilization.
After a long stretch of prehistory, writing and recorded history began around 5,000 years ago, in the 32nd century BCE.
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c.12350 At Shubayqa 1 in northeastern Jordan, Natufian hunter-gatherers prepared flatbread-like foods from ground wild cereals. The earliest direct evidence yet identified for bread-making, roughly 4,000 years before the widespread adoption of agriculture in Southwest Asia.
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c.12000 Incipient Jōmon communities in Japan continue one of the world's earliest pottery traditions.
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12000-10800 Early Natufian communities in the Levant build semi-sedentary villages, storage facilities, and intensive wild-cereal economies before farming proper.
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c.11300-9400 Tell Abu Hureyra in Syria preserves a rare sequence from sedentary hunter-gatherers to some of the world's earliest farmers.
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c.11100-10800 The Clovis culture becomes the earliest widely recognised archaeological tradition in North America.
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c.10800-10200 The Folsom tradition spreads across the Great Plains after Clovis, marking an early Paleo-Indian adaptation focused on bison hunting.
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10610 Guitarrero Cave in Peru preserves some of the earliest secure highland Andean human remains, fiberwork, and plant use.
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10000-8800 Pre-Pottery Neolithic A communities in the Near East build granaries and increasingly permanent settlements.
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10000-8000 At Ain Mallaha in the Levant, Natufian households and a human-dog burial mark an early sedentary community and one of the oldest archaeological signs of dog domestication.
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9704 The Ice Age officially ends as determined by ice cores. Beginning of the Holocene Age. Golden Spike Ice Core
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c.9600 Jericho develops year-round settlement after the end of the Younger Dryas, becoming one of the world's earliest towns.
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c.9500 Göbekli Tepe's earliest monumental enclosures are constructed in Upper Mesopotamia.
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8800-6500 Pre-Pottery Neolithic B communities in the Fertile Crescent consolidate cereal farming and the herding of domesticated sheep and goats.
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c.8630 Çayönü in southeastern Anatolia develops an early farming settlement with substantial stone architecture.
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8500 The Koster site in the Illinois River valley preserves early Archaic cemeteries and some of the earliest domestic dog burials in the Americas.
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8400-8100 Nevali Cori in southeastern Anatolia builds monumental ritual architecture and yields early domesticated einkorn wheat.
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8200-7600 Ganj Dareh in the Zagros preserves the earliest widely cited archaeological evidence for goat domestication.
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8000-2500 The Lauricocha culture represents a long Andean preceramic sequence in highland Peru.
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c.7500 Çatalhöyük grows into one of the largest Neolithic proto-urban settlements in Anatolia.
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7000-5500 Mehrgarh in Baluchistan shows early farming villages with wheat, barley, sheep, goats, and cattle.
7000-5000 The Peiligang culture in north China cultivates millet, raises pigs, and builds some of the earliest Neolithic villages in the Yellow River basin.
c.7000 Ayn Ghazal in Jordan grows into one of the largest Neolithic farming settlements in the Levant.
7000-5700 Jiahu in early Neolithic China combines rice cultivation, pigs, pottery, flutes, and proto-writing symbols.
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6100-5100 The Halaf culture spreads painted pottery villages across northern Mesopotamia and adjacent Syria.
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5500-3700 The Ubaid period expands irrigation villages, temples, and painted pottery traditions across southern Mesopotamia.
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c.5300 The Windover mortuary pond in Florida preserves an early Archaic burial ground of exceptional organic survival.
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5000-3000 The Yangshao culture spreads painted pottery villages and millet farming through the middle Yellow River region.
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c.4800 The Banpo phase in north China shows a moated village, millet farming, and some of the earliest pottery kilns known in China.
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c.4700 Small irrigation canals are built in Peru's Zaña Valley, among the earliest known canals in South America.
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c.3600 Large preceramic mound centers rise in Peru's Casma and Sechin valleys, including Sechin Alto.
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c.3500 Watson Brake in Louisiana becomes the oldest known earthwork mound complex in North America.
c.3500 Huaricanga, an early Norte Chico center in Peru, is established as one of the oldest cities in the Americas.
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3300-1300 The Indus Valley or Harappan civilization begins in South Asia; its mature urban phase follows in the third millennium BCE.
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c. 3230 Death of Ötzi the Iceman around age 45 (born ~ 3275 BC)
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c.3200 Late Uruk Mesopotamia develops proto-cuneiform writing and large urban institutions.
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c.3100 Narmer unifies Upper and Lower Egypt; the Early Dynastic Period of Egypt begins.
c.3100 Minoan civilization develops on Crete from local Neolithic roots.
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c.3000 Camels are domesticated in Egypt.
c.3000-2900 The Jemdet Nasr phase in Mesopotamia bridges the Uruk world and the Early Dynastic city-state period.
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c.2900 The Early Dynastic Period begins in Mesopotamia as Sumerian city-states such as Uruk, Ur, Kish, and Lagash dominate the south.
c.2900 Mari is founded on the Euphrates as a major trade center between Sumer, Syria, and the Levant.
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2890 Egyptian First Dynasty ends; the Second Dynasty begins under Hotepsekhemwy.
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2775-2650 Second Dynasty wars shape early pharaonic Egypt.
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c.2700 One of the earliest recorded wars is fought between Sumer and Elam during the Early Dynastic period.
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2686 Third Dynasty of Egypt begins; Djoser and Imhotep inaugurate the Step Pyramid age at Saqqara.
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2600-2000 Caral flourishes in the Supe Valley as one of the oldest urban centers in the Americas.
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2551-2526 Khufu reigns during the Fourth Dynasty; the Great Pyramid of Giza is built.
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2498 Fifth Dynasty of Egypt begins, strengthening the royal cult of Ra.
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c.2345 Sixth Dynasty of Egypt begins at the end of the Fifth Dynasty.
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2334-2279 Sargon of Akkad conquers Mesopotamia and builds the Akkadian Empire.
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2254-2218 Naram-Sin rules the Akkadian Empire at its greatest extent and takes the title "King of the Four Corners of the World".
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c.2200 The 4.2-kiloyear aridification event destabilizes several Old World civilizations, including Egypt and Mesopotamia.
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2112-2004 The Third Dynasty of Ur dominates southern Mesopotamia; the Ziggurat of Ur is built.
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c.2100 The Code of Ur-Nammu, the oldest surviving law code, is written in Sumerian Mesopotamia.
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c.2070 The Xia dynasty is traditionally dated to this era in Chinese historiography, though its historicity remains debated.
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2055 Mentuhotep II reunifies Egypt, ending the First Intermediate Period and beginning the Middle Kingdom.
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2040 BCE
2030 BCE
2020 BCE
2010 BCE
20th Century BCE
2000 BCE
c.1991 Amenemhat I founds Egypt's Twelfth Dynasty, ushering in the Middle Kingdom's high phase.
2000 The Maya preclassic takes shape in Mesoamerica as settled villages, ceramics, and farming intensify.
1990 BCE
1980 BCE
1970 BCE
1960 BCE
1950 BCE
1940 BCE
1930 BCE
1920 BCE
1910 BCE
19th Century BCE
1900 BCE
c.1897 Senusret II begins to rule; Kahun is developed near his pyramid complex at el-Lahun.
c.1900 The Erlitou culture arises in the Yellow River valley and is widely seen as the earliest state-level society in China.
1890 BCE
1880 BCE
1870 BCE
1860 BCE
1850 BCE
1840 BCE
1839 Pharaoh Senusret III dies; succeeded by Amenemhat III; Amenemhat III may have been the Pharaoh of the Biblical Joseph (reigned to approx 1815 BCE)
1830 BCE
1820 BCE
1810 BCE
1806 Approx. death of Pharaoh Amenemhat IV who reigned nine years after Amenemhat III
18th Century BCE
1800 BCE
1792-1750 Hammurabi rules Babylonia and later conquers Mari.
1790 BCE
1780 BCE
circa 1780 Proposed era for the Biblical period of Hebrew slavery is during the 13th Egyptian Dynasty
1770 BCE
1760 BCE
c.1759 Mari rebels against Babylon and is razed by Hammurabi, ending its role as a major Amorite kingdom.
1750 BCE
c.1750 Mycenaean civilization emerges in mainland Greece during the Late Bronze Age.
1740 BCE
1730 BCE
1730-1350 The Poverty Point culture builds monumental earthworks and long-distance exchange networks in the lower Mississippi Valley.
1720 BCE
1710 BCE
17th Century BCE
1700 BCE
c.1700 The Hittite Empire emerges in Anatolia, with Hattusa becoming the royal capital in the early second millennium BCE.
1690 BCE
1680 BCE
1674 The Fifteenth Dynasty of the Hyksos begins in Egypt's Second Intermediate Period.
1670 BCE
1660 BCE
1650 BCE
1640 BCE
1630 BCE
1620 BCE
1610 BCE
16th Century BCE
1600 BCE
c.1600 The Shang dynasty begins in traditional Chinese chronology, marking the rise of Bronze Age royal rule in north China.
c.1600 The Minoan eruption of Thera devastates Akrotiri and affects Crete and the wider Aegean.
c.1600-1500 The earliest clearly documented Olmec horizon emerges in the Gulf lowlands of Mesoamerica.
1590 BCE
1580 BCE
1570 BCE
1560 BCE
1550 BCE
1549 The Eighteenth Dynasty begins and the New Kingdom of Egypt emerges.
1540 BCE
1530 BCE
1520 BCE
1510 BCE
15th Century BCE
1500 BCE
1490 BCE
1480 BCE
1470 BCE
1460 BCE
1457 • Apr 16 Battle of Megiddo: Thutmose III defeats a Canaanite coalition and expands Egyptian power in the Levant.
1450 BCE
1450 Circa 1450-1410 is a proposed date range for the Hebrew Exodus out of Egypt led by Moses
1440 BCE
1430 BCE
1420 BCE
1410 BCE
14th Century BCE
1400 BCE
1390 BCE
1380 BCE
1372-1350 Akhetaten (Amarna) is built as Akhenaten's capital dedicated to Aten.
1370 BCE
1360 BCE
1353 Akhenaten (1353-1356 BCE)
1350 BCE
1340 BCE
1330 BCE
1320 BCE
1310 BCE
13th Century BCE
1300 BCE
1290 BCE
1280 BCE
1274 • May Battle of Kadesh between Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire becomes one of the best-documented battles of the ancient world.
1270 BCE
1260 BCE
1250 BCE
c.1250 Oracle bone inscriptions provide the earliest attested written Chinese during the Late Shang period.
1240 BCE
1230 BCE
1220 BCE
1210 BCE
Iron Age And Axial Age
1200-501 BCE
12th Century BCE
1200 BCE
c.1200 The Late Bronze Age collapse disrupts palace societies across the eastern Mediterranean and Near East.
1190 BCE
1180 BCE
1170 BCE
1160 BCE
1150 BCE
1140 BCE
1130 BCE
1120 BCE
1110 BCE
11th Century BCE
1100 BCE
1090 BCE
1080 BCE
1070 BCE
1069 Ramesses XI dies; Egypt's Twentieth Dynasty ends and the Twenty-first Dynasty begins.
1060 BCE
1050 BCE
1046 The Battle of Muye ends the Shang dynasty and establishes the Zhou dynasty.
1040 BCE
1030 BCE
1020 BCE
1010 BCE
10th Century BCE
1000 BCE
990 BCE
980 BCE
970 BCE
970 Reign of King Solomon c. 970–931 BCE
960 BCE
950 BCE
940 BCE
930 BCE
920 BCE
911 Adad-nirari II takes the Assyrian throne, conventionally marking the start of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
910 BCE
9th Century BCE
900 BCE
900 The Chavín culture rises in the Andes and spreads a shared religious-artistic horizon across Peru.
890 BCE
880 BCE
870 BCE
860 BCE
c.853 Battle of Qarqar is recorded in Assyrian sources, mentioning Ahab of Israel
850 BCE
841 The Gonghe Regency begins in Zhou China; 841 BCE is the first year of traditional Chinese chronology commonly treated as secure; Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III shows Jehu (or his envoy) bowing to Assyria
840 BCE
840 The Tel Dan Stele records The House of David
830 BCE
820 BCE
814 Carthage is founded by Dido, according to the traditional date preserved in classical tradition.
810 BCE
8th Century BCE
800 BCE
790 BCE
780 BCE
776 The ancient Olympic Games are traditionally dated to their first celebration at Olympia.
770 BCE
770 The Eastern Zhou begins as the Zhou court moves east to Chengzhou/Luoyang.
760 BCE
753 Traditional date for the Foundation of Rome, basis for the AUC chronlogy
750 BCE
740 BCE
730 BCE
722 Fall of Israel (Samaria) confirmed by Assyrian records
720 BCE
710 BCE
701 Siege of Jerusalem: Sennacherib’s inscriptions confirm campaign against Hezekiah
7th Century BCE
700 BCE
690 BCE
680 BCE
670 BCE
660 BCE
650 BCE
640 BCE
630 BCE
620 BCE
612 • Jun-Aug The fall of Nineveh marks the collapse of Neo-Assyrian power.
610 BCE
6th Century BCE
600 BCE
6th century Axis Era: zenith of human wisdom & achievement, Babylonians developed 19-year cycle lunisolar calendar (c.2hr/19yr deviation from solar), Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Mayan civilization in Mexico, oldest extant Latin, Fables of Aesop, theatre arts begun in Delphi, Age of 7 Wise Men of Greece: Thales, Pittacus, Bias, Solon, Cleobulus, Periander, Chilo; height of oracle at Delphi & its priestess, Athens built public libraries, Hecatompedon, Temple of Olympian Zeus; Shwe Dagon Pagoda of Burma, Temple of Apollo at Corinth, Temple of Ceres at Paestum, Romans began building with semicircle arched ceilings adopted from Etruscans, T. Priscus built 1st Roman stone bridge, Cloaca Maxima built to drain Roman Forum ...
600-559 Cambyses: Persian King (eastern Iran), father of Cyrus 2nd
600 Marseilles, France: founded by Greek colonists (Lacydon, Marsilea)
590 BCE
c590 Sappho of Lesbos: Greek poetess, feminine love cult; (Loeb Classics)
587 Lachish Letters: ostraca, classical Hebrew on 21 potsherds (1935,38)
585-550 Astyages: last Median King (western Iran), overthrown by Cyrus 2nd
582-c390ce Isthmian Games: on Isthmus of Corinth, athletic & musical
586 Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar II
580 BCE
580 Heraion: Greek temple of Hera the Queen of Heaven on island of Samos
c575 Torah: Priestly (P) source of Genesis-Numbers written in Babylon
570 BCE
562-560-556 Amel-Marduk - Nergal-shar-Usur: Babylonian Kings, Chaldeans
561 Solon: b.640, Athenian statesman, "Laws of Solon", repealed Draconian Law except for homicide; Loeb: "Parallel Lives, v1, Solon" by Plutarch (120ce)
560 BCE
560-546 Croesus: King of Lydia, defeated by Cyrus the Great at Sardis
c560 Bible: Deuteronomist (D) source of Joshua to Kings written in Babylon
559-529 Cyrus 2nd the Great: founded Persian Achaemenid Empire, pony express, freedom of religion, conquered Armenia in 549, Lydia in 546, Babylon in 539; granted Jerusalem Temple rebuilding to Sheshbazzar & Zerubbabel in 538, Ez1:1f in Hebrew, Ez6:3f in Babylonian Aramaic, work halted by Cambyses 2nd
555-539 Nabonidus: Babylonian King, Chaldean, promoted moon-god Sin of Harran
c553 Zarathushtra: b.630?, Persian Dualism (Good/Evil ...), Zoroastrianism...
552-543 Bel-shar-usur (Belshazzar): acting regent of Babylonia while father Nabonidus in Tema, Arabia (in exile? worshipping Arabian moon-god? ...)
550 BCE
547 Anaximander of Miletus: b.611, Greek philosopher, 1st Greek sundial?
546 Thales of Miletus: b.636, Greek philosopher, water is primary substance, 1st known accurate prediction of solar eclipse in Europe: 28May585; (Loeb)
540 BCE
c540 Temple of Diana on Janiculan hill in Rome
538-167 2nd period of Hebrew literature: Aramaisms, square script adopted
535 Carthaginians & Etruscans defeated Greeks at sea off Corsica
c531 Lao-tzu:b.604?,571?,pseudonym?,Li Er?,Chinese philosopher,"Tao Te Ching"
539 Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
530 BCE
530 Bible: 2nd Isaiah (40-55) written in Babylon by Deutero-Isaiah, proclaimed Cyrus Jewish Messiah because of decree to rebuild Temple [Isa44:25-45:4]
529-522 Cambyses 2nd: Persian Emperor, son of Cyrus 2, conquered Egypt in 525
527 Mahavira Jina: Vardhamana, b.599?, Indian philosopher, founded Jainism
526 Anaximenes of Miletus: b.586, Greek philosopher, air is primary substance
522-486 Darius: Persian Emperor, founded Persepolis, extended empire to 20 satrapies (provinces), conquered India's Punjab in 517-509, Thrace in 512; 2nd Jerusalem Temple construction completed in 515 [Ez6]; Persepolis Tablets: Old Persian in 36-sign Cuneiform & Aramaic alphabets
520 BCE
514 Carthage defeated Spartan Dorieus' attempt to colonize Libyan coast
510 BCE
509-27 Roman Republic: founded when Tarquin Kings were expelled after "Rape of Lucretia", 2 consuls elected yearly, Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus
508 Cleisthenes: b.570?, introduced sweeping democratic reforms in Athens
507 unsuccessful Spartan attempt to oust Cleisthenes & restore aristocracy
507 Pythagoras: b.582, Greek mathematician, numbers are primary substance
c505 Rome sacked by Lars Porsenna of Clusium
Classical BCE
500-1 BCE
5th Century BCE
500 BCE
500-200 Dharmasastra (or smrti) period of Indian Sanskrit lit.: "Sutras"
500-300 Classical Greek: Attic Greek of Athens becomes standard Greek
c500 Susrata: Indian surgeon, performed cataract operations
c500 Parmenides: Greek philosopher, founded Eleaticism at Elea, Italy: "motion & change are illusions, only immovable & immutable Being is real"
499-479 Greece's "Persian Wars": Persia failed to conquer Greece
498 Temple of Saturn in Rome
495-452 Alexander: King of Macedon, succeeded by 5 sons
494 Plebeians (Plebs) revolt in Rome: tribunate formed with Concilium Plebis
490 BCE
490 • Aug 12 Battle of Marathon: c26 miles from Athens, Greeks defeated Persians
486-465 Xerses: Persian Emperor, halted Babylonian revolt & melted their golden Marduk god in 482, sacked Athens in 480, decline, assassinated
485-478 Gelon: Tyrant of Syracuse, defeated Carthaginians at Himera in 480
483 Heracleitus: b.544, Greek philosopher of Ephesus: "permanence is illusion & constant change is only reality"; coined "Logos" (Word) as 3-fold: order creator; order sustainer; rationality expressed as written language
c483 Buddha: Siddhartha Gautama, b.563?, Indian philosopher, founded Buddhism
480 BCE
480-380 height of Greek drama at Athens
479 K'ung Fu-tzu: Kung Ch'iu, Confucius, b.551, Chinese philosopher, founded Confucianism, sayings recorded in "Lun-yu" (Analects), coined "Tao" (Way), Golden Rule: "What you do not like done to yourself, do not do to others"
478-412 Delian League: formed by Athens against Persians, rebuilt city walls
474 Carthaginians defeated Etruscans at sea off Cumae
475-427 Archidamus 2nd: Spartan King, Helot Revolt: 465-461, earthquake: 464
470 BCE
c468 Aristides the Just: b.530?, Athenian statesman & general; (Loeb)
466 Benghazi, Libya: founded as capital of Cyrenaica
465-425-424-405 Artaxerxes - Xerxes 2nd - Darius 2nd: Persian Emperors
464 democracy in Syracuse
462-429 Pericles: b.500?, Athenian democratic leader, disciple of Anaxagoras, in 460 began Peloponnesian Wars with Sparta (till 404) which led to decline, captured Memphis, Egypt (460-454); in 457 built "Long Walls", beginning of 28-year golden age; in 451 "5-year truce" with Sparta; in 448 Treaty of Callias brought Persian support against Sparta; in 447 construction began of Classical Temples on Acropolis; in 446 "30-year truce" with Sparta; in 432 mathematician Meton adopted 19-year cycle lunisolar calendar; on 3Aug431 solar eclipse recorded [Thucydides 2.28.2]; in 430-427 plague killed c.1/3
460 BCE
458 Cincinnatus: named dictator of Rome by Senate to defend city v. Aequians, when done quit & returned to farming, model for U.S. Revolutionary troops
456 Aeschylus: b.525, Greek "Father of Tragedy", introduced second actor, scenery & costumes to Athenian theatre, wrote: Suppliant Maidens; Persians; Prometheus; 7 Against Thebes; Agamemnon; Libation Bearers; Eumenides; Loeb:2
453-221 "Warring States" period of China: Zhou/Jin/Wei/Han/Zhao/Chu/Yan/Qi, steel sword (Ch'ang-sha,1976), Yu Hoi discovers precession of the equinoxes
451 3 Roman Senators sent to Athens to study "Laws of Solon" (561), in 450 Decemvirs codified Roman Law as "XII Tables"; Loeb:Remains of Old Latin,v3
450 BCE
c450 Torah: compiled from E,J,P,D sources in Babylon
c450 Diagoras of Melos: 1st Greek Atheist?, "Ho Atheos" (The Atheist)
c450 Celts (La Tene culture, Druids) invaded British Isles
c450 Papyrus Elephantine: in Aramaic, Jewish military colony in Egypt on Nile island of Yeb, Yahu (YHW) god temple (destroyed in 410), also Eshem ('SM) god & Anath ('NT) goddess, also Bethel (BYT'L) & Herem gods, ... (1907,8)
440 BCE
438 Pindar: b.518, Greek lyric poet, victory odes ... (Loeb Classics)
438 Mo-tzu: Mo Ti, b.479?, Chinese philosopher, founded Moism: Universal Love
431 Temple of Apollo in Rome
430 BCE
430 Bible: Book of Ruth written
428 Samaritans built temple at Mount Gerizim in Samaria
425 Herodotus: b.485?, Greek "Father of History"; (Loeb Classics: 4 volumes)
420 BCE
412 Treaty of Miletus: Persia switched support to Sparta against Athens
411 oligarchy in Athens, democracy restored in 410
410 BCE
410 Protagoras: b.480, Greek philosopher, Sophist Agnostic banned from Athens, "Man is the measure of all things", "truth is subjective" ...
409 Rhodes built by Greek architect Hippodamus of Miletus
406 Euripides: b.480, Greek Dramatist: Cyclops, Orestes, Electra; (Loeb:4v)
406 Sophocles: b.495, Greek Dramatist, introduced third actor & expanded chorus from 12 to 15 in Athenian theatre, wrote: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, Ajax, Electra, Trachiniae, Philoctetes; (Loeb:2v)
405-359 Artaxerxes 2nd: Persian Emperor, plagued by revolts, Egypt, etc.
405-367 Dionysius the Elder: Tyrant of Syracuse, major power of Greek Italy, tried to drive Carthaginians from Sicily in 3 wars of 398-392, 382-375, 368
404 Sparta defeats Athens, "Long Walls" destroyed, "30 Tyrants" rule till 403
403 Tzu-ssu: b.482, Chinese philosopher, wrote: "The Central Harmony"
4th Century BCE
400 BCE
400 world population c.150 million
400 Thucydides: b.460?, Greek historian: "History Peloponnesian War"; Loeb:4v
c400 Tsou Yen: Chinese philosopher, founded Naturalists, 5 elements theory
c400 Chuang-tzu: chapters 1-7 written by Chuang Chou, Chinese Philosophy
c400 Ch'un-ch'iu: "Spring & Autumn Annals", 722-481 chronicle of Lu, China
c400 Li-chi: "Book of Rites" by Tseng Tzu; lost "Book of Music" by Yueh ching
c400 Nehemiah comes from Babylon to aid Jerusalem Temple rebuilding [Neh1-6], Ezra the Scribe brings Torah to Jerusalem from Babylon [Neh8]
399 Socrates: b.470?, Greek Philosopher, condemned to death by hemlock
395-387 Corinthian War: Corinth & Athens versus Sparta, involved Persians
394-391 "Long Walls" rebuilt at Athens
393-370 Amyntas 3rd: King of Macedon, father of Philip 2nd (359-336)
390 BCE
390 Gauls from northern Italy under Brennus sacked Rome: "Vae victis"
385 Aristophanes: Athenian dramatist: "Archarnians; Knights; Clouds; Wasps; Peace;Birds;Frogs;Lysistrata;Thesmophoriazusae;Ecclesiazusae;Plutus" Loeb:3v
380 BCE
380-343 30th Dynasty: founded by Nekhtnebf, last native dynasty of Egypt
380 Lysias: b.459, Greek orator, wrote: "Oration 1", "Oration 32"
377 city walls of Rome built
375-335 Papyrus Samarian: in Aramaic, fragments of legal documents
371 Battle of Leuctra: Sparta, defeated by Thebes, begins decline in power
370 BCE
370 Hippocrates: b.460, Greek "Father of Medicine"; (Loeb Classics: 6v)
367-344 Dionysius 2nd the Younger: Tyrant of Syracuse, disciple of Dion (354)
367 Persians adopted 19-year cycle lunisolar calendar
366 Temple of Concordia in Rome
360 BCE
c360 Yang Zhu: Yang Chu, b.440, Chinese philosopher, accused of hedonism
359-336 Philip 2nd: b.383, King of Macedon, dominant Greek power, assassi.
359-338 Artaxerses 3rd of Persia: Jews revolt 350; Egypt recap. 343; assassi.
356 China begins building Great Wall against Huns (Hsiung-nu)
355 Xenophon: b.434, Greek soldier & historian; (Loeb Classics: 7v)
354 Dion of Syracuse: b.409?, Platonic philosopher & statesman, assassinated
354 Tomb of Halicarnassus: in Asia Minor, built for King Mausolus
350 BCE
350 Bible: Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Jonah, Job written in Jerusalem
350 Mahabharata: Indian epic (inc. Bhagavad Gita) recounts events 1400-800bce
350 Heraclides: disciple of Plato, taught heliocentric system
350 Plato: b.430?, disciple of Socrates, founded "Academy" (School of Philosophy) of Athens in 347, ideas are primary substance; (Loeb:12v)
343-341 1st Samnite (central Italy) War of Rome
340 BCE
340-338 Latin Wars: Rome defeated rebellious central Italian cities
340 Praxagoras of Cos discovered difference between arteries & veins
c340 Buddhism splits: Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) & Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle)
339 Publilian Laws of Rome: reform led by Quintus Publilius Philo
338-336-330 Arses - Darius 3rd: Persian Emperors, both assassinated
338 Aug 2: Battle of Chaeronea: Macedonians conquer Athens, control Greece
338 Isocrates: b.436, Athenian orator, advocated Pan-Hellenism; (Loeb:3v)
338 1st Roman coins
336-323 • Jun 10 Alexander the Great of Macedon: b.356, son of Zeus & a virgin, disciple of Aristotle, in 334-331 defeated Darius 3rd at Granicus, Issus & Gaugamela; in 332 conquered Egypt & founded city of Alexandria (center of Hellenism); in 331 conquered Babylon & declared "Son of God" at oracle of Amun in Siwa, Egypt; in 330 sacked Persepolis; in 327 invaded India to the Indus river but generals turned back; founded Alexandrian Empire ...
330 BCE
330 Greek explorer Pytheas of Marsilea (Marseilles) reached Britain
326-304 2nd Samnite (central Italy) War of Rome
325 earliest extant Greek papyrus: "Persae of Timotheus of Miletus"; Loeb:3v
323-282 Ptolemy: satrap of Egypt, disciple of Aristotle, moved remaining Jews of Judea to Alexandria & founded Museum in 323, Library in 307, ruled Syria 319-314, in 305 named Soter(Savior), founded Ptolemaic Empire of Egypt
323-322 Lamian War: unsuccessful revolt of Athens against Macedonian rule
323 Diogenes the Cynic: (cyon=dog), b.412?, lived in a barrel in Athens ...
322-297 Chandragupta: founded Mauryan Empire of India, Jain?, expelled Greeks & in 305 defeated Seleucus of Syria, extended empire into Afghanistan
322 Aristotle: b.384, disciple of Plato, logic is primary substance, in 335 founded Lyceum (Peripatetic Philosophy School) in Athens; (Loeb:24v)
322 Demosthenes: b.384, Greek orator, "Philippics", etc.; (Loeb:7v)
320 BCE
317-284 Ardvates: satrap of Armenia, founded dynasty which lasted till 211
315-312 4 years war: Seleucus, Ptolemy, Cassander, Lysimachus v. Antigonus
314-301 Antigonus Cyclops (1-eyed): founded Antigonid Empire of Macedon
311-281 Seleucus Nicator (Victor): founded Seleucid Empire of Syria & capital Antioch, killed Antigonus & Lysimachus (King of Thrace, 305-281)
310 BCE
305-297 Cassander: Antigonid King of Macedon, founded Thessalonica in 315
305 Meng-tzu: Mencius, b.390?, Chinese Confucian philoso., "Book of Mencius"
3rd Century BCE
300 BCE
300-550ce Koine (Common) Greek of Alexandria becomes standard Greek
c300 Ramayana: Indian epic, life of Rama, the ideal man & king
c300 Euclid: Greek Mathematician, "Elements"; (Loeb Classics with Thales)
c300 Hsiao ching: "Book of Filial Piety"; Chinese Confucian philosophy
298-290 3rd Samnite War of Rome: Roman control of central & southern Italy
297-273 Bindusara: King of Mauryan Empire of India, conquered southern India
294-288 Demetrius: Antigonid King, surrendered to Seleucus in 285
293 1st Roman sundial [Pliny (79ce): Natural History 7.213]
292 Menander: b.342?, Greek dramatist, wrote "Sententiae"; (Loeb:3v)
290 BCE
287 Lex Hortensia: Roman Law reform by Quintus Hortensius
287 Theophrastus: b.372, Greek Peripatetic philosopher; (Loeb:5v)
282-246 Ptolemy 2nd Philadelphus (sister-loving): married sister, controlled Egypt/Judea/Samaria/Galilee, Septuagint (aka LXX=70): Greek translation of Torah in Alexandria, original no longer extant; Pharos lighthouse; defeated Antiochus in 1st Syrian War of 276-272; defeated by Antiochus 2nd & Antigonus 2nd in 2nd Syrian War of 260-253
281-261 Antiochus Soter (Savior): Seleucid King of Syria
280 BCE
279-276 Gauls invaded Macedon
276-239 Antigonus 2nd Gonatas: Antigonid King, married Antiochus' sister
275 end of history of city of Babylon the Great
275 Manetho: Egyptian High Priest wrote "History of Egypt" in Greek; (Loeb)
275 Colossus of Rhodes: bronze Helios sun-god, destroyed by earthquake in 224
275 Chuang-tzu: b.350, Chinese Taoist philosopher (tzu means Master)
c275 Appius Claudius: Roman Censor, Appian Aqueduct, Via Appia, letter "G"...
273-232 Asoka the Great: Buddhist King of Mauryan Empire, united India in "Unity of Diversity", erected 40ft. columns inscribed with "Laws of Right Conduct & Nonviolence" picked up later by Thoreau, Gandhi, M. L. King ...
270 BCE
270 Epicurus: b.341, Greek philosopher wrote: "Kuriai Doxai" (Prin. Doctrine)
268 Denarius: 1st mint of this Roman silver coin
264-241 1st Punic War: Rome versus Carthage, Rome conquered Sicily
264 Roman public gladiator combats begin
c262 Zeno of Citium: b.336, founded Greek Stoic philosophy
261-246 Antiochus 2 Theos (God): Seleucid King, married Ptolemy 2's daughter
260 BCE
260 Theocritus: b.300, Greek pastoral poet, wrote 31 short poems
250 BCE
250 Bible: Ecclesiastes written in Hebrew
250 Arcesilaus founded Second Academy of Athens
c250 Septuagint: Epistle of Jeremiah, Greek fragments found at Qumran Cave 7
c250 Apollonius Rhodius: Greek epic writer, wrote: "Argonautica"
c250 Apollonius of Perga: Greek Mathematician, "Parabola, Hyperbola, Ellipse"
247-224ce Parthian Empire (neo-Persian): founded in modern NE Iran by Arsaces
246-222 Ptolemy 3rd Euergetes (Benefactor): gained control of E.Mediterranean in 3rd Syrian War of 246-241, ruled Egypt/Judea/Samaria/Galilee, attempted Egyptian calendar reform to 365.25 days in 238 but was rejected
246-225 Seleucus 2 Callinicus (Glorious in victory): lost Parthia/Asia Minor
240 BCE
240 Callimachus: b.305, Greek epigrammist, wrote: Aetia;Iambics;Hymns;Hecale
238 Rome captured Sardinia then Corsica from Carthage
235 Xunzi: Hsun-tzu, b.320, Chinese philosopher, opposed Confucianism
233 Sun-tzu (tzu means Master): Chinese philosopher, wrote "The Art of War"
233 Han-fei-tzu: b.280?, Chinese philos., founded Legalists, cf. Machiavelli
230 BCE
227-221-179-168 Antigonus 3 Doson - Philip 5 - Perseus: Antigonid Kings of Macedon, attacked by Rome for siding with Carthage in 1st Macedonian War of 214-205, defeated by Rome in 2nd Macedonian War of 200-196, Athens under Roman rule, after 3rd Macedonian War of 171-168 split into 4 republics
225-223 Seleucus 3rd Soter (Savior): Seleucid King of Syria
225 Quintus Fabius Pictor: 1st Roman historian
223-187 Antiochus 3rd the Great: Seleucid King, ruled Jud/Sam/Gal till 217, defeated by Ptolemy 4 in 4th Syrian War of 221-217, Jud/Sam/Gal under Ptolemaic rule 217-198, took Armenia in 211, defeated Ptolemy 5 in 5th Syrian War of 201-195, regained Jud/Sam/Gal in 198, extreme missionary hellenism
222-204 Ptolemy 4th Philopator (Father-loving): decline of empire began
221-207 Qin (Ch'in) dynasty of China: Cheng (Qin Shi Huangdi, Ch'in Shihhuang-ti) defeated "Warring States", ordered "Burning of the Books" in 213
220 BCE
220 Flaminian Way: road between Rome & Rimini
218-201 2nd Punic War: Rome v. Carthage; 212: Rome took Syracuse, 206: Spain
212 Archimedes: b.287, Greek mathematician, buoyancy, screw, lever, ...
210 BCE
204-180 Ptolemy 5th Epiphanes (God-manifest): rapid decline of empire
202-9ce Western Han dynasty of China: founder Liu Bang (Kao-tzu) at Chang-an, Huang Ti Nei Ching on medicine, Shen Nung Pen Ts'ao Ching on pharmacology
2nd Century BCE
200 BCE
200-800ce Teotihuacan, Mexico: ancient capital, Atetello sun temple, ...
200-0 early Torah Sages: Antigonus of Sochoh, Jose ben Johanan of Jerusalem, Jose ben Joezer of Zereda in Samaria, Joshua ben Perahiah & Nittai of Arbel in Galilee, Simeon ben Shetah, Judah ben Tabbai, Shemiah, Abtalion
200-46 Roman calendar: in theory adjusted every year by the Pontifices (High Priests) so that annual sacrifices would occur in the same seasons from year to year, but in practice the calendar diverged widely from true solar year
200-100 Early Latin literature: Livius Andronicus translated Odyssey ...
200 Bible: Book of Esther written in Hebrew in Susa, Persia
c200 Qumran: 4QSam(b): Hebrew 1 Samuel fragments from Cave 4; 4QDt(q): Hebrew Song of Moses fragments from Cave 4; both LXX (Septuagint) text-type
c200 Septuagint: Tobit; 3 Aramaic & 1 Hebrew mss. frags. found Qumran Cave 4
c200 Targums: begun, paraphrases of Torah into West Syrian Aramaic
c200 Li Szu: wrote San ts'ang: Chinese dictionary of 3,300 symbols
c200 Ma-wang-tui silks: oldest & complete Tao Te Ching (Taoism) (1973)
195 Eratosthenes: b.275, Greek scientist, calc. earth's circumference & tilt
190 BCE
190-159 Artashes: Armenian King, founded Artaxiad dynasty
190 • Mar 14 solar eclipse in Rome [Livy: Ab Urbe Condita 37.4.4]
187-175 Seleucus 4th Philopator (Father-loving): Seleucid King of Syria
185 Mauryan dynasty ends, Hinduism restored, Jains & Buddhists persecuted
184 Plautus: b.255?, Roman playwright, "Early Latin"; (Loeb:5v)
182 Hannibal: b.247, Carthaginian general, crossed the Alps with elephants...
180 BCE
180-145 Ptolemy 6th Philometer (Mother-loving): rapid decline of empire
c180 Septuagint: Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach (Vg: Ecclesiasticus): written in Hebrew in Jerusalem, Hebrew manuscripts found at Masada & Qumran Cave 2
c180 Aristophanes of Byzantium: Alexandrian librarian, invented vowel accents
179 Pons Aemilius: oldest extant stone bridge in Rome
175-164 Antiochus 4th Epiphanes (God-manifest): Seleucid King, persecuted Jews, in 168 plundered & desecrated Jerusalem Temple & erected Zeus altar, in December 167 abolished Temple worship, forced Jews to eat pork ...
175 Jerusalem High Priest Jason built gymnasium for Greek athletic games ...
c175 Papyrus Rylands 458: R957, Greek Deuteronomy fragments, c.20v from 23-28
171-138 Mithradates: Parthian King, controlled all of Persian Plateau
170 BCE
169 Ennius the Poet: b.239, "Father of Latin Literature"; (Loeb:4v)
168 • Jun 21 lunar eclipse in Rome [Livy: Ab Urbe Condita 44.37.8]
167-164 Hasmonean Revolt: Judean response to Antiochus 4th, priest Mattathias founded Hasmonean (Maccabean=Hammerer) Kingdom of Judea (164-63) [1Mac2]
165 Bible: Daniel written in Jerusalem, c.1/2 Aramaic, based on past 280-180
164 • Dec Jerusalem Temple rededicated by Judah the Maccabee (Hammer) [Hanukkah]
164-162 Antiochus 5 Eupator (Born-of-noble-father): Seleucid King, assassinated
162-150 Demetrius Soter (Savior): Seleucid King of Syria
160 BCE
160-144 Jonathan Maccabee: High Priest & King of Jerusalem, assassinated
159 Terence: b.185?, Libyan brought to Rome as a slave, wrote comic dramas: Andria, Hecyra, Heauton timorumenos, Eunuchus, Phormio, Adelphi; (Loeb:2v)
153 Jan 1 made 1st day of Roman calendar year instead of March 15
150 BCE
150-145 Alexander Balas: King of Syria, usurper supported by Rome
c150 Septuagint: Judith, original written in Hebrew, ironic moralist novel
c150 Peshitta: Psalms 151-155, LXX:Ps151, Hebrew:Qumran:11QPs(a):151,154,155
c150 Pausanias: Greek geographer & historian; (Loeb Classics: 5v)
c150 Papyrus Nash: Decalogue (Ex20) & Shema (Dt5) in Hebrew (1949)
c150 Papyrus R819: Greek Deuteronomy 11:4
149-146 3rd Punic War: Romans killed c450,000 in brutal sack of Carthage ...
149-148 4th Macedonian War: Rome crushed revolt of Andriscus, Macedon annexed
149 Cato the Elder: b.234, Roman Chief Jurist, advocated destruction of Carthage: "delenda est Carthago", wrote: "de Agri Cultura"; (Loeb)
147-139 Viriatus of Lusitania (Portugal) rebelled against Rome, assassinated
146 Greece under Roman rule
145-116 Ptolemy 8th Physcon (Pot-bellied): cruel, expelled scholars ...
145-142 Antiochus 6th Epiphanes Dionysus (Dionysus Manifest): Seleucid King
144-135 Simon Maccabee: Ethnarch & High Priest of Jerusalem, expelled Syrians, annexed Jaffa, assassinated [1Mac13-16]
142-138 Demetrius 2nd Nicator (Victor): Seleucid King of Syria
141-87 Wudi (Wu-ti): Chinese Emperor, Confucianism state ideology, silk road
140 BCE
139 Liu An wrote "Huai-nan-tzu" encyclopedia of Chinese philosophy
138-129 Antiochus 7th Sidetes (of Side): Seleucid King of Syria
135-104
John Hyrcanus: Ethnarch & High Priest of Jerusalem, "Age of Expansion", annexed Trans-Jordan, Samaria, Galilee, Idumea. Forced Idumeans to convert to Judaism, hired non-Jewish mercenaries, etc., Pharisees [
134-132
1st Servile War: Eunus led slave revolt in Sicily; c.20,000 crucified
134
Nova recorded in Scorpio by Chinese, also sighted by Hipparchus (c.125)
133
Asia Minor (modern Turkey) annexed by Rome
132
Septuagint: Ecclesiasticus (see 180) translated into Greek by grandson
130 BCE
130 Septuagint: 1 Maccabees, Greek translation of lost Hebrew original
130 Pergamum: killed in Rome after attempting Utopian uprising of "Sun-city"
128-124-87 Artabanus - Mithradates 2nd: Parthian Kings, control Mesopotamia
125-96 Antiochus 8th Grypus (Hook-nosed): Seleucid King, assassinated
c125 Hipparchus: Greek Astronomer, calc. year length to 7 min. (365.25-1/300)
c125 Qumran: 1QIsa(a) full Hebrew "Isaiah Scroll" from Cave 1, MT text-type [most "Dead Sea Scrolls" are of MT text-type & verify its antiquity]
c125 Septuagint: Additions to Greek Daniel: Prayer of Azariah (after Dn3:23)
120 BCE
120-63 Mithradates 6th Eupator: b.133, King of Pontus (Asia Minor)
120 Polybius: b.203?, Greek historian; (Loeb Classics: 6v)
120 Septuagint: 2 Maccabees, Greek based on earlier lost Greek original
116-107,88-81 Ptolemy 9th Lathyrus (Chickpea): Roman influence in region
114 Zhang Qian: (Chang Ch'ien), Chinese explorer, toured India-Parthia-Greece
112-101 Marius & Sulla of Rome defeated King Jugurtha of Numidia, Africa
110 BCE
107-88 Ptolemy 10th Alexander: displaced Ptolemy 9th, then overthrown
107,104-100 Gaius Marius: consul of Rome, national hero
105 1st College of Technology in Alexandria, founded by mathematician Heron
104 Judah Aristobulus: High Priest & King of Jerusalem, was a brute ...
103-76 Alexander Jannaeus: High Priest & King of Jerusalem, was cruel ...
102-99 2nd Servile War: second slave revolt in Sicily against Rome
1st Century BCE
100 BCE
100-0 Classical Latin literature: such as Cicero (43)
100 Ossuaries (stone bone boxes) with Greek inscriptions appear in Jerusalem, tomb of Goliath family linked to Temple Priesthood, inscriptions in Greek
c100 Enoch: 8 Aramaic manuscripts found at Qumran Cave 4 (Ethiopic Bible)
c100 Jubilees: 10 Hebrew manuscripts at Qumran Caves 1,2,4 (Ethiopic Bible)
c100 Papyrus R801: Greek Leviticus 26:2-16 found at Qumran Cave 4
c100 Papyrus R805: Greek Exodus 28:4-7 found at Qumran Cave 7
c100 Septuagint: Additions to Greek Daniel (c.13:Bel & Dragon, c.14:Susanna); Wisdom (of Solomon); 1 Esdras (LXX=Esdras A, Vg=Esdrae III); 1 Baruch; Prayer of Manasseh (cf. 2Chr33:1-19); "Letter of Aristeas" described Septuagint translation of Torah by 72 Jerusalem Temple delegates, 6 from each of the 12 tribes, in 72 days, for Library of Alexandria, etc.; myth?
96-95 Antiochus 9th, Seleucus 6th: Seleucid Kings of Syria, assassinated
95-83 Antiochus 10th Eusebus (Pious): Seleucid King of Syria
95-56 Tigranes 2nd the Great: Armenian King, conquered Mesop. & Syria till 69
90 BCE
90-88 Social War: Italian revolt against Rome, Italians granted citzenship
90 Vitruvius: Roman architect & engineer, wrote: "de Architectura"; Loeb:2v
90 Sima Qian (Ssu-ma Ch'ien): b.145, Chinese historian: "Shiju" (Shih Chi)
88-84 1st Mithradatic War: Sulla defeated Mithradates of Pontus (Asia Minor)
88-87 Civil War in Rome: Sulla took control
87-84 Cinna & Marius seized control of Rome when Sulla in Pontus, purges ...
86 Sulla sacked Athens for revolting during 1st Mithradatic War
83 Roman Temple of Jupiter burned, original Roman Sibylline (Crone Prophetess) Oracles destroyed, temple rebuilt in 76, new oracles written
83-78 Sulla regained control of Rome, ruled as "Dictator for Life", purges...
83-81 2nd Mithradatic War: Sulla continued attack after false peace treaty
82 Alexander Polyhistor of Miletus wrote a history of the Jews in Greek
80 BCE
80 Ptolemy 11: ap. by Sulla;married former Queen;murdered her;murdered by mob
80-58,55-51 Ptolemy 12th Auletus (Piper): hated;expelled;restored by Gabinius
80-72 Roman general Sertorius lead Spanish revolt, crushed by Pompey
78 Septuagint: Book of Esther translated into Greek in Jerusalem
76-67 Salome Alexandra: Queen of Jerusalem, last quasi-independent ruler
75-67 Hyrcanus 2nd: High Priest of Jerusalem, son of Salome Alexandra
c75 Papyrus Fouad 266: R847-8, Greek Dt11,17-33 frag.; square Hebrew Tetragrm
74-63 3rd Mithradatic War: Romans completed Pontus conquest, annexed to Asia
73-71 3rd Servile War: Spartacus' slave revolt; crushed by Crassus & Pompey
70 BCE
70 Crassus & Pompey: consuls of Rome
67-63 Aristobulus 2: High Priest & King of Jerusalem, Hyrcanus 2's brother
64-63 Conspiracy of Catiline in Rome against Cicero's consulship
64 Pompey ended Seleucid Empire, last King: Antiochus 13th Asiaticus (69-64)?
63 Caesar elected Pontifex Maximus (Highest Priest) by Roman Senate
63 Pompey conquered Jerusalem, selected Hyrcanus 2nd over Aristobulus 2nd
63-41 Hyrcanus 2: back as High Priest in alliance with Antipater the Idumean
62 Florence, Italy founded
60 BCE
60-53 "1st Roman Triumvirate": Caesar-Pompey-Crassus
58-51 Julius Caesar's "Gallic Wars" (modern France), named Britannia (UK)
57-55 Gabinius: Roman proconsul of Syria, split Hasmonean Kingdom (164-63) into Galilee, Samaria & Judea with 5 districts of "synhedria" (G4892: sunedrion:Sanhedrin) at Jerusalem, Jericho, Amathus, Sepphoris & ?
56-34 Artavazd 2nd: Armenian King, playwright, murdered by Antony & Cleopatra
55-53 Crassus toured Eastern Empire, plundered Jerusalem Temple
c55 Lucretius: b.99?, Roman poet & philosopher: "de Rerum Natura"; (Loeb)
54 erection of new (Julian) forum in Rome
54 Gaius Valerius Catullus: b.84?, Roman lyric poet, wrote "Carmina"; (Loeb)
53 • May Roman Triumvir Crassus killed during failed invasion of Parthia
51-47 Ptolemy 13th: deposed his sister Queen Cleopatra 7th in 49
50 BCE
c50 Septuagint: Psalms of Solomon, Hebrew written in Jerusalem; Additions to Greek Esther: 1 & after 3:13,4:17,5:2,8:12,10:3
c50 Papyrus R802: Greek Lev 2-5 frags, Qumran Cave 4, Greek Tetragramm.: IAO
c50 Papyrus R803: Greek Numbers 3:30-4:14 fragments found at Qumran Cave 4
c50 Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) Sutras of Buddhism written in India
c50 Lohsia Hung: Chinese astronomer, 1st armillary sphere
49 Roman Senate, led by Pompey, ordered Caesar to disband his armies in Gaul
49 • Jan 10 Caesar "crossed the Rubicon" river & invaded Italy
49 • Mar Pompey, defeated by Caesar at Brundisium, fled to Greece
48 • Jun-Sep Caesar defeated Pompey at Pharsalus Greece, pursued Pompey to Egypt where Pompey murdered, established mistress Cleopatra 7th as Queen of Egypt
48-44 • Mar 15 Gaius Julius Caesar: b.102, founded Julio-Claudian dynasty, wrote "Bellum Gallicum" (Gallic War) in 51, "Bellum civile" (Civil War) in 47; on 47Aug defeated Pontic army at Zela, Asia Minor; "Veni, vidi, vici"; in 46 campaigned in North Africa which became Roman province, decreed "Julian Calendar" of 365.25 days with leap year (initial set to solar), ordered suicide of opponent Roman Chief Jurist Cato the Younger, campaigned against remnant Pompeian forces in Spain; in 44 declared "Dictator for Life" by Senate, on March 15 "Ides of March" assassinated by Cassius, Casca, Brutus, etc., "Et tu Brute?", civil war, ...; Loeb:3v
47-44 Ptolemy 14: Caesar ordered marriage of sister Cleopatra who killed him
47-40 Phasael: governor of Jerusalem, elder son of Antipater the Idumean
47-40 Herod: governor of Galilee, younger son of Antipater the Idumean, earned a reputation of being tough on Jews, killed Hezekiah without a trial ...
47 Library of Ptolemy Soter in Alexandria destroyed by fire
44-31 Ptolemy 15 Caesarion (Little-Caesar): Caesar's son by Cleopatra, assas.
43,28 Sunspots: 1st recorded by Chinese [Ch'ien Han Shu]
43 Roman Senate declared war on Mark Antony, Octavian won 2 battles at Mutina then 2nd Triumvirs till 32: Mark Antony took East, Octavian took Italy, Marcus Lepidus took Gaul, all enemies murdered including Cicero: b.106, Roman lawyer, orator & politician, 'Classical Latin'; (Loeb Classics: 28v)
42 Caesar declared God by Roman Senate
40 BCE
40 Mark Antony married Octavian's sister Octavia to seal Perugia treaty
40 Parthia invaded Syria, Herod escaped to Rome, Phasael committed suicide
40-37 Mattathias Antigonus: Hasmonean High Priest & King of Jerusalem
39-36 Pirate Sextus Pompey ruled Sicily/Sardinia/Corsica; defeated by Agrippa
39 Herod appointed King of Judea in Rome by Mark Antony & Octavian Augustus
38 Romans recaptured Syria (E. Mediterranean) from Parthians (neo-Persians)
37-4 King Herod the Great of Judea: b.73?, captured Jerusalem on 37July with help of Roman Legions, killed Antigonus & all heirs (end of Hasmonean Dynasty), Octavian said "One would rather be Herod's swine than his son", posed as a champion of Hellenic culture, purely Greek inscriptions used on coins & weights, Greek Theatre & Hippodrome; in 19 began rebuilding Jerusalem Temple including Roman Eagle Gate; in 10 inaugurated new city of Caesarea; in 9 invaded Nabataea (Arabia); c6 executed Zealots who attempted to remove Roman Eagle Gate; c4 executed infants in "Massacre of the Innocents", myth? [Mt2]
36 Mark Antony married Cleopatra 7th Queen of Egypt, divorced Octavia in 32
35-33 Octavian conquered Illyria (Dalmatian coast)
35 Sallust: b.86, Roman historian & politician; (Loeb Classics)
32 Octavian had Roman Senate declare war on Mark Antony (Triumvirs canceled)
31-14ce • Aug 19 Octavian Augustus: b.63, 1st Roman Emperor, son of Apollo & a virgin, in 31Sep2 defeated, with General Agrippa (63-12), fleet of Antony & Cleopatra at Actium; in 30 annexed Egypt as Roman province, Antony & Cleopatra commit suicide; in 29 dedicated Temple of Divus Julius (Divine Julius); in 28Oct9 dedicated Temple of Apollo; in 27Jan13-16 honored by Senate as Imperator Caesar Augustus; Pantheon built by Agrippa to honor "all gods" of the empire; Planetary Week of Saturn-Sun-Moon-Mars-Mercury-Jupiter-Venus; in 22-19 toured East, built Temple of Dendur on Nile; in 19 Pont du Gard aqueduct across Gard river in France; in 18 Leges Juliae moral laws, punished childless & adulterers; in 15 Agrippa (also Herod's personal friend) visited Jerusalem Temple with sacrifices; in 12 elected Pontifex Maximus (Highest Priest) by Senate, dedicated Temple of Vesta (maintained by Vestal Virgins); in 2 dedicated Temple of Mars Ultor (Avenger Wargod) 1st erected in 20
30 BCE
27 Marcus Terentius Varro: b.116, Roman scholar: de Lingua Latina ..; Loeb:2v
25 Septuagint: 3 Maccabees (Ptolemaica) written in Greek in Alexandria
25 Cornelius Nepos: b.100?, Roman historian; (Loeb Classics)
c25 Papyrus R942: Greek Genesis 7 & 38 fragments
21 Regensburg, Germany founded
20 BCE
19 • Sep 21 Vergilius (Virgil): b.70, Roman Poet: Aeneid, Georgics ...; Loeb:2v
19 Albius Tibullus: b.60?, Roman poet; (Loeb Classics with Catullus)
c16 Sextus Propertius: b.47?, Roman poet; (Loeb Classics)
10 BCE
8 • Nov 27 Horatius (Horace): b.65Dec8, Roman Poet, "Carpe diem" ...; (Loeb:2v)
4-6ce Herod Archelaus: son of Herod & Malthace (Samaritan), ethnarch of Judea
4-34ce Philip: son of Herod & Cleopatra, tetrarch of Iturea & Trachonitis
4-39ce Herod Antipas: son of Herod & Malthace, tetrarch of Galilee & Perea
4 Jerusalem Passover Riot: 1 cohort & c.3,000 Jews killed [JW2.10,JA17.204]
CE
1 CE to 2200 CE
Foundations And Empires
1-500 CE
1st Century CE
1-100 CE
1 CE
1 Christian calendar year 1 a.d. (anno Domini, 525); world pop. c.250 million
6-64 Province Iudaea: Augustus (31bce) deposed Herod Archelaus (4bce) and annexed Samaria, Judea, Idumea under direct Roman administration; capital at Caesarea; Legate (Governor) Quirinius of Syria conducted 1st Roman census (opposed by Zealot's Tax Revolt of Judah of Gamala & Saddok the Pharisee [JA18.4,JW2.118]) & appointed Annas (Ananus I) ben Seth High Priest of Jerusalem Temple ("House of Annas" produced 8 High Priests of Iudaea)
6-9-c12-15-26 Coponius - Ambivius - Rufus - Gratus: Roman Prefects of Iudaea
9 Arminius the Cheruscan destroys 3 Roman Legions near Rhine river of Germany
9 Hillel the Elder from Babylonia: b.30bce, "greatest Torah sage of Second Temple period", founded Bet Hillel Torah school; at the request of a student to teach the entire Torah "while standing on one foot" he replied: "What is hateful to you, do not unto your neighbor. This is the entire Torah, all the rest is commentary," i.e., "Go and study it."; "He who magnifies his name destroys it; he who does not increase his knowledge decreases it, and he who does not study deserves to die; and he who makes worldly use of the crown of Torah shall waste away." [Encyclopedia Judaica]
9-23 Wang Mang: overthrew Han Dynasty of China, attempted radical reforms
10 CE
14-37 • Mar 16 Tiberius: b.42 BCE, Roman Emperor, "Son of Divine Augustus", in 19 expelled Septuagint missionaries from Rome but they soon returned, in 37 dedicated Temple of Divus Augustus (Divine Augustus)
16 Germanicus (adopted by Tiberius in 4) suppressed Revolt of Arminius (9)
16-17 Eleazar: son of Annas (6-15), appointed High Priest of Jerusalem Temple
17 Titus Livius (Livy): b.59 BCE, Roman historian: "Ab Urbe Condita"; Loeb:14v
18-23 "Red Eyebrows" peasant revolt of China: Wang Mang assassinated
18-36 Joseph Caiaphas: son-in-law of Annas, appointed High Priest of Jerusalem Temple by Prefect Valerius Gratus, deposed by Syrian Legate Vitellius
c.15 Apollonius of Tyana born
c17 Ovidius (Ovid): b.43 BCE, Roman Poet: Amores; Ars Amatoria; Metamor.;Loeb:6v
c19 Herod Antipas (4bce) moved Galilean capital from Sepphoris to "Tiberias"
20 CE
23-220 Later (Eastern) Han Dynasty of China, founded by Kuang-wu at Loyang
26-36 Pontus Pilate
26-36? Jesus the Nazarene: son of Mary, bathed in Jordan to remove sin by John the Baptist ; selected c12 apostles: 1. Simon renamed Peter (Rock), Bethesda fisherman, 1st Pope?(67), 2. James, son of Zebedee & his brother: 3. John, both fishermen, both renamed Boanerges ("Thunder Brothers"); 4. Andrew, Peter's brother, Bethesda fisherman, disciple of John the Baptist 5. Philip from Bethesda; 6. Bartholomew from Ptolemais; 7. Matthew, Tax Collector 8. Thomas 9. James son of Alpheus 10. Thaddeus, or Judas son of James?, or Judas not Iscariot? or Lebbeus 11. Simon the Canaanite; 12. Judas Iscariot; denied 3 times by his primary Apostle Simon-Peter the "Rock", crucified by Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate (26-36) for the Roman crime of INRI Latin: IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDAEORVM on Friday 14 Nisan; possible Friday 14 Nisan crucifixion dates: 7Apr30, 3Apr33, 30Mar36
27-34? John the Baptist: "15th year of Tiberius" , a Nazirite, arrested & killed by Herod Antipas
29 John the Baptist begins his ministry
c24 Strabo: b.63 BCE, Greek geographer, wrote: "Geographica"; Loeb Classics 8v
c25 Assumption (Testament) of Moses: original Hebrew extant Latin (Apocrypha)
30 CE
30 Marcus Manilius: b.10 BCE, Roman poet, wrote: Astronomica; (Loeb Classics)
33 • (3-5 April) The First Easter
36-37 Jonathan: Jerusalem High Priest, app. by Syrian Legate Vitellius
36-37-c41 Marcellus - Marullus: Roman Prefects of Iudaea
36-65? Oral period in Christianity between Jesus & Gospel of Mark; only c120 initial believers; Judas Iscariot commits suicide; Matthias voted replacement; 3000 new converts in one day; Peter & John jailed for 1 night for causing riots, converts increase to 5000; Ananias and Sapphira die under mysterious circumstances after not giving all their possessions; seven Greeks added to 12 Apostles: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolaus; initially only 1 "church" (Greek ekklesia most likely just an assembly rather than a formal church), in Jerusalem; Paul of Tarsus, prior to conversion, has Stephen martyred & the Jerusalem "church" destroyed, the original Christians disperse throughout Judea & Samaria; Paul converts to "Apostle to the Gentiles" and main activity of Christianity shifts from "Jewish-Christians" of Judea and Galilee (Nazarenes & Ebionites) to "Gentile-Christians" led by Paul & his Patroness Phoebe; Nazarenes
37 Seneca the Elder: b.55bce?, Roman rhetor: Controversiae,Suasoriae; Loeb:2v
37-41 • 24 Jan Caligula reigns as Roman Emperor
37-62? Paul of Tarsus: Roman citizen / tentmaker / conversion in 37 in 40 went to Jerusalem to meet Peter & James, in 47-48 on Cyprus with Barnabas, in 49-50 in Corinth, in 57 last visit to Jerusalem, in 58 imprisoned in Caesarea, in 60 imprisoned in Rome, in 62 martyred for treason in Rome.
38 Greek-Jewish riots in Alexandria [Philo: Flaccus 41-54, E-to-G 132-137]
39-40 Greek-Jewish riots in Antioch [Malalas Chronographia 10.315]
39-40 Jewish protest at Ptolemais [JA18.263,JW2.192;Philo E-to-G 222-249]
c. 37 Conversion of Saul of Tarsus - becomes St. Paul
c30 Shammai the Elder: founded Bet Shammai Torah school; "Make your study of the Torah a matter of established regularity, say little and do much, and receive all men with a friendly countenance." [Encyc. Judaica: Avot,1,15]
40 CE
40 Paul travels to Jerusalem to meet Peter & James
41-54 Claudius is Emperor
42 St. Peter to Rome "in the second year of Claudius" to confront Simon Magus. He remained in Rome for the next twenty-five years
43 Roman conquest of Britain begins, and the foundation of London
44 James brother of John executed by sword by Agrippa I [Acts12:1-3]
44-46 C. Cuspius Fadus: Roman Procurator of Iudaea (Samaria, Judea, Idumea), in 44 beheaded Theudas for parting Jordan (like Exodus) [JA20.97,Acts5:36], in 45 crucified Jacob and Simon sons of Judah of Gamala (6) [JA20.5.2]
45 C. Julius Phaedrus: b.15 BCE Roman fables; (Loeb Classics)
45 Philo Judaeus of Alexandria: b.30bce, Jewish philosopher and hellenizer, tried to unify Greek and Hebrew philosophy; (Loeb Classics: 12 volumes)
46-48 Tiberius Julius Alexander: Roman Procurator of Iudaea, Jewish apostate
47-59 Ananias ben Nedebaeus: Jerusalem High Priest, app. by Herod of Chalcis
48 Council of Jerusalem
48-49? Council of Apostles & Elders: 1st Christian Council also Incident at Antioch [Gal2:11-18] where Paul publicly condemned Peter
48-52 Ventidius Cumanus: Roman Procurator of Iudaea (Samaria, Judea, Idumea), in 50 Passover riot in Jerusalem, 20-30,000 killed [JA20.5.3,JW2.12.1]
48-93 Agrippa II: King of Judea, ruled from Chalcis (48-52) & Iturea (52-93)
49 "Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome" (referenced in Acts 18:2)
c40 Septuagint (282bce): 4 Maccabees written in Greek in Alexandria
50 CE
52 • 21 Nov St Thomas arrives in India
52-c60 M. Antonius Felix: Roman Procurator of Iudaea, a Greek freedman, in 55 massacred "Egyptian Prophet" & c30,000 unarmed Jews doing Exodus reenactment [Ac21,JW2.261,JA20.169], in 58 crushed Jewish revolt in Caesarea
54 • (Oct 13) Death of Emperor Claudius (æ 63)
54-68 • Jun 9 Nero: b.37, Roman Emperor, last of Julio-Claudian Dynasty, in 59 killed mother Agrippina, in 62 killed wife Octavia, married Poppaea Sabina, in 0064-07-19 "Great Fire", in 65 ordered suicides of poets Seneca the Younger (Dialogi, Naturales quaestiones; Loeb:11v) & Lucan (Bellum Civile;Loeb:1v), in 66 entered Olympic Games & won, freed Greece from Roman administration, ordered suicide of courtier Petronius (Satyricon;Loeb:1v), in 0068-06-09 committed suicide, resurrected as "Nero redivivus"? (Revelation's 666?) ...
58 Ming-Ti: Chinese Emperor, introduced Buddhism to China
58-170 3rd Corinthians: by Paul of Tarsus original in Greek (Armenian Bible)
59 Paul shipwrecked on Malta
c50 Ascension of Isaiah: original written in Hebrew (Ethiopic Bible)
c50 Barthelemy Greek Minor Prophets: R943, pb.1953, unknown translation type
c50 Hero of Alexandria invented crude steam engine: "aeolipile"
c50 Early Gnostics: Simon Magus of Samaria, Simonianism [Acts8:9-24,Petrine Acts,EH2.13,...]; Nicolaus of Antioch, Nicolaitans? [Acts6:5,Rev2:6,15, EH3.29.1-3,...]; Menander disciple of Simon Magus; Basilides of Alexandria (d.160?) and Saturninus of Antioch (d.120?) disciples of Menander; ...
60 CE
62 James stoned to death in Jerusalem
62 Jesus son of Ananias proclaimed "...a voice against Jerusalem..."[JW6.300]
62 Persius: b.34, Roman Stoic satirist, wrote: "Satirae"; (Loeb Classics)
64 • 18 July Great Fire in Rome
64-66 Gessius Florus: Roman Procurator of Iudaea (Samaria, Judea, Idumea), a Greek from Asia Minor, raided Temple setting off Jewish rebellion of 66-73
65-150 Gospel redaction and compilation stage of Christianity, post-Paul, center of Christianity shifted to Antioch & Rome ("New Babylon" of 1Pt5:13)
65-150 Gospel of Peter, Dialogue of the Savior (Complete Gospels)
65-150 Didache: Instructions of the Apostles, pub. 1883 (Apostolic Fathers)
65-150
Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1224 fragments: pub. 1914, {When the scholars a[nd Pharise]es and priests observe[ed hi]m, they were indignant [because he reclined
65-150 Gospel of Thomas: based on Q, pub. 1959, Greek originals
66 Roman Legate of Syria Cestius Gallus forced to retreat from Iudaea
66-428 Armenian Arsacid Dynasty: founded by Trdat the Parthian, appr. by Nero
66-67 First Jewish-Roman war
66-73 Roman-Jewish War: final destruction of Second Temple (Herod's Temple) {What more than all else incited them [the Jews] to the [1st Roman] war was an ambiguous oracle ... found in their sacred scriptures, to the effect that at that time 1 from their country would become ruler of the world. This they understood to mean someone of their own race, & many of their wise men went astray in their interpretation of it. The oracle, however, in reality signified the sovereignty of Vespasian who was proclaimed Emperor on Jewish soil} [Josephus' JW 6.312-13, Crossan, Who Killed Jesus?, p44, ISBN:0-06-061479-X]
67 Roman General Vespasianus (Vespasian) conquered Galilee
67-78,79-91 Pope Linus (2Tm4:21?) - Pope Anacletus ("blameless?" Titus 1:7?)
68 St Peter executed in Rome during Emperor Nero's final year
68 Qumran (Essenes?) community destroyed by Rome ("Dead Sea Scrolls", 1949)
68Jun-69Jan-69Apr-69Dec Galba-Otho-Vitellius: Roman Emperors, all assassinat.
69 "Nero redivivus" martyred in Galatia [ABD,Tac.Hist.2.8]
69-79 • Jun 23 Vespasianus: b.9, Roman Emperor, appointed by Senate, founded Flavian Dynasty (69-96), built Colosseum, quelled Rome & Jerusalem revolts, in 70 July eldest son Titus reclaimed Roman Antonia fortress in Jerusalem, in August conquered Jerusalem, destroyed Temple; in 71 built Arch of Titus, in 73 Jewish fortress at Masada fell, residents committed mass suicide
c.64/67 execution of St. Paul
c60-62-64 Porcius Festus - Lucceius Albinus: Roman Procurators of Iudaea
c65 Q: (German: Quelle=Source), hypothetical Greek text used in Matthew & Luke
70 CE
70 Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem • Gospel of Mark written in Rome by Mark, the secretary of Peter
70-132 Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in Jabneh (Jamnia), begun by Rabban Johanan ben Zakkai to 'perform commandments & teach Torah'
70-361 Special annual tax of 2 drachmas levied on all Jews of the Roman Empire since Jupiter Capitolinus (God of Rome) had defeated God of Jerusalem {Besides other taxes, that on the Jews was levied with the utmost rigour, and those were prosecuted who without publicly acknowledging that faith yet lived as Jews, as well as those who concealed their origin and did not pay the tribute levied upon their people. {{These were doubtless Christians, whom the Romans commonly confounded with the Jews.}} I recall being present in my youth when the person of a man ninety years old was examined before the procurator and a very crowded court, to see whether he was circumcised.} [Suetonius, de Vita Caesarum, Book VII, Domitian, XII.2, Loeb Classics]
70-640 Sanhedrin (High Court) period of Judaism: rise of house of Hillel (9)
71 "The Jewish War": (JW), by Josephus (c100), written in Greek
72-80 Construction of the Colosseum in Rome
79 • Oct Destruction of Pompeii, probably in October
79 Pliny the Elder: b.23, Roman scholar, victim of Mt. Vesuvius eruption on August 24 that destroyed Pompeii & Herculaneum, wrote of Essenes; Loeb:10v
79-81 • Sep 13 Titus: b.39, Roman Emperor, Vespasianus' eldest son
c70 "Signs Gospel": hypothetical Greek text used in Gospel of John to prove Jesus is Messiah; Opening: Jn1:6-7,19-49; in Galilee: Jn2:1-12a,4:46b-54,21: 1-14,6:1-14,15b-25; in Jerusalem: Jn11:1-45,9:1-8,5:2-9; Culmination: Jn11: 47-53,2:14-19,12:37-40; Passion Prelude: Jn12:1-8,12-15; Passion: Jn18:1-19: 42; Resurrection: Jn20:1-22; Closing: Jn20:30-31 (Complete Gospels)
c74 Publius Annius Florus: Roman historian; (Loeb Classics)
80 CE
80 Terentius Maximus of Parthia claimed to be "Nero redivivus" [ABD]
81-96 • Sep 18 Domitianus: b.51, Roman Emperor, Vespasianus' youngest son, "Nero redivivus?", proclaimed himself "Lord & God", stabbed to death by wife ...
88 2nd "Nero redivivus" of Parthia: "Even now his subjects wish he were alive, and most men believe that he is." [ABD,Dio Chrysostom Or.21.10]
c.80 Didache written; Gospel of Matthew written; Gospel of Luke
c80 Gospel of Matthew: most popular in early church, based on Mark and Q
90 CE
91-101 Pope Clement I: Phil4:3?, wrote to Corinth in 95: "1 Clement" (AF) {...Clement's Bible is the Old Testament, to which he refers repeatedly as Scripture (graphe), quoting it with more or less exactness. Clement also makes occasional reference to certain words of Jesus; though they are authoritative for him, he does not appear to enquire how their authenticity is ensured. In two of the three instances that he speaks of remembering 'the words' of Christ or of the Lord Jesus, it seems that he has a written record in mind, but he does not call it a 'gospel'. He knows several of Paul's epistles, and values them highly for their content; the same can be said of the Epistle to the Hebrews, with which he is well acquainted. Although these writings obviously possess for Clement considerable significance, he never refers to them as authoritative 'Scripture'.} [Canon NT,Metzger,p.43]
94 Jewish Antiquities: by Josephus in Aramaic, trans. to Greek, Testimonium Flavianum: {At this time there appeared Jesus, a wise man. For he was a doer of startling deeds, a teacher of people who receive the truth with pleasure. And he gained a following both among many Jews and among many of Greek origin. And when Pilate, because of an accusation made by the leading men among us, condemned him to the cross, those who had loved him previously did not cease to do so. And up until this very day the tribe of Christians (named after him) has not died out.} [JA18.3.3 Meier redaction, Marginal Jew, p.61]
96-98 • Jan 25 Nerva: b.35?, Roman Emperor, law reform, adopted successor Trajan
97 Wang Ch'ung: b.27, Chinese Confucianist
98-117 • Aug 8 Trajanus: b.53?, Roman Emperor, selected by Nerva, Empire reached largest size; annexed Dacia (=Romania 106-1453), Arabia (106-c630), Armenia (114-162), Mesopotamia (114-115); Roman Arch Aqueduct at Segovia, Spain; revolt in 115-117 when Procurator Lucius Quietus provoked Kitos War in Jerusalem, spread to Libya, Cyrenaica, Egypt, Cyprus, Mesopotamia, ended Roman eastward expansion, Parthia restored, Egyptian Jewry declined ...
> 96 Toward the end of Emperor Domitian's reign, persecution of Christians including Apostle John
c. 95 John banished to Patmos after surviving attempted execution in the Colosseum; while on Patmos John writes the Book of Revelation
c.90-110 The Book of John written
c.97 death of St. Timothy, companion of Paul
c90 Gospel of Luke: based on Mark & Q, also Acts - same author, style of LXX
c90 Josephus claimed 22 Jewish books: 5 Law, 13 History, 4 Hymns [AA1.8]
c95 Quintilianus: b.35?, Roman rhetor, wrote: "Institutio oratoria"; Loeb:4v
c96 Statius: b.40?, Roman poet, wrote: Silvae, Thebais, Achilleis; Loeb:2v
2nd Century CE
100-199 CE
100 CE
100-150 Secret Book (Apocryphon) of James, Gospel of Mary Magdalene, Infancy Gospels of Thomas and James, Secret Gospel (of Mark) (Complete Gospels)
101-109-116-125-136 Popes Evaristus - Alexander - Sixtus I - Telesphorus
104 Invention of paper in China by Cai Lun
c.100 Apollonius of Tyana dies • Death of St. John during reign of Trajan (98-117)
c100 Gospel of John: only eyewitness? the disciple Jesus loved? Gnostic? ...
c100 Odes of Solomon: Gnostic?, Greek or Syriac?, ref by John? (Apocrypha)
c100 Epistle of Barnabas: Christian exegesis of LXX (AF = Apostolic Fathers)
c100 2 Clement: an old sermon but not by Clement (AF = Apostolic Fathers)
c100 2 Esdras (Vg=EsdraeIV): v14:45 claims 24 Jewish books (Vulgate,Peshitta)
c100 Apocalypse of Baruch (2 Baruch in Syriac; 3 Baruch in Greek) (Peshitta)
c100 Paralipomena of Jeremiah: (4 Baruch), written in Hebrew (Ethiopic Bible)
c100 Testaments 12 Patriarchs:Hebrew-Aramaic frags @Qumran1,4(Armenian Bible)
c100 Epistle to the Laodiceans: [cf.Col4:16] ??? (Vulgate Fuldensis, 546)
c100 Masoretes at Tiberias compile Masora (MT), standard Jewish Scriptures
c100 Chang Cheng: Chinese astronomer, built 1st seismoscope
c100 Flavius Josephus: b.37?, Jewish general, turncoat, historian, hellenist: 71: JW=Jewish War; c90: AA=Against Apion; 94: JA=Jewish Antiquities; Loeb10v
c104 Martialis: b.40?, Roman epigrammist; (Loeb Classics: 2 volumes)
110 CE
114 Lucius Apuleius: Roman satirist: The Golden Ass, Metamorphoses; Loeb:3v
115 Lucian: Gk satirist: Passing of Peregrinus (satire of Christians); Loeb8v
117-138 • Jul 10 Hadrianus: b.76, Roman Emperor, built wall across Britain, tried to build Jupiter Capitolinus Temple on Jerusalem Temple ruins causing Jewish Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135), Judea and Jerusalem erased from maps, southern Syria renamed "Palaestina" (coined by Herodotus, 425bce)
c110 Ignatius: 3rd bishop of Antioch, martyred in Rome, letters subjected to heavy Christian forgery, advocated bishop: "careful not to oppose the bishop , in order that we may be obedient to God. ... regard the bishop as the Lord himself." [IEph5-6]; "godly bishop ... presiding in the place of God ... Lord did nothing without the Father, ... so you must not do anything without the bishop ... be subject to the bishop ... as Jesus Christ in the flesh was to the Father," [IMag2,6-7,13]; "subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, ... respect the bishop, who is a model of the Father," [ITr2-3]; "follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed the Father, ... one who honors the bishop has been honored by God;" [ISmy8-9]; rejected Sabbath: "no longer keeping the Sabbath but living in accordance with the Lord's Day," [IMag9.1] (AF)
c114 Pliny the Younger: b.61?, Roman consul, recorded Christians as "singing hymns to Christ as to a god" <... Christo quasi deo> [Letter 10.96]; Loeb:2v
c117 Publius Cornelius Tacitus: b.55?, Roman Historian: "Annals"; (Loeb:5v)
120 CE
121 Suetonius writes De vita Caesarum
122-132 Hadrian's wall
125-225 "Christian Apologists" writings against Roman Paganism by: Quadratus (c125), Aristides of Athens (c145), Justin Martyr (165), Tatian (172), Melito (177), Apollinaris (c180), Athenagoras (c180), Theophilus (180), also Epistle to Diognetus (150-225?) in Apostolic Fathers collection
c120 Plutarch: b.46?, Greek historian, wrote 200+: "Parallel Lives"; Loeb:27v
c125 Papyrus 52: oldest extant NT fragment, p.1935, parts of Jn18:31-33,37-38
c125 Shepherd of Hermas: written in Rome (AF = Apostolic Fathers)
c125 Quadratus: bishop of Athens [ANF=Ante-Nicene Fathers,Eerdmans,v.8]
130 CE
132-135 Bar Kokhba's revolt
135 R. Akiva ben Joseph of Judea: b.50?, executed by the Romans for teaching Torah in public after revolt, flesh was torn from his body with iron combs, coined "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" as 1st principle of Torah
138-142-155-166 Pope Hyginus - Pope Pius I - Pope Anicetus
138-161 • Mar 7 Antoninus Pius: b.86, Roman Emperor, selected by Hadrian, in 145 dedicated Temple of Divus Hadrianus (Divine Hadrian)
138-165 Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in Usha, Galilee
c130 "Gospel of Basilides": a 24 book commentary?, Gnostic?, lost
c130 Papias: bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor, wrote: "Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord", lost, widely quoted (Eusebius, 340) (AF)
c130 Aquila of Pontus: Roman convert to Christianity then to Judaism, student of Rabban Gamaliel, compiled literal Greek OT translation in Jabneh (Jamnia)
140 CE
149 Hsu Shen: wrote Shou wen chieh tzu, Chinese dictionary of 10,516 symbols
c140 Juvenalis: b.60?, greatest Roman Satirist; (Loeb Classics with Persius)
c140 Apocalypse of Peter: written in Greek [NT Apocrypha,Schneemelcher,v.2]
c140 Suetonius: b.70, Roman historian: "de Vita Caesarum"; Loeb Classics: 2v
c140 Marcion of Pontus: 1st Radical Paulinist?, inspired by Luke 5:36, claimed Jesus rejected "Law & Prophets" (OT), claimed to have recovered lost original Gospel from Luke, promoted Canon of heavily edited Gospel of Luke and 10 Pauline Letters and his own "Antitheses"; "Western" Gospel text-type
150 CE
155 • (Feb 23) Polycarp of Smyrna is martyred æ 86, a student of St John
c150 Claudius Ptolemy of Alexandria: Greek astronomer, "Geocentric"; (Loeb)
c150 Gospel of the Egyptians: Coptic translation of orig. Greek (Nag Hammadi)
c150 Nagarjuna founded Madhyamika (Mahayana Buddhism) school in India
c150 "Teachings of Silvanus": Gnostic; v99.13: Christ has a single hypostasis [hidden spiritual reality]; v102.3: Christ is incomprehensible with respect to his hypostasis (Nag Hammadi)
c150 "Western Reviser" adds/subtracts from original Acts to produce "Western" version which is 10% larger and found in Papyrus P29,38,48 & Codex Bezae (D) {Who it was that was responsible for the additional information concerning the apostolic age or where it came from is entirely unknown. According to F. G. Kenyon, "What one would like to suppose (but for which there is no external evidence), is that one of St. Paul's companions transcribed Luke's book [Acts] (perhaps after the author's death), and inserted details of which he had personal knowledge, & made other alterations in accordance with his own taste in a matter on which he was entitled to regard himself as having authority equal to that of Luke."} [Textual Comm., Metzger, p272, 3-438-06010-8]
c150 Papyrus Chester Beatty 6: R963, Greek Num 5:12-36:13, Deut 1:20-34:12
c150 Ts'an T'ung Ch'i: by Wei Po-yang of China, earliest extant alchemy
c155 Montanus: of Pepuza, Phrygia; claimed to be Paraclete of John 14:16
c156 Chang Tao-ling: b.34?, Chinese Taoist, left clothes, ascended to heaven
160 CE
161-180 • Mar 17 Marcus Aurelius: b.121, Roman Emperor, selected by Pius, Stoic philosopher, wrote: Greek "Meditationes" & Latin "Letters" (Loeb); Parthia invaded Armenia: 162; Great Plague: 164-180; Boucholoi Revolt of Egyptian Delta: 172; Revolt of Syrian Governor Cassius: 175; German Revolt: 178-188
165 Justin Martyr: b.114?, Roman Platonist convert to Christianity, martyred, wrote: 1-2Apology, Dialogue with Trypho a Jew [ANF=Ante-Nicene Fathers,v.1]
165-180 Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in Shefaram, Galilee
166-174 Pope Soter: moved "Easter" from Biblical Nisan 14 to following SUNday
c160 Polycarp: bishop of Smyrna, martyred at 86, wrote "Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians" c110; "Martyrdom of Polycarp"; both in Greek (AF)
c165 Gellius: b.123?, Roman writer, wrote: "Attic Nights"; Loeb Classics: 3v
170 CE
170 Christian Council of Asia Minor: against Montanus & his Montanist sect
172 Tatian the Assyrian: b.110, Gnostic?, disciple of Justin Martyr, founded Encratite sect of Antioch, wrote: Address to Greeks [ANF,v.2], used "Law and Prophets" but rejected Acts and Pauline Letters [EH4.29.5], Diatessaron (Harmony) [ANF,v.10] blend of 4 "Western" text-type Gospels into 1: {[the mother of the sons of Zebed]ee (Mt27:56) & Salome (Mk15:40) & the wives [of those who] had followed him from [Galile]e to see the crucified(Lk23:49b-c). And [the da]y was Preparation; the Sabbath was daw[ning] (Lk23:54). And when it was evening (Mt27:57), on the Prep[aration], that is, the day before the Sabbath (Mk25:42), [there came] up a man (Mt27:57), be[ing] a member of the council (Lk23:50), from Arimathea (Mt27:57), a c[i]ty of [Jude]a (Lk23:51), by name Jo[seph](Mt27:57), good & ri[ghteous] (Lk23:50), being a disciple of Jesus, but se[cret]ly, for fear of the [Jew]s(Jn19:38). And he (Mt27:57) was looking for [the] k[ingdom] of God(Lk23:51b). This man [had] not [con]sented to [their] p[urpose] (Lk23:51a)} {#0212} [Text NT,Metzger,0-19-507297-9,p90]
174-189 Pope Eleutherius
177 Melito: bishop of Sardis [ANF=Ante-Nicene Fathers,Eerdmans,v.8]
178 "True Discourse": by Celsus, an anti-Christian polemic, original lost but fragments recorded by Origen (253) in "Contra Celsum": {Jesus fabricated the account of his birth from a virgin. In reality, Jesus' mother was driven out by the carpenter husband to whom she was betrothed because she had committed adultery with a soldier named Panthera (cf. the Ben Pantere of Jewish sources). Left poor and homeless, she gave birth to Jesus in secret. Jesus later spent time in Egypt, where he hired himself out as a laborer, learned magic, and so came to claim the title of god.} [CC1.28-32,Marginal Jew,Meier,p.223]
c170 Symmachus: an Ebionite, wrote an entirely new Greek OT translation
c170 Dionysius: bishop of Corinth, complained Christians were changing & faking his own letters just as they had changed the Gospels [EH4.23.12;ANF,v.8]
c170 Alogi: Asia Minor Christian sect, rejected antipope Saint Hippolytus' "Logos" doctrine? (217-235), rejected Gospel of John and Revelations which were said to be written by the Gnostic Cerinthus [Epiphanius, Heresies 51.3]
c175 Acts of Paul: (inc. 3 Cor.), in Greek [NT Apocrypha,Schneemelcher,v.2]
c175 Valentinus: b.100?, founded Gnostic Valentinian School of Rome, taught secret wisdom from Paul [Rm16:25,1Cor2:7] from his disciple Theudas, wrote: "On the 3 Natures", quoted in Pseudo-Anthimus: God is 3 hypostases [hidden spiritual realities] & 3 prosopa [persons]: Father, Son, Holy Spirit
180 CE
180 Against Heresies by Irenaeus, a student of Polycarp
180 Theophilus: bishop of Caesarea [ANF=Ante-Nicene Fathers,Eerdmans,v.8]
180 Gaius: b.110?, Roman jurist, wrote: "Institutiones": summary of Roman Law
180-192 • Dec 31 Commodus: b.161, Roman emperor, Hercules redivivus, strangled
180-210 Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in Beth-shearim
184-204 Yellow Turban Rebellion of China: contributed to final Han overthrow
189-198 Pope Victor I: 1st Latin Pope, called Council in 190 to determine "official" new date of "Easter" but failed, excommunicated Eastern churches that continued to observe "Easter" on Biblical Nisan 14 "Quartodeciman"
c180 Athenagoras: Athenian philosopher convert to Christianity [ANF,v.2]
c180 Apollinaris: bishop of Hierapolis [ANF=Ante-Nicene Fathers,v.8]
c185 Theophilus: 7th bishop of Antioch, convert from paganism [ANF,v.2]
190 CE
193 Year of Five Roman Emperors
193-211 • Feb 4 Septimius Severus: b.146, Roman Emperor, persecuted Christians...
193Jan-Mar-Jun Pertinax - Didius Julianus: Roman Emperors, both assassinated
196 Polycrates: b.125?, bishop of Ephesus, supported Quartodecimans in "Easter" controversy versus Pope Victor in 190 [ANF=Ante-Nicene Fathers,v.8]
198-217 Pope Zephyrinus; also 1st antipope Natalius? [Ecc. Hist. 5.28.8-12]
c190 Serapion: 9th bishop of Antioch, disputed Gospel of Peter (65) [EH6.12]
c190 Hsu Yo: Chinese mathematician, wrote: Shu Shu Chi I
c190 Heracleon: disciple of Gnostic Valentinus, 1st commentary on Gospel of John (cited by Origen & Clement), wrote: "Tripartite Tractate" (Nag Hammadi)
3rd Century CE
200-299 CE
200 CE
c200 Theodotion: Greek convert to Judaism, revised Septuagint/LXX (282bce)
c200 Sahidic Coptic cop(sa) Bible translations written in Alexandria
c200 Hypostasis [hidden spiritual reality] of the Archons (Nag Hammadi)
c200 Valentinian Exposition: 24.23: Son is hypostasis of Father (Nag Hammadi)
c200 Corpus Hermeticum: Alexandrian quasi-Neo-Platonism [ISBN:0-87773-338-4]
c201 Claudius Galen: b.130?, Greek Anatomist: On the Natural Faculties (Loeb)
c202 Irenaeus: 2nd bishop of Lyons, supported Quartodecimans in Easter controversy versus Pope Victor in 190, wrote Against Heresies in Greek (lost), extant Latin
210 CE
210-240 Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in Sepphoris Galilee
211-217Apr8-218Jun8 Caracallus - Macrinus: Roman Emperors, both assassinated
212 Constitutio Antoniana: Civis Romanus sum!, all free men Roman citizens
217 Judah Ha-Nasi: b.135?, "Rabbi", codified Mishnah (c220) Torah teachings
217 Gaius (Caius): presbyter of Rome, anti-Montanist, wrote "Dialogue against Proclus", rejected Gospel of John, Hebrews, Rev. [Canon NT,Metzger; ANF,v.5]
217 Clement: b.153, bishop of Alexandria, pagan philosopher convert, cited Alexandrian NT text-type & Secret Gospel of Mark & Gospel of the Egyptians, wrote: Exhortations, Paedagogus, Stromata (Loeb Classics) [ANF,v.2]
217-222-230-236-237-250 Popes Callistus I-Urban I-Pontian-Anterus-Fabian
217-235 Antipope Saint Hippolytus: bishop of Rome, "Logos" sect [ANF,v.5]
218-222 • Mar 11 Heliogabalus (Elagabalus): b.204, Roman Emperor, boy priest, promoted Syrian sun-god Elagabal & meteorite brought to Rome, assassinated
220 CE
220 Goths invaded Asia Minor & Balkans
220-264 3 Kingdoms period of China: Wu (south), Wei (north), Shu (west)
220-589 6 Dynasties period of China: capital Nanjing
222-235 • Mar 18 Alexander Severus: Roman Emperor, halted Christian persecutions
226-241 Ardashir: Persian Emperor, founded Sasanian Empire of Persia (226642), conquered Mesopotamia in 230, Zoroastrianism state religion ...
c220 Minucius Felix: Roman Christian lawyer, wrote in Latin [ANF,v.4]
c220 Tertullian: b.160?, Carthaginian lawyer, Christian convert in c193 then to Montanism (c155) in c207, "Father of Latin Church", coined "Trinity", "New Testament", 2-natures doctrine (Jesus fully human & divine), advocated exclusion of women from priesthood, wrote: Father, Son, Holy Spirit are 1 substantia yet 3 persona, cited rumor Jesus son of prostitute [Spectaculis 30.6], cited "Western" text-type; (Loeb Classics, Latin) [ANF,v.3-4]
c225 Papyrus 967: Chester Beatty 9, Greek Ezekiel 11:25-end, c.Vaticanus
230 CE
230-258 Council of Rome: Bishop Demetrius of Alexandria condemns Origen (253)
235-238 • Jun Maximinus: Roman Emperor, ended Christian schism by deporting Pope Pontian & antipope Saint Hippolytus to Sardinia where they died, assassinat.
238-244 Gordianus III: Roman Emperor at age 13, assassinated
240 CE
240-258 Council of Carthage: early Christian council
240-640 Sanhedrin (High Court) of Judaism regularly held in Tiberias, Galilee
241-272 Shapur: Persian Emperor, captured Asia Minor, Syria, Valerianus
244-249 Philippus the Arabian: Roman Emperor, celebrated 1,000th anniversary of Rome in 248, defeated & killed by Decius
249 Wang Pi: b.226, Taoist commentaries on I Ching, Lao-tzu, Chuang-tzu
249-251-253-253 Decius - Gallus (assa.) - Aemilianus (assa.): Roman Emperors
c240 Commodianus: Early Christian Church Father [ANF=Ante-Nicene Fathers,v.4]
250 CE
250-350 Apostolic Constitutions of Orthodox Christianity: #2.36 (p.413): Thou shalt observe the Sabbath, on account of Him who ceased from His work of creation, but ceased not from His work of providence: it is a rest for meditation of the law, not for idleness of the hands. #6.19 (p.458): For He nowhere has dissolved the law, as Simon Magus pretends, but fulfilled it; for He says: [Mt5:18,17]. #7.23 (p.469): But keep the Sabbath, & the Lord's day festival; because the former is the memorial of the creation, & the latter of the resurrection. But there is 1 only Sabbath to be observed by you in the whole year, which is that of our Lord's burial, on which men ought to keep a fast, but not a festival. Approved at Orthodox Synod of Trullo in 692 [ANF=Ante-Nicene Fathers,v.7,Eerdmans]
250-400 Tosefta: supplements to the Mishnah (217) of Judaism
251-253-254-257-258 Popes Lucius I - Stephen I - Sixtus II - Cornelius
251-258 Antipope Novatian: no forgiveness for sins after baptism [ANF,v.5]
253 Origen: b.185?, used Greek Gnostic term "homoousios" [Jesus & God of "same substance"]; God is 1 genus of ousia [substance] yet 3 distinct species of hypostases [hidden spiritual realities?] of Father, Son, Holy Spirit; compiled "Hexapla": 6 versions of Jewish Scriptures side by side: Hebrew MT, Hebrew transliterated into Greek, Aquila's Greek translation, Symmachus' Greek translation, Origen's revised LXX, Theodotion's revised LXX; also Quinta/Sexta/Septima translations; Tetragrammaton in square Hebrew script; cited "Alexandrian" & "Caesarean" NT text-types; [ANF,v.4,10] According to Eusebius [EH6.8.1-3] Origen castrated himself for Christ due to Mt19:12 & disputed authenticity of Pauline Letters {Paul ... did not so much as write to all the churches that he taught; & even to those to which he wrote he sent but a few lines.} [EH6.25.7(Loeb)]
253-260 Valerianus: Roman Emperor, notorious persecutor of Christians, in 258 "Valerian's Massacre" executed Pope Sixtus II, antipope Novatian, Bishop Cyprian of Carthage, & all other Christian Bishops, Priests & Deacons
257 Visigoths & Ostrogoths invaded Black Sea area, Franks invaded Spain
258 Cyprian: bishop of Carthage, pagan convert, claimed Christians freely forged his letters to discredit him, cited "Western" NT text-type [ANF,v.5]
c.253 Death of theologian Origen
c250 Diophantus of Alexandria: wrote 1st book on algebra: "Arithmetica"
c250 Mandeans: followers of John the Baptist, began compilation of "Ginza"
c250 Liu Hui: Chinese mathematician, wrote: Hai Tao Suan Ching
260 CE
260-268 Gallienus: Roman Emperor, reversed Valerian, restored Church, assass.
260-268,269-274,275-283-296 Popes Dionysius - Felix I - Eutychian - Gaius
264-268 Council of Antioch: condemned Paul of Samosata: bishop of Antioch & founder of Adoptionism (Jesus was human until Holy Spirit descended at his baptism); also condemned use of Gnostic term "homoousios" (325)
265 Dionysius the Great: b.200?, bishop of Alexandria [ANF,v.6]
265-316 Western Jin (Chin) dynasty of reunited China: compass invented in 271
267-272 Septimia Zenobia: Queen of Palmyra, controlled Egypt 269-272
268 Goths sacked Athens, Sparta, Corinth ...
268-270-270 Claudius II (plague) - Quintillus (suicide): Roman Emperors
270 CE
270 Plotinus: b.205, Egyptian philosopher, founded Neo-Platonism, Doctrine of 3 Primal Hypostases: 1 [To Hen], Mind [Nous], Soul [Psyche]; yet the 1 transcends hypostasis, is prior to hypostasis & beyond being; Loeb:7v(Greek)
270-275 Aurelianus: Roman Emperor, restitutor orbis, vigorously promoted Sol Invictus sun-god (continued by Probus & early Constantine) & festival dies natalis Solis Invicti (birthday of Invincible Sun) on Dec 25, dedicated Sol Invictus Temple in 274Dec25, made Sol the official religion & principle patron of the empire, assassinated; {Besides, the Sol Invictus had been adopted by the Christians in a Christian sense, as demonstrated in the Christ as Apollo-Helios in a mausoleum (c.250) discovered beneath St. Peter's in the Vatican.} {indeed, from the beginning of the 3d century "Sun of Justice" appears as a title of Christ} [New Catholic Encyclopedia,v.4,p.227,v.3,p.656]
276-276-276-282-283 Tacitus - Florianus - Probus - Carus; Roman Emperors
276-293-302-309 Bahram 2nd - Narses - Hormizd 2nd: Persian Emperors, decline
277 Mani: b.216, crucified?, founded Manichaean Christian sect in Persia
280 CE
280 Anatolius of Alexandria: b.230, bishop of Laodicea [ANF,v.6]
283 Carinus: Western Roman Emperor; Numerianus: Eastern Roman Emperor
284-305 • May 1 Diocletianus: Roman Emperor, notorious persecutor of Christians, in 286 divided empire into West & East, in 293 divided each into 2 administrative units, in 303-312 "Diocletian's Massacre" edict against Christians
285 Pappus of Alex. described 5 machines: cogwheel/lever/pulley/screw/wedge
286 Emperor Diocletian moves the Western Empire's capital from Rome to Milan; Maximian in Milan
286-310 Maximanus: Roman Emperor, co-Augustus, father of Maxentius, suicide
290 CE
293-306 • Jul 25 Constantius I: Roman Emperor, co-Caesar, father of Constantinus
293-311 • May Galerius: Roman Emperor, co-Caesar with Constantius I
294 Codex Gregorianus: compilation of Roman Law
296-304 Pope Marcellinus: apostate, offered pagan sacrifice for Diocletianus
4th Century CE
300-399 CE
300 CE
303 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian
304 Porphyry: b.233, Neoplatonic philosopher, wrote: "Adversus Christianos"
306 Maxentius, the son of Maximian, seizes power in Italy but is not recognized by the other Roman emperors
306 Council of Elvira: prohibited eating/marriage/sex between Christian & Jew
306-308 Pope Marcellus I: tried removing prior Pope Marcellinus from official records for apostasy, exiled from Rome by Maxentius for disturbing the peace
306-337 • May 22 Emperor Constantinus the Great: saw a vision in the sun of a cross with the words "by this sign conquer": in 0312-10-28 invaded Rome & defeated Maxentius at Milvian Bridge; in Feb 313 decreed "Edict of Milan" with Licinianus ending religious persecutions; in 314 called Council of Arles against Donatus; in 315 erected Arch of Constantine; on 0321-03-07 decreed SUNday (dies Solis) as Roman day of rest [CJ3.12.2]; in 324 defeated & executed Licinianus & became sole Emperor; in 325 May-Aug called Council of Nicaea, 1st Ecumenical, c300 bishops decreed 20 canons, Constantine proposed condemned Gnostic term (264) "homoousios" (Jesus & God of SAME substance) causing "Homoiousians" schism (Jesus & God of LIKE substance) led by Meletius of Antioch, Cyril of Jerusalem & Basil of Ancyra, by June 19 325 still 18 bishops refused to sign but under Constantine's threats only Arius, Secundus & Theonas held out & were exiled; on 0330-05-11 moved capital to Constantinople (formerly Byzantium); converted to Christianity on deathbed
309-379 Shapur 2nd the Great: Persian Emperor, regained lost ground from Rome, ordered "Avesta" compilation of Zoroastrian texts back to c.1000bce
c300 Bohairic Coptic cop(bo) Bible translations written in Alexandria
c300 Hesychius of Alex.: martyr, translated Hebrew OT to Greek, lost [Jerome]
c300 Kama Sutra: doctrine of sacred sex by Vatsayan Mallagana of Benares
c300 Katayayana: compilation of Indian Law
c300 Paris Magical Papyrus: compilation of writings on magic in Greek
c300 Ch'en Cho: Chinese astronomer, also Kan Te/Shih Shen/Wu Hsien of c350bce
c300 Papyrus Berlin Codex of Greek Genesis; Papyrus Bodmer 24 of Greek Psalms; Codex Freer of Greek Minor Prophets; all published in 1927
c301 Christianity state religion of Armenia by Saint Gregory the Illuminator
310 CE
310 Pope Eusebius: deported to Sicily with antipope Heraclius by Maxentius
311-314 Pope Miltiades: given Fausta's palace as papal residence by Constantinus; excommunicated Donatus in 313 for requiring rebaptism of apostates
312 Lucian: founded Exegetical School of Antioch, revised LXX, martyred
312 Methodius: Early Church Father, martyred [ANF=Ante-Nicene Fathers,v.6]
312 • Oct 28 Constantine's Battle of Milvian Bridge: after a vision of the cross in the sky, Constantine adopts the Chi-Rho as his symbol and defeats Maxentius.
312 • Oct 29 Constantine enters Rome and is proclaimed Emperor
314-335,336-337-352-366 Popes Silvester I - Mark - Julius I - Liberius
316-589 Tartar invasion of northern (Wei) China
317-420 Eastern Jin (Chin) dynasty of China: capital at Nanking, Tartar advance halted at Battle of Fei Shui in 383
320 CE
320-335 Chandragupta: founded Gupta dynasty of northern India (320-495)
321 Constantine decrees Sunday as day of rest
325 Council of Nicaea
c320 Lactantius: b.250?, Early Christian Church Father [ANF,v.7]
c325 Fayyumic Coptic cop(mf) translation fragment of John 6:11-15:11
330 CE
330 Constantine makes Constantinople the empire's second capital
330 Iamblichus: b.245, Syrian Neoplatonic philosopher
334-365 Codex Hermogenianus: compilation of Roman Law
335 Council of Jerusalem: reversed Council of Nicaea's condemnation of Arius, on Sep17 consecrated Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulchre
335-376-414 Samudragupta - Chandragupta 2nd: Gupta dynasty of northern India
336 Arius: b.256?, Greek theologian, Arianism: Father only true God [Jn17:3], Jesus firstborn of all creation [Col1:15], Logos (Word) was created [Pr8:22]
337 Death of Constantine the Great
337-340 • Mar Constantinus II: co-Emperor of West at age 20, killed by Constans
337-350 Constans: co-Emperor of West @14, killed in Revolt of Magnentius
337-361 • Nov 3 Constantius II: Emperor of East at 21, Arianism official state religion, in 353 defeated Magnentius, supported antipope Felix II (355-365), on 0356-02-19 closed all Pagan Temples, 1st tour of Rome in 0357-04-28
338 Judaism adopted 19-year cycle lunisolar calendar
c339 Eusebius: b.260?, bishop of Caesarea, cited "Caesarean" NT text-type, wrote: Ecclesiastical History (EH); (Loeb Classics: 2 volumes, Greek); quoting Papias bishop of Hierapolis (c130); Eusebius' NT Canon [EH3.3,25]: Recognized: 4 Holy Gospels, Acts, 10 Pauline Letters, 1-2Tim, Tit, 1Pt, 1Jn; Disputed: Didache, Barnabas, Hermas, Diatessaron, Jewish-Christian Gospels, Hebrews, Acts of Paul, James, 2Pt, 2-3Jn, Jude, Rev, Apocalypse of Peter Rejected: Gospels of Peter, Thomas, Matthias, Acts of Andrew, John ...
340 CE
343 Council of Sardica: decreed 20 canons (laws)
343 Ko Hung: b.283, Chinese alchemist, immortality pills, wrote Pao-p'u-tzu
346 Public pagan worship prohibited
350 CE
356 Pagan temples closed
357 2nd Council "Blasphemy" of Sirmium: condemned Council of Nicaea (Anomean)
359 Double Council of Rimini-Seleucia: Dated Creed (Homoean)
c350 Papyrus Antinoopolis: of Book of Proverbs in Greek, published in 1950
c350 Papyrus Bodmer 45-46: Greek Susanna, Daniel 1:1-20 (Theodotion's LXX)
c350 Akhmimic cop(ac) & Sub-Akhmimic cop(ac2) Coptic translations of John
c350 Ulfilas: apostle to the Goths (Germans), translated Greek NT to Gothic
c350 Nag Hammadi Codices: Coptic Gnostic Library, 12 papyrus codices, 1945
c350 Old Syriac (Aramaic) Gospels: Syr(s) & Syr(c), of "Western" text-type
c350 Canon Muratorian: 4 Gospels, Acts, 10 Pauline Letters, 1-2Tim, Titus, 1-2Jn, Jude, Wisdom; disputes 3Jn, Rev, Apoc. of Peter, Hermas [ANF,v.5]
c350 Doctrine of Addai: Syriac account of founding of Christianity in Edessa by Addai (=Thaddeus); Canon of Diatessaron,Acts,10Paul,1-2Tim,Tit,Heb,3Cor
c350 Papyrus Chester Beatty: #4:R961: Greek Gn9:1-44:22; #11: Greek Sir36:2837:22,46:6-47:2; #12: Greek Enoch93:12-13,94:7-8,97:6-104:13,106:1-107:3
c350
Codex Sinaiticus (S or
c350 Codex Vaticanus (B): earliest Christian Bible (LXX - Maccabees - Psalms of Solomon + 23NT???), missing Gn1-46:28, Ps105:27-137:6, 1Tm-Phm, Heb9:14-end; of "Alexandrian" text-type: most accurate text-type
c350 Comma Johanneum: "in heaven, the Father, the Word, & the Holy Ghost: & these 3 are 1. & there are 3 that bear witness in earth," [1Jn5:7b-8a(KJV)]; 1st found in Latin book "Liber Apologeticus" by Gnostic Priscillian, found in only 4 Greek manuscripts!, none prior to 11th century! [Epis.John,Brown]
360 CE
361-363 • Jun 26 Emperor Julianus "the Apostate": Pagan revival; (Loeb:3v, Greek)
363-364 • Feb Jovianus: Roman Emperor, lost Armenia to Shapur 2nd of Persia
364 Pagan temple revenue confiscated
364-375 • Nov 17 Valentinian I: Emperor of West, appointed brother Valens to East
364-378 • Aug 9 Valens: Emperor of East, Arian, tolerant of Pagans & Jews
365 Acacius: bishop of Caesarea, Homoeans: Son is homoios (like) Father
366-367 antipope Ursinus: leader of supporters of former Pope Liberius
366-384 Pope Damasus I: hired thugs to massacre rival Ursinians (Liberians), in 382 called Council of Rome which rejected 381 Council of Theodosius (not accepted till Lyons II in 1274), had Jerome begin Latin Bible revision, decreed Canon of OT,Tobit,Judith,Wisdom,Sirach,1-2Macc,27NT? [disputed]; in 384 Jerome presented new Latin Gospels, originals lost
367-383 • Aug 25 Gratianus: Emperor of West, hunted pagans with Ambrose, assassi.
c360 Canon Cheltenham: (aka Mommsen's), claimed 24OT+24NT based on Rev4:4: OT,Ps151,Tobit,Judith,1-2Mac,4Gospels,Acts,10Paul,1-2Tim,Tit,1-2Pt,1-3Jn,Rev
c365 Council of Laodicea: in Phrygia; decreed 59 canons: #16 (p.133): The Gospels are to be read on the Sabbath [i.e. Saturday], with the other Scriptures. #29 (p.148): Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord's Day; &, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ. + #60 (p.159): KJV Canon +Baruch +Epistle of Jer. -Rev.[Nicene & Post-N. Fathers:7 Ecum. Councils,2ndS.,v.14,Eerdmans]
370 CE
370 Huns of Central Asia invaded Europe
370 Aetius: Christian bishop, Syntagmation: "God is agennetos (unbegotten)"
373 Athanasius: b.295, bishop of Alexandria, condemned at 335Jul Council of Tyre, called 362 Council of Alexandria, decreed God is 3 hypostases, in 367 Festal Letter 39 decreed Canon of OT,Baruch,EpJer,Tobit,Judith,Wisdom, Sirach,Didache,Hermas,27NT [NPNF,s2,v4]
375-387,388-392 • May 15 Valentinian II: Emperor of West at age 4!, assassinated
376 Photinus: bishop of Sirmium: Jesus was a man adopted by the Father as Son
379-395 • Jan 17 Theodosius the Great: last united Roman Emperor, in 381May-July called Council at Constantinople, 2nd Ecumenical, against Bishop Macedonius, decreed 4-7 canons?; in 390 declared Nicene Christianity official state religion on Feb27, Riot & Massacre at Thessalonica, performed public penance for on Dec25; in 391 anti-Pagan Edicts such as purges of non-Christian works at Library of Alexandria; in 393 halted Olympics
c379 Basil the Great: b.330?, bishop of Caesarea; (Loeb Classics 4v, Greek)
380 CE
383 • (June) Revolt of Maximus • Famine in Rome
384-399-401 Popes Siricius (criticized Jerome) - Anastasius I
385 Tao-an: b.312, Chinese Buddhist philosopher
386 Cyril: archbishop of Jerusalem, cited "Caesarean" text-type [NPNF,s2,v7]
387 Maximus invades Italy (autumn)
c380 Canon 85: of Apostolic Constitutions (250-350): OT, Judith, Sirach, 1-3Macc, Didache, 1-2Clement, 26NT (exc. Rev), lists itself also [ANF,v.7]
390 CE
390 Apollinaris of Laodicea: b.310, Jesus is human body & divine spirit
393 Theodosius decrees all pagan practices are to be eliminated
394 Council of Constantinople: called by Bishop Nectarius
395 Eastern Roman Empire becomes Byzantium
395 Ausonius: b.310?, Christian governor of Gaul; (Loeb Classics 2v, Latin)
395-408 Arcadius: Eastern Roman Emperor, father of Theodosius II
395-410 Alaric: Visigoth King, sacked Athens in 396, Rome on 410Aug14
397 Ambrose: b.339?, bishop & governor of Milan, wrote: "de Fide" ...
397 Ling-pao ching wrote "Book of the Sacred Jewel", Taoist philosophy
399 Imperial agents close the pagan shrines in Africa
399-421-459 Yazdigird - Bahram 5th: Persian Emperors
c395 Ammianus Marcellinus: b.330?, Christian historian, wrote: "Res gestae"
5th Century CE
400-499 CE
400 CE
400-600 era of "aggressive forgeries" in Christian texts [Grant,JTS,1960]
401-417 Pope Innocent I: decreed Roman Custom the norm for Roman Catholicism, in Letter #6 (to Exuperius) listed Canon of OT,Tobit,Judith,1-2Macc,27NT
403 Epiphanius: b.315, bishop of Salamis, Cyprus; in 370 cited Canon of OT, Baruch, Epistle of Jeremiah, Wisdom, Sirach, 27NT [Heresies 8.6, 76.5 ...]
404 The last gladiator competition in Rome
405-411 Fa-hsien: Chinese Buddhist, visited India
406 Armenian Bible: translated by St. Mesrop [Life of Mesrop]
406-407 Franks invaded Gaul, Romans retreated from Britain (begun in 383)
406-428 Gunderic: Vandal King, allied with Alans & Sciri invaded Spain in 409
407 Saint John Chrysostom: of Antioch, famous anti-Semite [NPNF]
408 A decree that all pagan temples are to be used for other purposes
408-450 Theodosius II: Eastern Roman Emperor at 7, in 431Jun-Aug called Council of Ephesus, 3rd Ecumenical, against Patriarch Nestorius (451), decreed 6-8 canons?, Mary is "Mother of God" (Theotokos) [cf. Artemis of Ephesus]; in 438 ordered "Codex Theodosianus" compilation of Roman Law; in 449Aug called "Robber" Council of Ephesus (Monophysite)
c400 Palestinian Talmud (Mishnah (Oral Law) + Gemara (Mishnah commentary))
c400 Pericope of the Adulteress: John 7:53-8:11, added to Bible [Jerome,(D)]
c400 Codex Vercellensis it(a): Latin Gospels, of "European" text-type
c400 Ethiopic Bible: in Ge'ez, 81 books, standard Ethiopian Orthodox Bible
c400 Peshitta Bible: Syriac (Aramaic) Vulgate, Syr(p), OT + 22NT, excludes: 2Pt, 2-3Jn, Jude, Rev; Peshitta becomes standard Syrian Orthodox Bible
c400 Vulgate Bible: (Hebrew OT ->Latin, Greek NT ->Latin), by Jerome? (c419), originals lost, Vulgate Latin Text becomes standard Roman Catholic Bible
c400 early Christian Canon Law: in Greek, 20 from Nicaea (325), 25 from Ancyra (314), 15 from Neocaesarea (315), 20 from Gangra (c325), 25 from Antioch (341), 59 from Laodicea (c365) [NPNF:7 Ecumenical Councils]
c400 Codex Bobiensis it(k): c.1/2 of Mt/Mk in Latin, "African" (Carthage) text-type, has "shorter" ending of Mark after Mk16:8: {But they reported briefly to Peter & those with him all that they had been told. & after this Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred & imperishable proclamation of eternal slavation.} [Text.Com., Metzger, p.123]
c400 Jerome cited "expanded" ending of Mark found in (W) after Mk16:14: {& they excused themselves, saying, "This age of lawlessness & unbelief is under Satan, who does not allow the truth & power of God to pervail over the unclean things of the spirits [or does not allow what lies under the unclean spirits to understand the truth & power of God]. Therefore reveal thy righteousness now" - thus they spoke to Christ. & Christ replied to them, "The term of years of Satan's power has been fulfilled, but other terrible things draw near. & for those who have sinned I was delivered over to death, that they many inherit the spirtual & incorruptible glory of righteousness which is in heaven."} [A Textual Commentary on the Greek NT, Bruce Metzger, p.124]
c405 Prudentius: b.348, greatest Christian Latin poet; (Loeb Classics: 2v)
c408 Claudian: b.370?, Alexandrian Latin poet: "Rape of Proserpine" ; Loeb:2v
410 CE
410 • Aug Three day sack of Rome by the Visigoths; Roman refugees to Africa
412 Visigoths under Ataulf invaded France, in 416 Spain
413 Augustin begins City of God
413 Kumarajira: b.334, Chinese Buddhist philosopher
414 Sheng-chao: b.384, Chinese Buddhist philosopher, wrote: "Chao-lun"
414-454 Kumaragupta: Gupta dynasty of northern India, invaded by White Huns
415 • March Death of Hypatia
415 • Mar Saint Cyril Archbishop of Alexandria: d.444, had monks murder woman philosopher & mathematician Hypatia by scraping off skin with oyster shells; expelled Jews; persecuted Novatianists; [Gibbon's Decline & Fall, v2, p816]; coined "hypostatic union": Christ is 2 phuseis [2-natures] yet 1 hypostasis
417 Hui-yuan: b.334, Chinese Buddhist philosopher
417-418-422-432-440 Popes Zosimus - Boniface I - Celestine I - Sixtus III
418-419 antipope Eulalius
c416 C.R. Namatianus: last Pagan Latin poet, wrote: "de Reditu Suo"
c419 Saint Jerome: S.E. Hieronymus, b.347?, Christian Latin Scholar; (Loeb)
420 CE
426 Theodosius orders the destruction of all Greek temples; Augustine's City of God published
428-c460 Gaiseric: Vandal King, Arian?, invaded N. Africa in 429, Hippo in 430, Carthage in 439Oct29, brutal sack "vandalism" of Rome in 455
429 Picts, Scots, Celts expelled from southern England by Anglo-Saxon-Jutes
c425 Philostorgius: Greek Church Historian: Ecclesiastical History c325-425
c425 "Way to Purity": Buddhist doctrine written by Buddhaghosa of Ceylon
c427 Ashi: head of Sura Yeshiva, "Rabbana", began compilation of Bab. Talmud
430 CE
430 Death of St. Augustine
430 • Aug 28 St. Augustine of Hippo: b.354, Gnostic (Manichaean) convert to Christianity, origin of "Original Sin", in 393 called Council of Hippo, decreed Pope Damasus' Canon [NPNF,s2,v14], in 394-419 called Council of Carthage, decreed 138 canons (laws); wrote: City of God, Confessions; Loeb:10v(Latin)
431 Syrian Christianity split into East (Nestorians) & West (Jacobites)
432 St. Patrick begins his mission to Ireland
432 Saint Patrick: 385-461, "Apostle of Ireland", began mission to Ireland
434 Chu Tao-sheng: b.360?, Chinese Buddhist philosopher
434-453 Attila: b.406?, King of the Huns, "Scourge of the Gods"
440 CE
440-461-468-483-492 Popes Leo I the Great - Hilarus - Simplicius - Felix III
450 CE
450-457 Marcian: Eastern Roman Emperor, in 451Oct-Nov called Council of Chalcedon, 4th Ecumenical, condemned Council of Ephesus of 449, decreed 8-30 canons?, Nicene Creed ..., God is 1 ousia [substance] yet 3 hypostases [hidden spiritual realities?], Pope Leo I's Tome of 449: Christ is 2 phuseis [2-natures: 1 fully human & 1 fully divine] yet 1 hypostasis (compromise solution of Jesus god/man schisms); yet in 453 Pope Leo I rejected canons of Chalcedon, not accepted till Lyons II in 1274
451 Battle of Avarayr: Persia defeated Armenia, tried to force Zoroastrianism
451 Patriarch Nestorius of Constantinople: Mary was *not* "Mother of God" & Christ is 2 phuseis [2-natures] & 2 hypostases [hidden spiritual realities?]
452 Eutyches of Constantinople: Monophysites: Jesus Christ is 1 divine nature
452-456-479-539-571 Anko - Yuryaku - Senka - Kinmei: Japanese Emperors
453 Death of Attila the Hun
454-467,475-495 Skandagupta - Budhagupta: Gupta dynasty of northern India
455-1224 Chichen Itza, Mexico: founded by Mayans on Yucatan peninsula
457-474 Leo I: Eastern Roman Emperor
458-481 Childeric I: Frank King, father of Clovis I
459-484-531-579 Peroz - Kavadh - Khusrau: Persian Emperors
c450 Mark's Resurrection of Jesus: Mark 16:9-20, added to Bible [(A),(D)]
c450 Socrates: Greek Church Historian, wrote: Ecclesiastical History 305-439
c450 Sozomen: Greek Church Historian, wrote: Ecclesiastical History 324-439
c450 Chief Hawai'i-Loa of Raiatea discovered Hawai'ian Islands
c450 Codex Alexandrinus (A): (LXX + 14_Church_Odes + 27NT + 1-2Clement), missing 1K12:17-14:9, Ps49:20-79:11, Psalms of Solomon, Mt1-25:6, Jn6:508:52, 2Cr4:13-12:6, 1Clement57.7-63.4, 2Clement12.5b-end; "Alexandrian" type
c450 Codex Bezae (D): Greek/Latin Gospels + Acts; Codex Washingtonianus (W): Greek Gospels; both of "Western" text-type: "fondness for paraphrase"
c450 Codex Ephraemi Syri rescriptus (C): Greek LXX + 27NT, many gaps
c450 Codex Marchalianus (Q): Greek LXX + Luke + John, many gaps
c450 Codex Ambrosianus (F): Gk Gen-Josh; Codex Freer: Gk Deut. & Joshua
c450 Codex Colberto-Sarravianus: Origen's Greek Hexapla LXX of Gen-Judg
c450 Codex Palatinus it(e): Latin Gospels, "African" (Carthage) text-type
c450 Codex Veronensis it(b): Latin Gospels, "European/Vulgate" text-type
c450 Syr(pal): Palestinian Syriac (Aramaic) Gospels, of "Caesarean" text-type
c450 std. Aramaic Targums: T. Onkelos of Torah, T. Jonathan of Prophets
c450 Bodhidharma: founded Zen Buddhism in India, brought to China
460 CE
470 CE
476 Fall of Western Roman empire
476 • Aug 28 Official End of Roman Empire; last Emperor: Romulus Augustulus
476-491 Zeno the Isaurian: founded Byzantine Empire (476-1453); in 482 decreed Patriarch Acacius' "Henotikon" against Pope Leo's "2-natures" causing Acacian Schism till 519; in 489 destroyed Nestorian school at Edessa
480 CE
481-511 • Nov 11 Clovis I: Frank King, capital Paris, Roman Catholic in 496
483 Christian Council of Persia adopted Nestorian (451) doctrine
490 CE
491 Armenian Church seceded from Byzantine & Roman Churches
491-518Jul9-527Aug1 Anastasius I - Justinus I: Byzantine Emperors
492-496 Pope Gelasius I: 1st "Vicar of Christ", decreed on 495May13
493-526 • Aug 30 Theodoric the Great: b.454?, Ostrogoth King of Italy
496-498-514-523-526 Popes Anastasius II - Symmachus - Hormisdas - John I
498 Nestorians (451) settled in Nisibis, Persia
498-499,501-506 antipope Lawrence: Lawrentian schism
Middle Ages
500-1500 CE
6th Century CE
500-599 CE
500 CE
500 world pop. c. 200 million: Asia: 130, Europe: 30, Africa: 30, America: 10
502 Narsai of Mealletha: Syrian poet, headed Nestorian school @ Nisibis (498)
c500
Codex Sangallensis vg
c500 Codex Argenteus (got): earliest nearly complete Gothic (German), Gospels
c500 Codex Cottonianus: Greek Genesis
c500 Susrata: Indian medical book compiled
510 CE
513 Mt. Vesuvius erupts again (79)
516-524 Sigismund: Burgundian King, left Arianism for Roman Catholicism
520 CE
520 Institutionis Grammaticae: Latin grammar by Priscianus of Constantinople
524 Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy
524-532 Godomar: Burgundian King, overrun by Franks
525 Dionysius Exiguus' Easter table created the concept of anno domini
525 Dionysius Exiguus set Christian calendar (a.d.), Jesus' birth at 1ceDec23
526 major earthquake hits Antioch killing c.250,000
526-530-532-535-536-537 Popes FelixIV-BonifaceII-JohnII-AgapitusI-Silverius
526-534-541 Athalaric - Hildebad: Ostrogoth Kings of Italy
527-565 • Nov 14 Justinianus the Great: Byzantine Emperor, empire reached largest size, persecuted Pagans & Jews; in 529 closed 900 year old Athens Academy of Philosophy; in 529-535 ordered "Corpus juris civilis" compilation of Roman Law by Tribonian; in 532Jan Nika Riot of Blues & Greens; in 533 Belisarius captured N. Africa from Vandals & in 535 began reconquest of Italy; Council of Clermont excluded Jews from public office; in 536Dec9 Belisarius captured Rome, held till 546 when Totila the Ostrogoth King (541-552) starved last c.500 residents into submission; in 537Dec27 dedicated Hagia Sophia; in 538 Council of Orleans required Jews to remain indoors during "Passion Week"; in 540 Persians sacked Antioch & took Syria, Ostrogoths retook Italy; in 542594 plague, *halved* population of Europe!; in 543 condemned Origen, disastrous world earthquakes; in 544 condemned "3 Chapters" of Theodore of Mopsuestia (d.428) & other "2-natures" Christology of Pope Leo's 449 Tome; in 552-554 Narses defeated Ostrogoths & retook Italy; in 552 sent Christian missionaries to China & Ceylon to get silkworm; in 553May-Jul called 2nd Council of Constantinople, 5th Ecumenical; decreed "Theopaschite Formula"
530 CE
530 antipope Dioscorus: was elected but P. Felix IV designated P. Boniface II
536 Climatic event likely due to volcanic activity: crop failures, recording of dim sunlight
537 King Arthur of the Britons killed in Battle of Camlan, myth?
537-555 Pope Vigilius: involved in death of Pope Silverius, conspired with Justinianus & Theodora, in June 547 issued "Iudicatum" supporting Justinianus' anti- "2-natures", excommunicated at Council of Carthage in 550!
540 CE
First recorded bubonic plague (Plague of Justinian) in Constantinople and Byzantine Empire
543 Yu p'ien: Chinese phonetic dictionary using Fan ch'ieh system
546 Codex Fuldensis vg(F): Latin Vulgate, 27NT + Epistle to Laodiceans (c100)
550 CE
St. David converts Wales; crucifix becomes Christian icon
550 Byzantine Greek Orthodox Bible: much smoothing & conflation
550 St. David converted Wales to Christianity, crucifix became Christian icon
550 Toltecs invaded Yucatan Peninsula & conquered Teotihuacan civilization
550-1453 Medieval Greek of Constantinople (Byzantium) became standard Greek
556-561 Pope Pelagius I: selected by Justinianus, endorsed "Iudicatum"
558-561,584-629-639 • Jan 9 Clotaire I - Clotaire II - Dagobert I: Frank Kings
c550 Codex Mediolanensis vg(M): Latin Vulgate Gospels
c550 Codex Veronensis: Greek & Old Latin Psalms
c550 "Book of Taliesin": Welsh poems by Taliesin
c550 Codex Claromontanus (Dp): Greek/Latin Pauline Letters, includes Canon of c350: OT,Tobit,Judith,Wisdom,Sirach,1-2-4Macc,Barnabas,Hermas,4 Gospels, Acts,7 Pauline Letters (excludes Philippians & 1-2Thess),1-2Tim,Tit,Acts of Paul,James,1-2Pt,1-3Jn,Jude,Rev,Apocalypse of Peter; "Western" text-type
560 CE
561-574 Pope John III: authorized by Justinianus
565-578-582-602-610 JustinII-TiberiusII-Maurikios-Phocas: Byzantine Emperors
568-774 Lombards invaded Italy, converted to Roman Catholicism in 589
570 CE
571-585-587-592 Bintas - Yomei - Sushun: Japanese Emperors
575-579 Pope Benedict I: authorized by Justin II
579-590-604 • Mar 12 Pope Pelagius II (plague) - Pope Gregory I the Great
580 CE
586-601 Recared: Visigoth King of Spain, in 589 called 3rd Council of Toledo, left Arianism for Roman Catholicism; "Filioque" added to Latin Nicene Creed?
589-618 Sui dynasty of China: reunited China, rebuilt Great Wall, Grand Canal, book printing, in 606 standard examinations for public office
c580 Cassiodorus: Roman Senator, founded Monasteries, transl. Greek to Latin
590 CE
Pope Pelagius II dies of plague; Gregory the Great elected
590-628 • Apr 3 Khusrau 2nd: Persian Emperor, in 611-614 captured Antioch, Damascus, Tarsus, Jerusalem, "Holy Cross of Christ", in 619 Egypt; assassinated
592-628 Suiko: Japanese Empress, Sinoization, Shitenno-ji Monastery @ Osaka, Hoko Temple, Shotoku Taishi Law, Horyuji & Hokoji Temples at Nara ...
593 Japan adopts Buddhism
595 1st authenticated record of decimal number system (0-9) appears in India
596 St. Augustine of Canterbury sent to convert England to Roman Catholicism
7th Century CE
600-699 CE
600 CE
600 Babylonian Talmud (Mishnah(Oral Law) + Gemara(Mishnah commentary)); Ashi
600 Antara ibn Shaddad: 1 of 7 great Islamic poets
601 Ch'ieh yun: Chinese phonetic dictionary of Northern Chinese dialect
604-606-607-615 Popes Sabinian-Boniface III-Boniface IV: authorized by Phocas
606-647 Harsavardhana of Kanauj: reunited northern India
c600 Codex Harleianus vg(Z): Latin Vulgate Gospels
c600 Codex Philoxenian/Harclean Syr(ph/h): Syriac 27NT, "Western" text-type
c600 Vaghbata: Indian medical book compiled
610 CE
610 • (10 Aug) Muhammad's first revelation at Mt. Jabal al-Nour
610-641 Heraclius: Byzantine Emperor, in 627Dec12 defeated Persians @ Nineveh & discovered Indian sugar cane, in 628 recovered "Holy Cross of Christ", in 629 defeated Muslims at Battle of Mu'ta & recovered Jerusalem till 638, in 636Aug15 defeated by Muslims in Syria at Battle of Yarmuk River, in 638 decreed Patriarch Sergius' "Ecthesis" (Monothelites: Christ of 1 will)
613 Muhammad begins preaching
615-618,619-625 Popes Deusdedit-Boniface V: authorized by Heraclius
616 Syro-Hexaplar: Syriac translation of Origen's Hexapla Septuagint (253)
618-907 Tang dynasty of China: inc. Korea/Manchuria/Mongolia/Tibet/Turkistan
619 Suan-Ching: "10 Classics", textbooks used for Chinese exams
620 CE
625 Paulinus of Rome began conversion of Northumbria to Roman Catholicism
625 Brahmagupta: Indian mathematician, taught at Ujjain
625-638 Pope Honorius I: condemned at 6th Ecumenical in 680! (Monothelites)
626-633 King Edwin of Northumbria: founded Edinburgh, advocated R. Catholic.
628-641 Jomei: Japanese Emperor
630 CE
632 East Anglia converted to Roman Catholicism, in 635 Wessex, in 636 Ireland
632 • (7 Jun) Death of Muhammad (p.b.u.h); beginning of the Muslim conquest
632-634 • Aug 22 Abu Bekr: b.573, 1st Islamic Caliph, capital at Medina
632-651 Yazdigird 3rd: last Sasanian Emperor of Persia, invaded by Islam
634-644 • Nov 4 'Umar: 2nd Islamic Caliph, capital at Damascus, in 634 conquered Syria, in 638 Jerusalem, in 639 Egypt, in 642 Persia; assassinated
640 CE
640 Pope Severinus
640 Library of Alexandria: "The Center of Western Culture," with 300,000 ancient papyrus scrolls, is completely destroyed.
642 Destruction of the Library of Alexandria
650 CE
660 CE
670 CE
680 CE
690 CE
8th Century CE
700-799 CE
700 CE
710 CE
720 CE
c.722 St. Boniface cuts down Thunor's oak
730 CE
740 CE
748 First printed newspaper
750 CE
760 CE
770 CE
771 • Dec Charlemagne becomes king of the Franks
772 • Summer Charlemagne destroys the Irminsul
776 Charlemagne ordered the Saxons to be baptized
780 CE
781 Alcuin met Charlemagne
782 Charlemagne ordered the beheading of 4500 prisoners
785 Charlemagne ordered that refusing baptism, offering sacrifice to demons, cremating a body, or eating meat during Lent would be punished by death
790 CE
796 Charlemagne's policy of forced baptism eas eased
797 Alcuin is appointed the abbot of Tours. Here his work with the monks developed more contemporary script and books.
9th Century CE
800-899 CE
800 CE
800 Charlemagne crowned Emperor
810 CE
814 Death of Charlemagne
815 Vikings discover Iceland
820 CE
830 CE
830 Establishment of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad
840 CE
841 Foundation of Dublin by Vikings
846 Saracen pirates sailed up the Tiber and sacked St. Peter's and St. Paul's Outside the Walls
850 CE
850-875 Settlement of Iceland by the Norse
860 CE
870 CE
871 English King Alfred the Great crowned
880 CE
890 CE
10th Century CE
900-999 CE
900 CE
907 Loire Vikings invade Brittany
910 CE
919 The first use of gunpowder in a conflict at the Battle of Langshan Jiang in China
920 CE
927 Kingdom of England becomes a unified state.
930 CE
940 CE
950 CE
960 CE
970 CE
980 CE
990 CE
11th Century CE
1000-1099 CE
1000 CE
1001-1008 Shikibu's The Tale of Genji
1010 CE
1020 CE
1030 CE
1040 CE
1050 CE
1060 CE
1066 William the Conqueror takes England
1070 CE
1080 CE
1090 CE
1095 Pope Urban II launches the First Crusade
1096 First lectures at the University of Oxford
1099 First Crusade's siege of Jerusalem
12th Century CE
1100-1199 CE
1100 CE
1110 CE
1119 Knight's Templar founded
1120 CE
1123 Future priests must be celibates
1130 CE
1140 CE
1144 Robert of Chester's translation of the Arabic Book of the Composition of Alchemy.
1147-49 Second Crusade
1150 CE
1160 CE
1170 CE
1170 • 29 Dec Murder of Thomas Beckett
1180 CE
1185 First record of windmills
1189-1192 Third Crusade (The Knight's Crusade)
1190 CE
1197 Crusade of Henry VI, German Crusade
13th Century CE
1200-1299 CE
1200 CE
1209 Francis of Assisi founds the Franciscan Order. Cathar massacre at Béziers & Carcassonne
1210 CE
1215 King John signs Magna Carta
1220 CE
1218-1224 Genghis Khan and the Mongol invasions
1223 The Signoria of Venice is formed
1226 Francis of Assisi dies ae 44 (b. 1182)
1230 CE
1240 CE
1240 At a tournament near Düsseldorf, sixty knights are killed
1245-46 1245-46: First known work of Thomas Aquinas (De fallaciis ad quosdam nobiles artistas)
1247 Death of Robin Hood
1250 CE
1260 CE
1261-63 Aquinas' Summa contra Gentiles
1265 Aquinas begins Summa Theologica
1270 CE
1274 • (7 Mar) Thomas Aquinas dies ae 48 (b. 1225)
1280 CE
1290 CE
1291 Siege of Acre
1296 The memoirs of Marco Polo
14th Century CE
1300-1399 CE
1300 CE
1306 Dante Alighieri begins working on The Divine Comedy
1307 • (13 Oct) The arrest of the Templars
1309-1377 The Avignon Papacy
1310 CE
1312 The Knights Templar are disbanded
1315-1317 The Great Famine kills millions in Europe
1320 CE
1320 Dante completes The Divine Comedy
1321 Dante dies ae 56 (b. 1265)
1330 CE
1336 • (26 Apr) Petrarch climbed Mont Ventoux
1337
Edward III of England claims the French throne and begins The Hundred Years War 
• Giotto dies ae 70 (b. 1267)
1340 CE
1341 • (8 Apr) Petrarch crowned poet laureate of Rome
1345 Petrarch discovers a collection of Cicero's letters
1346
The Battle of Crécy
1347-1351 The Black Death in Europe
1350 CE
1356
Battle of Poitiers
1360 CE
1368 Catherine of Siena has a mystical experience
1370 CE
1374 • (19 July) Petrarch dies aged 69
1376 Catherine of Siena is sent by Florence as an ambassador to the Papal States based in Avignon, and while in Avignon Catherine convinces Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome; death of Edward the Black Prince
1377 The Avignon Papacy (begun 1309) comes to an end when Gregory XI moves the papal court back to Rome
1378 Supposed birth of Christian Rosencreuz, founder of the Rosicrucians
1380 CE
1381 Peasants' Revolt in England
1390 CE
1398 King Richard II sentences Henry Bolingbroke to exile for 10 years, interrupting the planned duel against Thomas Mowbray
1399 Henry Bolingbrook's father John of Gaunt dies, and Richard II disherits Henry. Henry rebels and returns to England in summer 1399 to overthrow Richard and become King Henry IV (depicted in Shakespeare's Richard II)
15th Century CE
1400-1499 CE
1400 CE
1403 The Battle of Shrewsbury: Prince Henry gets an arrow in the face in defeat of Henry Hotspur Percy (Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 1)
1407 Supposed foundation of the Rosicrucian Order
1410 CE
1413 Henry V ascends to the English throne after the death of Henry IV
1415
The Battle of Agincourt (Shakespeare's Henry V). England occupies north France.
1420 CE
1420
Through the Treaty of Troyes Henry V becomes regent of France and marries Princess Catherine, daughter of French King Charles VI. The son of Charles VI, the Dauphin Charles VII, was disinherited, as Henry V was to gain the French throne at the death of Charles VI
1422 Henry V dies (ae 35) and his nine month old son Henry VI becomes King. England enters a Regency under John of Lancaster
1425 Joan of Arc's first vision of the angel Michael
1429
Joan of Arc ends the siege of Orleans ; Charles VII is crowned at Reims
1430 CE
1430 There is a library with a thousand books in Florence
1431 Execution of Joan of Arc; Henry VI crowned in England
1433 Cosimo de Medici is imprisoned in the Palazzo Vecchio before being exiled to Venice for a year
1440 CE
1441 Death of painter Jan van Eyck (b.1390)
1450 CE
1453 Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans; end of Byzantine Eastern Roman Empire
1455
Henry VI regains his sanity and clashes with Lord Protector York, who captures Henry VI (beginning of War of the Roses 
)
1458 Gutenberg's Bible
1459 Poggio Bracciolini dies (b.1380)
1460 CE
1460 Lord Protector Richard Duke of York dies in the Battle of Wakefield
1461
Richard of York's son Edward is crowned King of England (War of the Roses )
1470 CE
1470-71
Henry VI is restored as King of England for a year before Edward IV resumes the throne
1477 Canterbury Tales
1478 Pazzi conspiracy: the attempted assassination of the Medicis during High Mass in Florence Cathedral
1480 CE
1483
Edward IV dies and is succeeded by his twelve year old son Edward V. Edward V and his younger brother Richard disappear in the Tower of London and Richard III takes the crown.
1484 Pied Piper murders 130 children; supposed death of Christian Rosencruz at age 106
1485
Battle of Bosworth; Henry Tudor defeats Richard III and ascends the throne as Henry VII
1490 CE
1490 Savonarola's first Bonfire of the Vanities
1492 Jews expelled from Spain; Columbus lands in the New World; death of Pope Innocent VIII; elevation of Pope Alexander VI (11 Aug)
1494 Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas and agree to divide the World outside of Europe between themselves • King Charles VIII of France invades Italy to claim the Kingdom of Naples
1495 First syphilis outbreak in Naples
1498 • (23 May) Execution of Savonarola in Florence • Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper
1499 Michelangelo's Pieta
Early Modern World
1500-1800 CE
16th Century CE
1500-1599 CE
1500 CE
1501 Over a thousand printing shops now in Europe • Prince Arthur (ae 14) marries Catherine of Aragon (ae 16)
1502 Prince Arthur dies, making his younger brother Henry heir to the English throne
1503 Death of Pope Alexander VI; Pius III elected, who died less than a month later. Julius II elected. Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
1504 Michelangelo's David
1505 Death of Russia's Ivan the Great
1509 Henry VII dies (ae 52) and Henry VIII (ae 17) crowned; Henry marries his brother's widow Catherine (ae 23).
1510 CE
1512 Michelangelo completes Sistine Chapel ceiling fresco
1513 Death of Pope Julius II; Leo X elected. Ponce de Leon reaches Florida; Machiavelli publishes The Prince
1516 Thomas More's Utopia
1517 Cardinal Wolsey in England hangs sixty May Day rioters; Pope Leo X's jubilee sale of indulgences; Luther posts his Ninety-Five theses
1519 • 2 May Death of Leonardo da Vinci (b. 1452)
1520 CE
1520 Luther excommunicated; the rifle is invented
1524 Peasants revolt in Germany
1524-28 Henry VIII begins to believe his inability to have a son with Catherine is because he married his brother's wife, a sin proscribed in the Old Testament. By summer of 1527, they are separated and early in 1528 they are divorced.
1525 Tyndale's translation of the New Testament into English
1527 Machiavelli dies (b. 1469)
1528 Plague in England
1530 CE
1531 • (Dec 22) Marian apparition in Guadalupe Mexico leaves behind the image of the Virgin on the recipient's cloak
1531-32 The Church in England breaks with Rome and recognizes Henry VIII as head of the Church
1533 Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn after she became pregnant. They had been co-habiting already for two years. Anne proclaimed Queen, Elizabeth I born in September.
1534 Luther translates the Bible into German
1534-36 England formally breaks with Rome.
1535 Thomas More executed
1536 Anne Boleyn executed; Henry VIII marries Jane Seymour • William Tyndale executed for translating the Bible into English
1537 Jane Seymour gives birth to Edward VI but dies from complications of the birth twelve days later
1540 CE
1540 The summer of 1540 was so arid in what is now Germany that the Rhine river dried up • Henry VIII briefly marries Anne of Cleves before having the marriage annuled so he could marry Catherine Howard • Ignatius Loyola founds the Jesuits
1542 Catherine Howard is beheaded after being accused of having an adulterous relationship
1543 Copernicus' De revolutionibus orbium coelestium • Henry VIII marries Catherine Parr
1547 • 28 Jan Henry VIII dies, ae 55. Edward VI (ae 9) ascends to the throne, and England begins a Regency • death of Francis I of France (Mar 31)
1550 CE
1553 Edward VI dies (ae 15) and the crown briefly passes to Lady Jane Grey before settling on Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine
1558 • 17 Nov Mary I dies (ae 42) and the crown passes to Elizabeth I (ae 25), the daughter of Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth I reigns for the next 45 years
1582 The English Catholic Rheims Bible is published
1560 CE
1564 Death of Michelangelo (b. 1475); birth of Shakespeare
1570 CE
1572 Pope Pius V dies; Pope Gregory XIII elected
1573 Tycho Brahe's De nova stella
1580 CE
1580 Pope Gregory XIII dies; Pope Sixtus V elected
1587 Mary Queen of Scots executed (ae 45)
1588 The Spanish Armada
1590 CE
1590 Pope Sixtus V dies; Pope Urban VII elected but dies days later; Pope Gregory XIV elected
1590s Flourishing of Shakespeare's career
1591 Pope Gregory XIV dies; Pope Innocent IX elected but dies two months later
1592 Pope Clement VIII elected; Galileo Galilei is appointed professor of mathematics at University of Padua
17th Century CE
1600-1699 CE
1600 CE
1603 • 24 Mar Death of Elizabeth I; James VI of Scotland (the son of Mary Queen of Scots, who was the niece of Henry VIII) ascends to English throne as James I
1605 Establishment of Port Royal Nova Scotia (now Annapolis Royal) by French colonists; Pope Clement VIII dies; Pope Leo XI elected but dies less than a month later; Paul V elected • Gunpowder plot foiled
1609 Kepler publishes Astronomia nova; Galileo builds his first telescope • Doctor John Dee dies ae 81 (b. 1527) • Shakespeare's Sonnets published
1610 CE
1610 Galileo's Sidereus Nuncius: observes the mountains of the Moon and Jupiter's moons; 18 July death of Caravaggio (b. 1571)
1611 King James Bible published
1611-14 Shakespeare's last plays
1614-17 Rosicrucian pamphlets published
1616 Scotland passes the School Establishment Act of 1616; after a series of reforms later in the century, by 1696 Scotland is the first country with national compulsory education.
1616 Death of Shakespeare ae 52 (b. 1564); the Vatican warns Galileo against believing in Copernicus' system as proposed in his 1543 book and places De revolutionibus orbium coelestium on The Index
1618 Beginning of the Thirty Years War (lasts until 1648)
1620 CE
1620 Francis Bacon's New Organon & Saturation
1621 Pope Paul V dies; Pope Gregory XV elected
1621-26 Thomas Hobbes works with Francis Bacon
1622 The Rosicrucian posts in Paris
1623 Pope Gregory XV dies; Pope Urban VIII elected
1625 James I dies (ae 58) and Charles I ascends to the English throne
1626 Charles I crowned in England
1630 CE
1631 • May Sack of Magdeburg during the Thirty Years War; 25,000 killed
1632 Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
1633 Cardinal Richlieu subsidizes Sweden's participation in the Thirty Years War. French invade Lorraine; Jacques Callot's The Miseries of War; Galileo sentenced by the Inquisition for heresy and puts his Dialogue on The Index
1637 Japan's suppressed rebellion and closed its borders; Descartes' grid system published
1638 Galileo's Dialogue Concerning Two New Sciences
1640 CE
1641 Descartes Meditations
1642 Death of Galileo
1642-51 The English Civil War
1643 Louis XIV ascends to the throne of France and will reign for 72 years (until 1715)
1648 Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years War and establishes the modern concept of the nation-state
1649 Charles I executed (ae 48)
1650 CE
1651 Hobbes' Leviathan
1653-58 Oliver Cromwell is Lord Protector
1660 CE
1660 the Royal Society is founded in England
1661 Charles II crowned
1662 Blaise Pascal dies, ae 39
1664 New Amsterdam becomes New York
1665 the plague in London
1666 • Sept The Great Fire of London
1667 1st edition of Milton's Paradise Lost
1668 Isaac Newton builds his reflecting telescope
1669 • 4 Oct Death of Rembrandt (b. 1606)
1670 CE
1670s Hudson Bay Company founded
1674 2nd edition of Milton's Paradise Lost
1679 Thomas Hobbes dies (4 Dec) ae 91 (b. 1588)
1680 CE
1685 James II crowned • Birth of JS Bach, Handel & Scarlatti
1687 Newton's Philosophiae (1st ed)
1689 William III of Orange crowned • Locke: Essay on Understanding & Two Treatises on Gov
1690 CE
1692 Salem witch trials
1692-94 Famine kills 2 million in France
1694 Bank of England established
18th Century CE
1700-1799 CE
1700 CE
1702 Queen Anne crowned
1707 The Act of Union creates Great Britain
1708 Bach BWV 71
1710 CE
1710 New St. Paul's Cathedral in London completed
1713 Bach BWV 208
1714 George I crowned
1715 Louis XIV dies (ae 77); Louis XV ascends
1720 CE
1721 Montesquieu's Persian Letters published.
1724 Bach St John Passion BWV 245
1727 Bach St. Matthew Passion BWV 244
1727 George II crowned
1730 CE
1731 St. Mark Passion BWV 247
1733 Voltaire's English Letters published.
1733 Bach Kyrie & Gloria Mass in B Minor (BWV 232 I-II)
1740 CE
1746 • (16 Apr) Battle of Culloden in Scotland
1747 Voltaire's Zadig published.
1748 Bach Mass in B Minor completed (BWV 232)
1750 CE
1750 Death of Johann Sebastien Bach in Leipzig (b. 1685)
1751 Diderot & d'Alembert's Encyclopédie
1755 English troops expel the Acadian population from the Maritime provinces of Canada
1756 Voltaire's Poem on the Lisbon Earthquake published.
1759 Voltaire's Candide published.
1760 CE
1761 George III crowned
1765 Voltaire's expanded edition of Philosophical Dictionary published.
1770 CE
1776 The Thirteen American colonies declare independence
1778 Death of Voltaire ae 84 (b. 1694)
1780 CE
1789 French Revolution; the fall of the Bastille
1790 CE
1793 • (Jan 21) Louis XVI executed
Industrial To Digital
1800-2100 CE
19th Century CE
1800-1899 CE
1800 CE
1801 Union of UK and Ireland
1805 France (through Napoleon) annexes Italy and invades Austria
1806 French Empire invades Prussia and dissolves Holy Roman Empire
1808 French Empire annexes Spain
1810 CE
1811-1826 Latin American War of Independence
1812 French Empire invades Russia • War between USA and UK, fought in UK colony of Canada ("War of 1812")
1814 Fall of the French Empire
1814-15 Congress of Vienna
1815 Final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo
1816 Year without Summer due to volcanic eruption in Indonesia; composition of Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
1820 CE
1820 • (Feb 5) General Maritime Treaty in the Persian Gulf begins the British protectorate system over the Trucial sheikhdoms, securing Gulf sea-lanes on the route to India.
1821 George IV crowned • Death of Napoleon Bonaparte (æ 51) • Antarctica discovered
1821-1829 Revolutions in Spain and in Greece • Republic of Mexico established
1825 Earliest photographs and first railroad
1829 Abolishment of slavery in Mexico
1830 CE
1831 William IV crowned; died 1837
1834 Abolishment of slavery in UK
1837 • (28 Jun) Victoria crowned
1840 CE
1839-1842 Opium War between UK and China
1844 First use of telegraph
1846-48 US Mexican War
1850 CE
1853-56 Crimean War: Ottoman Empire, UK & France vs. Russia
1856-1860 Anglo Chinese War: UK & France vs China
1858 • (Feb-July) Marian apparitions in Lourdes France
1859 • (Nov 24) Publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species
1860 CE
1860 • 9 Apr Earliest recorded sound
1861-65 American Civil War
1865 American abolition of slavery • The assassination of Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States
1867 Confederation of Canada
1869 Suez Canal opens
1870 CE
1870-71 Franco-Prussian War
1871 Ontario introduces compulsory schooling; British Columbia 1873, Prince Edward Island 1877
1872 Earliest motion pictures
1876 Telephone invented
1879 Electric lightbulb invented
1880 CE
1880 England & Wales introduce compulsory schooling
1882 • (July-Sep) Britain occupies Egypt, securing the Suez Canal and the imperial route to India.
1883 Nova Scotia introduces compulsory schooling 1883
1885 First gasoline powered automobile
1890 CE
1890 First steel-framed building
1894-95 War between Japan & China
1896 Olympic Games revived in Athens
1898 Spanish American War
20th Century CE
1900-1999 CE
1900 CE
1901 Death of Queen Victoria
1901 • (May 28) The D'Arcy concession gives British interests exclusive rights to prospect for oil across most of Persia; from it emerges the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
1902 Edward VII crowned
1903 • (Dec) First powered flight by the Wright Brothers
1905 Albert Einstein's annus mirabilis
1907 • (Aug 31) The Anglo-Russian Convention divides Persia into Russian and British spheres of influence with a neutral zone between, sharply limiting Iranian sovereignty.
1910 CE
1911 George V crowned
1914 Opening of the Panama Canal
1914-18 The Great War: first world war
1915-16 • 1915-07-14 McMahon-Hussein correspondence: Britain promises support for Arab independence if Sharif Hussein leads an Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
1916 • (May 16) The secret Sykes-Picot Agreement sets out British and French spheres of influence in the expected partition of Ottoman Arab lands.
1916-18 • 1916-06-10 Arab Revolt: Sharif Hussein and Faisal, backed by Britain and aided by T. E. Lawrence, fight the Ottomans under promises of Arab independence.
1917 (May-Oct) The Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal • The Russian Revolution leads to the establishment of the USSR
1917 • (Nov 2) The Balfour Declaration backs a Jewish national home in Palestine, adding a second and conflicting British wartime promise.
1918-20 The "Spanish Flu" pandemic kills over 17 million people
1919 Paris Peace Conference
1919 • (Aug) The Anglo-Persian Agreement seeks to make Iran a British client state and secure British access to Iranian oil; it is never ratified by the Majlis.
1920 CE
1919-23 Irish Wars: Independence & Civil
1920 • (Jan) League of Nations established (dissolved 1946)
1920 • (Apr 25) The San Remo conference assigns League of Nations mandates in the former Ottoman Arab lands: Britain receives Palestine and Mesopotamia, while France receives Syria and Lebanon.
1921 • (July) Foundation of the Chinese Communist Party
1921 discovery of insulin transforms diabetes from being a terminal illness to being a treatable one
1921 • (Mar 12-30) The Cairo Conference implements Britain's post-Ottoman settlement: Faisal is installed in Iraq and Abdullah in Transjordan under British supervision.
1921-22 Famine in Russian
1926-29 Movies incorporating an audio track shift films from being "silent" to being "talkies"
1927 • (May) Charles Lindbergh flies across the Atlantic Ocean.
1928 discovery of penicillin begins the antibiotic revolution in medicine
1929 • (Oct 29) Stock market crash precipitates The Great Depression
1930 CE
1930s Global Economic Depression
1936 Edward VIII crowned then abdicates
1937 George VI crowned
1939 Hitler invades Poland; the beginning of the Second World War
1940 CE
1939-45 World War II
1945 Nagasaki & Hiroshima Japan are destroyed by nuclear bombs which had been developed in secret by the United States: nuclear weapons are revealed to the world
1945 United Nations established
1947
• (July) The Roswell incident 
1949 The Chinese Communist Party wins the Chinese Civil War and establishes a government
1950 CE
1950 Official beginning of the Anthropocene Age Golden Spike Crawford Lake
1950s Post World War II politics shifts to the Cold War between the USA and the USSR as both threaten each other with a proliferation of nuclear weapons
1952 George VI dies; Elizabeth II begins her reign
1953 Elizabeth II crowned • A CIA and MI6-backed coup overthrows Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and restores Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, shaping later anti-monarchy and anti-Western sentiment.
1956 The Suez Crisis
1960 CE
1961 Yuri Gagarian orbits Earth: the first person in outer space
1962 • Oct The Cuban Missile Crisis
1963 • Nov The Iranian Shah's White Revolution and Khomeini's opposition sharpen conflict between the monarchy and the clergy. • The assassination of John F Kennedy, president of the United States
1964 Khomeini is exiled after denouncing the Shah, becoming the symbolic leader of clerical opposition.
1969 • (20 July) First moon landing by United States astronauts
1970 CE
1971 Introduction of the first commercial microprocessor, the Intel 4004
1972 Eleven Israeli atheles are killed by Palestinian terrorists at the Munich Olympics
1973 The Oil Shock
1976 Death of Mao Zedong (b. 1893)
1977
• (Nov 16) Close Encounters of the Third Kind is released
1978 • (Nov 18) The Rise of Cults: The Jonestown mass suicide signals the rise of cults and communes which had been underway since the 1960s, and "drank the kool-aid" enters parlance to describe someone who has broken with common reality. • Iranian Revolution (Jan 9) Qom protests erupt after a state-linked newspaper attacks the exiled cleric Ruhollah Khomeini; the crackdown begins the forty-day mourning cycle that drives the Iranian Revolution. (Feb 18): Tabriz protests mark the first major forty-day commemoration for the Qom dead, spreading anti-Shah unrest into a national movement. (Aug 19): The Cinema Rex fire in Abadan kills hundreds and intensifies anti-Shah anger during the revolutionary crisis. (Sep 8): Black Friday: troops fire on demonstrators in Tehran's Jaleh Square after martial law is declared, ending hopes for compromise between the Shah and the opposition. (Oct-Nov): Nationwide strikes, especially in the oil industry, cripple the Shah's government; Khomeini moves from Iraq to France, where media coverage amplifies his leadership. (Dec 10-11): Massive Tasu'a and Ashura marches show national support for the anti-Shah movement and the return of Khomeini.
1979 The USSR invades Afghanistan
1979 The Iranian Revolution: (Jan 16) Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi leaves Iran for exile. (Feb 1-11): Khomeini returns to Tehran on February 1; armed clashes, defections, and army neutrality bring down the Pahlavi monarchy on February 11. (Mar 30-31 / Apr 1): A referendum overwhelmingly approves an Islamic Republic, formalizing the end of the monarchy.
Late 1970s Desktop "personal" computers are developed for hobbyists
1980 CE
1980s Personal computers begin to be sold
1989 A series of revolutions in Communist countries brings down the Communist Block and the USSR itself dissolves at the end of 1991.
1990 CE
1990s Personal computers become ubiquitous
1990s Portable "cellular" phones begin to sold
1994
The Internet store Amazon.com begins operation • (Sept 16) A UFO lands and interacts with children at the Ariel School in Ruwa Zimbabwe
1998 Google search engine goes live on the World Wide Web
1998 The Chinese Internet store Alibaba.com begins operation
c. 1995 The academic computer network "Internet" goes public with the development of World Wide Web software by Tim Berners-Lee; the web explodes and a new economy begins around it
21st Century CE
2000-2099 CE
2000 CE
2000s Portable "cellular" phones become ubiquitous and later morph into pocket computers when they become touch screen devices late in the decade
2001 Nine Eleven terrorist attack destroys the World Trade Center skyscrapers in New York City
2001-2014 UN forces occupy Afghanistan following the Nine Eleven attack; American forces remain until 2021
2002
Taken miniseries is released
2003-2011 Iraq War
2005 Pope John Paul II dies; Benedict XVI elected
2007 Apple Computers releases the iPhone, heralding the switch of portable telephones becoming pocket computers
2008
The plot of Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the archaeological presence of an interdimensional UFO
2010 CE
2010 The Arab Spring: a series of protests in primarily Islamic countries leads to a change of government and the beginning of the Syrian Civil War
2013 Pope Benedict XVI resigns; Francis elected
2014 Rise of Islamic State in Syria & Levant, later known simply as ISIS capture territory in Syria and Iraq and proclaim a short lived caliphate
2015-18 Various Islamic terrorist attacks in France
2016 Donald Trump elected President of the United States, defeating Hillary Clinton who was expected to win; suspicion of ties to Russian government shadow Trump's presidency
2017
• (Oct) The NY Times publishes official UFO videos along with an article about incidents of military encounters. "Unidentified flying objects" begin to spoken of as "unidentified aerial phenomenon" (UAP)
2019 • 3 Jan A Chinese probe lands on the far side of the Moon; 15 Apr • Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is severely damaged by a roof fire.
2020 CE
2020
The COVID-19 virus emerges in China, leading to worldwide quarantines as it becomes a global pandemic, killing over a million people by the end of the year. A Chinese lunar probe returns samples of the Moon to Earth for the first time since 1976 • The UAP documentary The Phenomenon is released • In Dec an interview with a former Israeli politician claims there is a Galactic Federation of aliens
2021
Extraordinary storms cause flooding in various locations around the world: Belgium, Canada, China, Germany & Malta. • Showtime releases the UFO miniseries
2022
The James Webb Space Telescope becomes operational • Death of Queen Elizabeth II; King Charles III reign begins • Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT) language models and Stable Diffusion image generators are released: they astound the public with their capabilities, and are commonly spoken of as "A.I." ✨ 
2023
OpenAI releases GPT-4, extending the generative-AI transformation begun in 2022 ✨ • An American whistleblower alleges the decades long rumours that the United States was in possession of recovered UFOs is true
2024 Global temperatures make 2024 the warmest year on record and the first calendar year to exceed 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average • China’s Chang’e 6 returns the first samples from the Moon’s far side • The European Union’s AI Act enters into force, establishing the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence
2025 Pope Francis dies; Pope Leo XIV elected
2026 Artemis II carries four astronauts around the Moon.