Sapiens
Timeline of History
Years Before Present
- 13.5 billion
- Matter and energy appear (physics). Atoms and molecules appear (chemistry).
- 4.5 billion
- Formation of planet Earth.
- 3.8 billion
- Emergence of organisms (biology).
- 6 million
- Last common grandmother of humans and chimpanzees.
- 2.5 million
- Evolution of genus Homo in Africa. First stone tools.
- 2 million
- Humans spread from Africa to Eurasia. Evolution of different human species.
- 500,000
- Neanderthals evolve in Europe and the Middle East.
- 300,000
- Daily use of fire
- 200,000
- Homo sapiens evolves in East Africa.
- 70,000
- The Cognitive Revolution. Emergence of fictive language (history). Sapiens spread out of Africa.
- 45,000
- Sapiens settle Australia. Extinction of Australian megafauna.
- 30,000
- Extinction of Neanderthals
- 16,000
- Sapiens settle America. Extinction of American megafauna.
- 13,000
- Extinction of Homo floresiensis. Homo sapiens the only surviving human species.
- 12,000
- The Agricultural Revolution. Domestication of plants and animals. Permanent settlements.
- 5,000
- First kingdoms, script and money. Polytheistic religions.
- 4,250
- First empire - the Akkadian empire of Sargon.
- 2,500
- Invention of coinage - a universal money. The Persian Empire. Buddhism in India.
- 2,000
- Han Empire in China. Roman Empire in Mediterranean. Christianity.
- 1,400
- Islam.
- 500
- The Scientific Revolution. Humankind admits its ignorance and begins to acquire unprecedented power. Europeans being to conquer America and the oceans. The entire planet becomes a single historical arena. The rise of capitalism.
- 200
- The Industrial Revolution. Family and community are replaced by state and market. Massive extinction of plants and animals.