PREHISTORIC ERA
(Overview compiled by William Stoertz, cishq@glasnet.ru, on 1999.10.5.)
THE BIG BANG
"Cosmic egg" or "womb of creation" (in imaginary,
transcendental, mathematical, or complex realm).
Scanning to emplace subquarks, the origin of matter.
Transcendent subquark phase (in the imaginary, transcendental,
or mathematical realm).
Executive command. The Word "Go".
Time Zero, 13-15 billion years ago -- Moment of Creation, age
of the universe, "The Big Bang". Time and space come into
being. (Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the Spirit, 1992,
chart on p. 24)
Subquark phase (emergence into real or physical realm).
Beginning of physical time and space. Expanding from this
point. Physical subquarks. One particle, one force. (Source:
Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the Spirit, 1992, chart
on p. 22)
E-45 sec. -- Planck time; singularity; 10E-49 meter diameter;
temperature almost infinite.
E-45 sec.-E-35 sec. -- Inflationary phase; photons, gluons,
quarks, etc. Temperature near infinity.
E-43 sec -- The quantum gravity era. Quantum limit of classical
general relativity. Temperature E32 degrees K. (Source: Kolb &
Turner, The Early Universe, bef. 1995)
E-43 sec. -- Planck epoch; quantum gravity barrier; temperature
E19 GeV. (Source: Cambridge Cosmology: Hot Big Bang via
internet, Aug. 19, 1998)
E-43 sec.-E-35 sec. -- Inflation, baryogenesis, monopoles,
cosmic strings, etc. (Source: Cambridge Cosmology: Hot Big
Bang via internet, Aug. 19, 1998)
E-43 sec. -- Primal force separates into four fundamental forces.
(Source: Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the Spirit,
1992, chart on p. 24)
E-43 sec. to E-35 sec. -- Gravity differentiated out of the unified
field. (Source: Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the Spirit,
1992, chart on p. 24)
E-38-E-11 sec -- The inflation and symmetry breaking era.
Temperature cools from E29 to 3E15 degrees K. (Source: Niels
Brandt, 1994)
E-38 sec. -- Limit of perturbative interaction thermalization of
universe. Temperature E29 degrees K. (Source: Kolb & Turner,
The Early Universe, bef. 1995)
E-35 sec. -- Grand unification spontaneous symmetry breaking.
Temperature E28 degrees K. (Source: Kolb & Turner, The
Early Universe, bef. 1995)
E-35 sec. -- Grand unification transition. Temperature E15
GeV. (Source: Cambridge Cosmology: Hot Big Bang via
internet, Aug. 19, 1998)
E-35 sec. -- Matter created. Quark phase begins. [obsolete?]
E-35 sec. -- Diameter ca. 15 cm; temperature E18 times as hot
as the sun. Cosmic background radiation.
E-35 sec. to E-10 sec. -- Strong force differentiated out of the
unified field. (Source: Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of
the Spirit, chart p. 22)
E-34 sec. -- Approximate start of inflation. Temperature E27
degrees K. (Source: Kolb & Turner, The Early Universe, bef.
1995)
E-32 sec. -- Approximate start of reheating and end of inflation.
Temperature E27 degrees K. (Source: Kolb & Turner, The
Early Universe, bef. 1995)
E-11 sec. -- Electroweak unification spontaneous symmetry
breaking. Temperature 3E15 degrees K. (Source: Kolb &
Turner, The Early Universe, bef. 1995)
E-11 sec. -- Electroweak phase transition: electromagnetic and
weak nuclear forces become differentiated; temperature E3
GeV. (Source: Cambridge Cosmology: Hot Big Bang via
internet)
E-10 sec. to E-3 sec. -- Electromagnetism and weak force
differentiated out of the unified field. (Source: Richard Lewis,
Science in the Realm of the Spirit, chart p. 22)
2E-7 sec.-10 sec. -- The quark-lepton era. Temperature cools
from 2E13 to 5E9 degrees K. (Source: Niels Brandt, 1994)
E-6 sec. -- Quark to hadron transition: hadrons (protons and
neutrons) form; temperature 1 GeV. (Source: Cambridge
Cosmology: Hot Big Bang via internet, Aug. 19, 1998)
E-5 sec. -- Formation of hadrons from quarks. Temperature
2E12 degrees K. (Source: Kolb & Turner, The Early Universe,
bef. 1995)
E-5 sec. -- Quarks coalesce into hadrons (protons and
neutrons). Still evident in the ratio of helium and deuterium.
(Source: Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the Spirit,
1992, chart on p. 24)
7E-5 sec. -- Muon anti-muon annihilation. Temperature E12
degrees K. (Source: Harrison, Cosmology: The Science of the
Universe, bef. 1995)
5E-4 sec. -- By this time the universe has a baryon-antibaryon
asymmetry which results from post-inflationary B, C, CP
violating processes. Temperature 4E11 degrees K. (Source:
Kolb & Turner, The Early Universe, bef. 1995)
E-3 sec. to 3 min. -- Subatomic particles condense. (Source:
Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the Spirit, chart p. 22)
E-1 sec. -- Neutral current weak interactions become too slow
and neutrinos decouple. Temperature 3E10 deg K. (Boesgaard
& Steigman, Annual Reviews of Astronomy and Astrophysics,
bef. 1995)
1 sec. -- Charged current weak interactions become too slow
and the neutron to proton ratio freezes out. Temperature E10
degrees K. (Source: Boesgaard & Steigman, Annual Reviews of
Astronomy and Astrophysics, bef. 1995)
1 sec. -- Beginning of creation of nuclei. Temperature 1 MeV.
(Source: Cambridge Cosmology: Hot Big Bang via internet,
Aug. 19, 1998)
1 sec.-3 min. -- Nucleosynthesis: light elements (D, He, Li)
created. (Source: Cambridge Cosmology: Hot Big Bang via
internet, Aug. 19, 1998)
10 sec. -- Electron positron annihilation. Temperature 5E9
degrees K. (Source: Boesgaard & Steigman, Annual Reviews of
Astronomy and Astrophysics, bef. 1995)
1 min. -- Atomic nuclei form. (Richard Lewis, Science in the
Realm of the Spirit, 1992, chart on p. 24)
1.67 min.-1,268 years -- The radiation era. Temperature cools
from E9 to 6E4 degrees K. (Source: Niels Brandt, 1994)
Plasma phase begins. [obsolete?]
1.67 min. [100 sec.] -- Typical photon energies drop below the
deuteron binding energy and nucleosynthesis begins.
Temperature E9 degrees K. (Source: Boesgaard & Steigman,
Annual Reviews of Astronomy and Astrophysics, bef. 1995)
3 min. -- Universe expands to 30 light-years diameter.
3 min. to 500,000 years -- Atomic nuclei condense. (Source:
Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the Spirit, chart p. 22)
17 min. [1,000 sec.] -- Particle energies drop below Coulomb
barrier energies and nucleosynthesis ends. Temperature 4E8
degrees K. (Source: Boesgaard & Steigman, Annual Reviews of
Astronomy and Astrophysics, bef. 1995)
1 hour -- Universe contains 80% free protons and 20% helium
nuclei. (Source: Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the
Spirit, 1992, p. 11)
1,268 years [4E10 sec.] -- Matter density becomes equal to
radiation density. Temperature 6E4 degrees K. (Source: Kolb &
Turner, The Early Universe, bef. 1995)
126,839 years to present -- The matter era. Temperature cools
from 3,500 to 2.726 degrees K. (Source: Niels Brandt, 1994)
126,839 years [4E12 sec.] -- Electrons and protons recombine
into hydrogen atoms. Temperature 3,500 degrees K. (Source:
Kolb & Turner, The Early Universe, bef. 1995)
190,259 years [6E12 sec.] -- Photon decoupling. Temperature
3,000 degrees K. (Source: Kolb & Turner, The Early Universe,
bef. 1995)
bef. 400,000 years -- Matter begins to dominate: Onset of
gravitational instability. (Source: Cambridge Cosmology: Hot
Big Bang via internet, Aug. 19, 1998)
400,000 years -- Recombination begins. Relic radiation
decouples. Temperature 3000 K or 1 eV. (Source: Cambridge
Cosmology: Hot Big Bang via internet, Aug. 19, 1998)
after 400,000 years -- Galaxy formation: Epoch of gravitational
collapse. (Source: Cambridge Cosmology: Hot Big Bang via
internet, Aug. 19, 1998)
500,000 years [1 million years] -- Atoms form. Atomic phase
begins. Hydrogen and simple elements. (Richard Lewis,
Science in the Realm of the Spirit, 1992, chart on p. 24)
15 billion years [present] -- Temperature 2.726 degrees K or 1
meV. (Source: Cambridge Cosmology: Hot Big Bang via
internet, Aug. 19, 1998)
STARS
Primary stars. Hydrogen and helium.
50 million years -- Galaxies form. Quasars remain as relics of
this age. (Cosmic string theory?) (Richard Lewis, Science in the
Realm of the Spirit, 1992, chart p. 24)
634 million years [2E16 sec.] -- Start of the formation of
galaxies. Temperature 20 degrees K. (Source: Harrison,
Cosmology: The Science of the Universe, bef. 1995)
2.54 billion years [8E16 sec.] -- Approximate peak epoch of
quasar activity. (Source: Niels Brandt, 1994)
Supernova explosions produce higher elements by means of
neutrinos.
Interstellar dust blown out from supernovae gradually forms
nebulae containing the ingredients of stellar systems with their
planets.
Accretion of cosmic dust forms secondary star systems.
THE EARTH
10 billion years (5 billion years ago) -- Solar system formed.
[undisputed]
Precambrian Era, 4.5-4.6 billion years ago -- Age of the earth.
4.6 billion years ago -- Formation of the approximately
homogeneous solid Earth by planetesimal accretion. (Source:
Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
4.3 billion years ago -- Melting of the Earth due to radioactive
and gravitational heating which leads to its differentiated interior
structure as well as outgassing of molecules such as water,
methane, ammonia, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.
(Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
4.3 billion years ago -- Atmospheric water is photodissociated
by ultraviolet light to give oxygen atoms which are incorporated
into an ozone layer and hydrogen molecules which escape into
space. (Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
4.0 billion years ago -- Bombardment of the Earth by
planetesimals stops. (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
3.8 billion years ago -- The Earth's crust solidifies; formation of
the oldest rocks found on Earth. (Source: Niel Brandt,
niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
Continental drift. Plate tectonics.
Primitive atmosphere. Methane, ammonia.
3.8 billion years ago -- Condensation of atmospheric water into
oceans. (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
LIFE
3.5 billion years ago -- Development of the self-replicating
DNA triplet code ("life"). (Source: Richard Lewis, Science in
the Realm of the Spirit, 1992, p. 62) (See 2 billion years ago)
3.5-2.8 billion years ago -- Prokaryotic cell organisms develop.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
Plants with chlorophyll (photosynthesis). Emergence of
oxygen-rich atmosphere.
2.4 billion years ago -- Rise in the concentration of oxygen
molecules stops the deposition of uraninites (since they are
soluble when combined with oxygen) and starts the deposition
of banded iron formations. (Source: Niel Brandt,
niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
Life as plant colonies.
2.1 billion years ago -- Appearance of nucleated cells. (Source:
Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the Spirit, 1992, chart
on p. 61)
2.0 billion years ago -- The Oklo natural fission reactor in
Gabon goes into operation. (Niel Brandt)
2 billion years ago -- Life appears. (Source [obsolete]: Pears.,
1985, p. A2) (See 3.5 billion years ago)
Single-celled life: Three lineages: Archaea (extremophiles),
Akarya (bacteria), Eukarya (nucleated cells).
Bacteria (Akarya): Aquifex, Thermotoga, Flavobacteria, Gram-
positive bacteria, Purple bacteria, Cyanobacteria.
Archaea (extremophiles): Methanopyrus, Thermococcus,
Methanococcus, Thermoplasma, Methanobacterium,
Halobacterium, Pyrodictium, Thermoproteus.
Eukarya (1.5 billion years ago): Diplomonads, Microsporidia,
Flagellates, Entamoebae, Slime molds, Ciliates, Plants, Fungi,
Animals.
1.6 billion years ago -- The last reserves of reduced iron are
used up by the increasing atmospheric oxygen: last banded iron
formations. (Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
1.5 billion years ago -- Eukaryotic cell organisms develop.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
Protozoa (single-celled animals, e.g., amoeba).
1.5-0.6 billion years ago -- Rise of multicellular organisms.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
1.3 [2] billion years ago -- Multicellular organisms. (Source:
Richard Lewis, Science in the Realm of the Spirit, 1992, p. 62;
chart on p. 61 indicates 1.3 billion years ago)
1.1 billion years ago -- Primitive worm-like tracks in sediments
found in India. (Source: ABCNEWS/science/com, Oct. 2,
1998)
1.1 billion years ago -- Formation of the supercontinent
Rodinia. (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
Corals.
Porifera (sponges).
Coelenterates (jellyfish).
Platyhelminths (flatworms).
Nematodes (roundworms).
Annelids (segmented worms).
Arthropods: crustaceans, myriapods, insects, arachnids.
Mollusks (oysters, clams, squids, octopus, snails).
Echinoderms (starfish, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins,
sea lilies).
Chordates (sea squirts, amphioxus, fish, amphibia, reptiles,
birds, mammals).
700 million years ago -- Break-up of the supercontinent
Rodinia. (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
580-545 million years ago -- Fossils of Ediacaran organisms
are made. (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
Paleozoic Era: 564-242 [elsewhere 570-225] million years ago.
Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and
Permian periods.
Cambrian period: 564-510 [elsewhere 570-485] million years
ago. Hard-shelled multicellular life forms in the sea. First large-
scale appearance of fossils (trilobites, etc.). Widespread marine
algae. (Pears, 1985 ; UTI, From Evolution Theory to a New
Creation Theory, 1997, p. 30)
564 million years ago -- Cambrian Era explosion of marine
invertebrates. All invertebrate animal life appeared. (Source:
UTI, From Evolution Theory to a New Creation Theory, 1997,
p. 30)
550 million years ago -- Formation of Gondwana. (Source: Niel
Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
545 million years ago -- Cambrian explosion of hard-bodied
organisms. (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
VERTEBRATES
Ordovician period: 510-439 [elsewhere 485-430] million years
ago. Coral reef building; first jawless fish. (UTI, From
Evolution Theory to a New Creation Theory)
500-450 million years ago -- Rise of the fish (first vertebrates).
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
470 million years ago -- Liverworts the first plants to pioneer
the land, and ancestors of all land plants. (Source:
ABCNEWS.com, Aug. 17, 1998)
439 [430] million years ago -- End of Ordovician period, first
vertebrate (armored fish). (Source: Dr. Sang Hun Lee, From
Evolution Theory to a New Creation Theory, 1997, p. 30)
Silurian period: 439-409 [or 430-405] million years ago.
Invertebrates; first vertebrates: ostracoderms (armored jawless
fish); acanthodians (first jawed fish); first land plants; no land
animals.
430 million years ago -- Waxy coated algae begin to live on
land. (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
Devonian period: 409-360 [elsewhere 405-350] million years
ago. Land plants. Abundant corals. Amphibians and insects
appeared. Psilopsida (spore-bearing vascular plants), conifers.
Modern fish.
420 million years ago -- Millipedes have evolved (first land
animals). (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
400 [375] million years ago -- Sharks (Chondrichthyans)
appear.
375 million years ago -- The Appalachian mountains are formed
via a plate tectonic collision between North America, Africa,
and Europe. (Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
Carboniferous period: 360-284 [also 363-290; 350-275] million
years ago. Includes Mississippian and Pennsylvanian in the
USA. Ferns, tree clubmoss. Insects. Spiders, cockroaches.
Abundant amphibians. Reptiles appeared. (Source: Hutchinson
Family Encyclopedia, 1997)
350-300 million years ago -- Rise of the amphibians. (Source:
Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
350 million years ago -- Primitive insects have evolved.
(Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
Division of plants into gymnosperms (since 350 million years
ago) and angiosperms.
350 million years ago -- Primitive ferns evolve (first plants with
roots). (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
320 million years ago -- Sharks (Chondrichthyans) flourish.
300 million years ago -- Winged insects have evolved. (Source:
Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
300-200 million years ago -- Rise of the reptiles. (Source: Niel
Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
Permian period: 284-242 [also 290-245; 275-225] million years
ago. Extinction of many corals and trilobites. Widespread
deserts. Conifers (gymnosperms) prominent. Terrestrial
amphibians; mammal-like reptiles.
280 million years ago -- Beetles, weevils have evolved. (Source:
Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
250 million years ago -- Appalachian mountain building.
Beetles (Coleoptera) flourish.
250 million years ago -- Permian period mass extinction.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
242 [225] million years ago -- End of Paleozoic Era, beginning
of Mesozoic Era.
240 million years ago -- Mass extinction of sharks in North
America. (Source: ABCNEWS, Aug. 1998)
MAMMALS
Mesozoic Era: 242-64 [elsewhere 225-67] million years ago.
Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
Triassic period: 242-208 [elsewhere 225-195] million years
ago. First reptiles. Lizards, early dinosaurs. First mammals.
Mice, bats, whales, etc. (Source: Hutchinson Family
Encyclopedia, 1997)
230 million years ago -- Roaches and termites have evolved.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
230 million to 65 million years ago -- Dinosaurs.
225 million years ago -- Modern ferns have evolved. (Source:
Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
225 million years ago -- Bees have evolved. (Source: Niel
Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
220 million years ago -- All continents united as one landmass,
"Pangaea". Warm climate. (Time, May 27, 1996, p. 55)
200 million years ago -- Pangaea starts to break apart. (Source:
Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
200 million years ago -- Primitive crocodiles have evolved.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
200 million years ago -- First birds.
200 million years ago -- Appearance of mammals. (Source: Niel
Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
Jurassic period: 208-146 [elsewhere 195-137] million years
ago. Dinosaurs abundant. Birds appeared. Conifer and fern
forests. Warm climate. Limestone and iron ores deposited.
150 m yrs ago -- Continents split into two landmasses, Laurasia
and Gondwana. (Time, May 27, 1996)
Cretaceous period: 146-65 [elsewhere 137-67] million years
ago. Angiosperms (seed-bearing plants) emerged. Division of
plants into monocotyledons (grasses) and dicotyledons (leaf
plants). Dinosaurs reached their peak, then became extinct.
(Source: Hutchinson Family Encyclopedia, 1997)
145 million years ago -- Archaeopteryx walks the earth.
(Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
136 million years ago -- Primitive kangaroos have evolved.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
100 million years ago -- Primitive cranes have evolved. (Source:
Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
90 million years ago -- Continents completely separated. (Time,
May 27, 1996, p. 55)
90 million years ago -- Modern sharks have evolved. (Source:
Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
69 million years ago -- Extinction of dinosaurs by collision with
an asteroid on the Yucatan peninsula.
65 million years ago -- The Chicxulub asteroid impact occurs.
K-T Boundary: extinction of the dinosaurs and beginning of the
reign of mammals. (Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu,
1994)
65 million years ago -- Batodonoides, a shrew, smallest
mammal, survived extinction of the dinosaurs. Fossil in a
petrified stump in Wyoming badlands in 1998. (Source:
ABCNEWS.com, Oct. 1, 1998)
65 million years ago -- End of Mesozoic Era, beginning of
Cenozoic Era.
Cenozoic Era: 65 million years ago to present. Tertiary,
Quaternary, and Recent. Mammals emerged. Himalayas and
Alps formed.
Tertiary period: 65-1.64 million years ago. Paleocene, Eocene,
Oligocene, Miocene and Pliocene epochs. Mammals took over
from the dinosaurs. Continents took on present positions.
(Hutchinson)
Paleocene epoch: 65-56.5 million years ago. Mammals spread
rapidly. Flying mammals replaced flying reptiles, swimming
mammals replaced swimming reptiles. (Hutchinson Family
Encyclopedia, 1997)
60 million years ago -- Rats, mice, squirrels have evolved.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
60 million years ago -- Herons, storks have evolved. (Source:
Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
Eocene epoch: 56.5-35.5 million years ago -- Early forms of
mammals developing. (Source: Hutchinson)
55 million years ago -- Rabbits and hares have evolved.
(Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
50 million years ago -- Primitive monkeys have evolved.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
40 million years ago -- Early whale, still had hind legs, but
pelvis disconnected from its spine. Discovered along Savannah
River in May 1983. (Source: ABCNEWS.com, Oct. 1, 1998)
Oligocene epoch: 35.5-23.5 million years ago. Modern
mammals. Rabbits, deer, cats, foxes, bears, dogs.
30 million years ago -- First old world monkey fossils.
Oligocene epoch. Fayum, Egypt. (Pears, 1985)
28 million years ago -- Koalas have evolved. (Source: Niel
Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
Miocene epoch: 23.5-5.2 million years ago. Grasslands, hoofed
mammals spread. (Source: Hutchinson)
20 million years ago -- Parrots and pigeons have evolved.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
20 million years ago -- Early ape fossils, Dryopithecinae.
Miocene period. Europe, India, East Africa. (Pears
Cyclopaedia, 1985, p. A2)
20-12 million years ago -- The chimpanzee and hominid lines
evolve. (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
10-4 million years ago -- Ramapithecus exist. (Source: Niel
Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
6 million years ago -- Major climate change dried out the
primeval forests in Africa, forcing primates to forage in the
open country. (National Geographic, Feb. 1997, pp. 89)
Pliocene epoch: 5.2-1.64 million years ago. Earliest hominid
Australopithecus emerged in Africa. (HFE)
4.5 million years ago -- Earliest possible date of appearance of
"original human ancestors". (Source: William Stoertz)
4.4 million years ago -- Oldest hominid, Ardipithecus ramidus,
discovered in Ethiopia and named by Tim White of Berkeley
and Berhane Asfaw of Ethiopia. (National Geographic, Feb.
1997, pp. 88)
4.2 million to 1.4 million years ago -- Australopithecus genus.
at least 4.15 million years ago -- Humans and chimps diverged.
55 differences between human and chimpanzee mitochondrial
DNA, 27 between human and Neanderthal, and an average of 8
differences among contemporary humans. (Source: article "Bad
Neighbors" by Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Time, Jul. 21, 1997, p.
78)
4.1 million years ago [4.2m to 3.9m] -- Early hominids,
Australopithecus anamensis, found at Kanapoi and Allia Bay,
northern Kenya by Meave Leakey. (National Geographic, Feb.
1997, p. 77, 81)
3.6 million years ago -- Fully bipedal primate footprints left in
wet volcanic ash on Tanzania's Laetoli plain, discovered by
Mary Leakey's team of paleoanthropologists in 1978. (Source:
National Geographic, Feb. 1997, pp. 72-80)
3.5-3 million years ago [3m to 2.3m] -- Australopithecus
africanus ("Little Foot"), discovered at Sterkfontein, South
Africa by Phillip Tobias and Ron Clarke of Johannesburg, with
a humanlike ankle but an apelike grasping big toe; more
bowlegged, apelike gait than Lucy. (Source: National
Geographic, Feb. 1997, pp. 77-78)
3.18 million years ago [3.9m to 3m] -- Australopithecus
afarensis ("Lucy") unearthed in Hadar, Ethiopia by Donald
Johanson in 1974 and again in 1992. Primitive ancestor of
modern humans. (Source: Time, Dec. 2, 1996, p. 77; National
Geographic, Feb. 1997, p. 81)
HUMANKIND
2.6 million years ago -- Earliest known stone tools, older than
any Homo fossils, found at Gona, Ethiopia. (Source: National
Geographic, Feb. 1997, p. 96)
2.6 to 1.0 million years ago -- Australopithecus boisei, incl. A.
aethiopicus. (Source: National Geographic, Feb. 1997,
accompanying chart)
2.5 million years ago -- Latest possible date of appearance of
"original human ancestors". (Source: William Stoertz)
2.5 to 1.6 million years ago -- Homo habilis, from Olduvai
Gorge and Lake Turkana, Kenya. (Source: National
Geographic, Feb. 1997, accompanying chart)
2.4 million years ago -- First Homo genus found at Uraha,
Malawi by Tim Bromage and Friedemann Schrenk; and also at
Lake Baringo, Kenya. (Source: National Geographic, Feb.
1997, p. 77, 96)
2.33 million years ago -- Oldest Homo fossil found together
with stone tools in Hadar, Ethiopia in 1994 by Donald
Johanson and Bill Kimbel. (Source: Time, Dec. 2, 1996, p. 77;
National Geographic, Feb. 1997, p. 96)
2.0 to 1.2 million years ago -- Homo robustus, from
Swartkrans, South Africa. (Source: National Geographic, Feb.
1997, accompanying chart)
ca. 1.9 million years ago -- Three branches of Homo line:
Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, and Homo erectus (leading to
Homo sapiens, modern man). (Source: Time, Dec. 2, 1996, p.
77)
1.8 to 0.4 million years ago -- Homo erectus. (Time, Dec. 2,
1996, p. 77; Pears Cyclop., 1985, p. A2).
ca. 1.8 million to 100,000 years ago -- Homo ergaster.
(National Geographic, Feb. 1997, chart)
1.7 million years ago -- End of Tertiary, beginning of
Quaternary.
1.64 million years ago -- End of Tertiary, beginning of
Quaternary period.
Quaternary period: 1.64 million years ago to present. Includes
Pleistocene and Holocene epochs.
Pleistocene epoch: 1.64 million years ago to 10,000 years ago.
Ice ages. Homo sapiens sapiens emerged about 100,000 years
ago. (Source: Hutchinson Family Encyclopaedia, 1997)
ca. 1.4 million years ago -- Extinction of last Australopithecus
line. (Source: Time, Dec. 2, 1996, p. 77)
1 million years ago -- First evidence of controlled fire. (Source:
National Geographic, Feb. 1997, chart)
770,000 to 100,000 years ago -- Archaic Homo sapiens,
including Homo heidelbergensis. (Source: National Geographic,
Feb. 1997, accompanying chart)
690,000 to 550,000 years ago -- Neanderthals split off from
ancestors of modern humans and never reconciled. Determined
from DNA of mitochondrion from fossil arm bone. (Source:
article "Bad Neighbors" by Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Time, Jul. 21,
1997, p. 78)
ca. 330,000 years ago -- Earliest evidence of shelters. (Source:
National Geographic, Feb. 1997, chart)
300,000 years ago -- Geminga supernova explosion at a
distance of roughly 60 parsec, roughly as bright as the Moon.
(Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
ca. 300,000 years ago -- Primitive humans lived in northern
Siberia. Handmade stone tools found above Lena River near
Yakutsk. (Source: Moscow Tribune, Mar. 1, 1997)
ca. 300,000 to 150,000 years ago -- "Mitochondrial Eve", the
common woman ancestor who passed her mitochondria down
to all living human beings. Determined by molecular-clock
estimates of mitochondrial DNA. (Source: Rebecca Cann, Mark
Stoneking, and Allan Wilson of University of California,
Berkeley, Nature, Jan. 1, 1987, p. 31)
230,000 to 27,000 years ago -- Neanderthal man. (Source:
National Geographic, Feb. 1997, chart)
180,000 years ago -- Ancestors of Neanderthalers and Homo
sapiens, with advanced hand-axes. (Pears)
ca. 150,000 years ago -- Emergence of anatomically modern
humans. (Moscow Tribune, Mar. 1, 1997)
125,000 years ago -- Earliest evidence of Homo sapiens
(modern humans) in Africa. (Source: National Geographic, Feb.
1997, accompanying chart)
100,000 years ago -- Anatomically modern Homo sapiens.
(National Geographic, Feb. 1997, chart)
100,000 years ago -- Earliest known burials. (National
Geographic, Feb. 1997, accompanying chart)
100,000 to 35,000 years ago -- Neanderthal man, nearly
identical to today's Homo sapiens, except for linebacker build,
lack of chin, and protruding brows. Found from Europe to
Central Asia. Buried their dead with care, looked after sick and
lame. Did not mingle nor interbreed with Cro-Magnons.
(Source: Newsweek, May 27, 1996, p. 48)
70,000-27,000 years ago -- Neanderthal man. (Source
[obsolete]: Pears Cyclopaedia, 94th ed., 1985)
ca. 60,000 years ago-(?) -- Cro-Magnon man. Direct ancestors
of modern man. (Source: Newsweek, May 27, 1996, p. 48)
60,000 years ago -- Earliest firm evidence of humans in
Australia. (Natl. Geographic, Feb. 1997, chart)
40,000 to 10,000 years ago -- Most recent Ice Age.
39,000 years ago -- Earliest evidence of modern humans in
Europe. (Natl. Geographic, Feb. 1997, chart)
ca. 30,000-15,000 BCE -- Migration of American Indians from
around Lake Baikal across Alaska land bridge. (See ca. 300,000
years ago; ca. 10,000 BC)
31,000 years ago -- Earliest known cave paintings. (Source:
National Geographic, Feb. 1997, chart)
27,000 years ago -- Last Neanderthals die out. (National
Geographic, Feb. 1997, accompanying chart)
22,000 years ago -- Finno-Ugaric hunters lived in small
settlements of 10-15 people around Moscow, hunting wooly
mammoths. (Source: Moscow Times, Oct. 14, 1997)
22,000 years ago -- Australian aboriginal tools and rock
carvings at Jimnium in Northern Territory. Previously wrongly
dated at 116-176,000 years old. Dr. Richard Roberts dated at
10-22,000 years using thermoluminescence of sand grains and
carbon-14. (Source: Times, May 28, 1998)
20,000 years ago -- Altamira cave and Chauvet cave paintings.
(Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
17,000 years ago -- Lascaux cave paintings. (Source: Niel
Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
CIVILIZATION
ca. 15,000 BCE -- First settlements at Jericho. (Pears
Cyclopaedia)
ca. 11,000 BCE -- Stone age tools unearthed at construction site
near Bolshoi Theater show people lived in Moscow. (Source:
Moskovskiy Komsomolets, Mar. 26, 1997)
12,500 years ago -- Archaeological evidence of American
Indians at Monte Verde, near Chilean village of Pelluco.
Charcoal, tent stakes, mastodon tusks, stone flakes, wood lance,
fire drill board. Carbon-14 dating +250 years, ranging from
13,565 to 11,920 years from different sites. (Source: National
Geographic, Oct. 1997, pp. 92-99)
12,000 years ago -- Earliest evidence of humans in Americas.
(National Geographic, Feb. 1997, chart)
ca. 10,000 BCE -- Undisputed evidence of humans living in
Americas, but migration to the new world could have started
much earlier. (Moscow Tribune, 3/1/97) (See 300,000 years
ago; 30,000 BC)
12,000 years ago -- Homo sapiens have domesticated dogs in
Kirkuk, Iraq. (Source: Niel Brandt, 1994)
ca. 10,000 BCE -- Excavations of Jomon sites in Japan show
wooden posts used for ceremonial purposes. (Source: The
Economist, Dec. 20, 1997)
ca. 9000 BCE -- Komsa culture on northern Scandinavian coast
during the last Ice Age, related to Lapps, Komis, and Siberian
tribes. (Source: Conversation with Maia Patsi, Helsinki, Nov.
15, 1996)
9,000-8,000 BCE -- One of the most ancient farming villages in
the world, uncovered by Iraqi archaeologists since 1991 in
Kurdistan. Village of houses of dried bricks. (Source: Moscow
Tribune, Feb. 8, 1997) (See 4,000 BC; 4,000 years ago)
10,000 years ago -- First permanent human settlements.
(Source: Niel Brandt, niel@astro.psu.edu, 1994)
10,000 years ago -- Most recent ice age ends. (National
Geographic, Feb. 1997, accompanying chart)
ca. 8,000 BCE -- End of the Ice Age. (Source: Pears
Cyclopaedia, 94th ed., 1985, p. A2)
Holocene epoch: 10,000 years ago to present. Climate warmed,
humans developed significantly. (HFE)
ca. 8,000 BCE -- People learn to use fire to cast copper and
harden pottery. (Niel Brandt, 1994)
ca. 7,000 BCE -- Origin of Indo-European race and languages
from Punjab or Afghanistan. "Japheth".
ca. 7,000 BCE -- "Cheddar Man" from southwest England.
Britons appear to come from a race of hunter-gatherers who
later turned to farming. Mitochondrial DNA extracted from a
molar tooth compared with living British volunteers. (Source:
Moscow Times, Mar. 11, 1997)
ca. 9,000 ago -- Remains of Western European Caucasoid man
found 1990 in riverbed near Kennewick, Washington, USA, by
Army Corps of Engineers, who turned them over to Umatilla
Indian Tribe for burial according to law. Legal battle between
scientists and government. (Source: BBC, Oct. 4, 1997)
ca. 5400 BCE -- Many farming villages in lower
Tigris/Euphrates Valley. (Source: Jim Jones World History
Timeline)
October 23, 4004 BCE -- Creation date reckoned by James
Ussher, Anglican Primate of All Ireland, in 17th century.
(Source: Insight, Jan. 12-19, 1998, p. 41) Close to Divine
Principle chronology.
ca. 4,000 BCE -- Susa founded.
ca. 3,500-2,390 BCE -- Sumerian civilization flourishes.
Cuneiform writing on clay tablets. (Pears Cycl.)
after 3500 BCE -- City of Uruk founded (1st Sumerian city).
(Source: Jones World History Timeline)
ca. 3,100 BCE -- First Egyptian dynasty. Hieratic writing
already perfected. (Pears Cyclopaedia)
3,100 BCE -- Stonehenge built as astronomical observatory and
religious worship site.
3,000 BCE -- Legendary founding of Chinese civilization by
Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor, who invented mathematics,
medicine, and agriculture, and used his knowledge to unite
China's tribes. (Source: Newsweek, July 7, 1997, p. 25)
before 2,600-2,100 BCE -- Early Bronze Age.
2,870 BCE -- First settlements at Troy. (Pears Cyclopaedia)
2850 BCE -- City of Ur founded. (Source: Jim Jones World
History Timeline)
ca. 2,700-2,230 BCE -- Egyptian Old Kingdom. Great
Pyramids. (Source: Disciples Bible)
ca. 2,600 BCE -- First writing on papyrus.
ca. 2,400 BCE -- Great Aryan migration begins. (Pears
Cyclopaedia)
4,000 years ago -- First cities. (National Geographic, Feb.
1997, accompanying chart) (See 9,000 BC)
ca. 2,390-2,210 BCE -- Empire of Akkad. (Source: Disciples
Bible)
April 2, 2369 BCE -- Noah's Ark supposed to have landed on
top of Mt. Ararat. Buried by eternal snow, it remained whole
until 1840 when it broke up. Spotted in 1916 by aviators
Zabolotskiy and Lesin. Tsar Nikolai II sent an expedition of
Russian soldiers who found the ark. Italian Angelo Palego,
who dedicated his life to study the Ark, visited it in August
1989. However, Kurdish rebels captured him and his team. He
plans new ascents by helicopter. (Chronology quoted by Oleg
Shevtsov in Komsomolskaya Pravda, Aug. 14, 1997)
October 3, 2,333 BCE -- Legendary Tangun founded Ancient
Chosun (Ko-Chosun) upon mount Asadal. (Source: Kuk-eo
dae sajeon, 1989, p. 380)
ca. 2,230-1,700 BCE -- Egyptian Intermediate Kingdoms.
(Source: Disciples Bible)
2300-2000 BCE -- Sargon's Akkadians ruled lower
Mesopotamia including Sumer. (Source: Jim Jones World
History Timeline)
2,205-1,600 BCE -- Hsia Dynasty in China. (Source:
Newsweek, July 7, 1997, p. 24)
ca. 2200 BCE -- Lagash (Sumerian city) flourished. (Source:
Jim Jones World History Timeline)
2140 BCE -- Ur conquered Uruk, Lagash, other Sumerian
cities. (Jim Jones World History Timeline)
ca. 2,130-1,960 BCE -- Ur (in Mesopotamia). (Source
[obsolete]: Disciples Bible)
2,100-1,550 BCE -- Middle Bronze Age.
2,000 B.C -- Minoan civilization upon Crete.
HEBREW ERA
ca. 2070 BCE -- Birth of Terah, an idolmaker, father of
Abraham. He moved the family from Ur in Mesopotamia to
Haran.
ca. 2000-1830 BCE -- Abraham. (Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995,
p. 49)
2000 BCE -- Old Babylonian kingdom founded in
Mesopotamia. (Source: Jones World Hist. Timeline)
ca. 1925 BCE -- Abraham leaves Haran for Canaan at age 75.
Forefather of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Abraham and Sarah. [Bible also says Abram left at age 135
when Terah died at age 205]
1915 BCE -- King Yu founded the Hsia Dynasty. (Source:
Newsweek, July 7, 1997, pp. 24-25)
September 24, 1912 BCE -- Solar eclipse at sunset in Hunan
Province three years after Hsia dynasty founded. (Source:
Newsweek, July 7, 1997, p. 25)
ca. 1900 BCE -- Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by
earthquake and subterranean fires; geological evidence. (Source:
Jonathan Leake, Sunday Times, Feb. 1, 1998, London)
ca. 1900-1720 BCE -- Isaac. (Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p.
49) ...Isaac and Ishmael.
ca. 1890-1590 BCE -- Babylonian Dynasty. (Source: Disciples
Bible)
ca. 1800-1700 BCE -- Jacob. (Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p.
49) ...Jacob and Esau.
1792-1750 BCE -- Hammurabi ruled Old Babylon and
provided written law. (Source: Jim Jones World History
Timeline)
ca. 1750-1550 BCE -- Joseph. (Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p.
49) ...Joseph and his brothers.
Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt.
Joseph becomes Prime Minister of Egypt.
Joseph reunites with his brothers and his father Jacob.
Slavery of the Israelites in Egypt.
1751 BCE -- Code of Hammurabi at Babylon. (Pears
Cyclopaedia)
ca. 1700 BCE-1550 BCE -- Reign of Hyksos [Hebrews?] in
Egypt. (Source: Disciples Bible)
1600-1027 BCE -- Shang Dynasty. Chinese characters begin as
divinations on oracle bones and tortoise shells. (Source:
Newsweek, July 7, 1997, pp. 24-25)
1550-1200 BCE -- Late Bronze Age.
ca. 1550-1320 BCE -- Egyptian 15th to 18th Dynasties.
(Source: Disciples Bible)
ca. 1550 BCE -- Egyptian King Amenhotep I. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 1550-1430 BCE -- Moses receives God's Word, leads the
Hebrews out of Egyptian captivity to Canaan.
ca. 1520 BCE -- Egyptian King Thutmose I. (Source: Disciples
Bible)
ca. 1460-1350 BCE -- Joshua. (surmised by William Stoertz,
Aug. 7, 1997)
ca. 1450-1250 BCE -- Exodus. (Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995,
p. 49)
1438 BCE -- Moses speaks to Pharaoh, "Let my people go."
Demonstrates three signs to Pharaoh. Pharaoh refuses. God
strikes Egypt with ten calamities; each time Pharaoh hardens his
heart. Finally he lets the Israelites leave. Passover. "Exodus".
Three days journey. The Israelites cross the Red Sea, and
Pharaoh's chariots in pursuit drowned. (surmised by William
Stoertz, Aug. 7, 1997; evidence of this date from the Bible in I
Kings 6:1)
ca. 1420-1080 BCE -- Hittite advance. (Source: Disciples Bible)
1417-1379 BCE -- Egyptian King Amenhotep III.
ca. 1400 BCE -- Jericho destroyed, archaeological evidence.
(Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p. 49)
ca. 1370 BCE -- Egyptian King Amenhotep IV. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 1360-1230 BCE -- Moses. (Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p.
49)
ca. 1320-1190 BCE -- Egyptian 19th Dynasty (Rameses I, II,
Seti I, Merneptah). (Disciples Bible)
ca. 1290-1230 BCE -- Rameses II, archaeological evidence.
(Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p. 49)
ca. 1290-630 BCE -- Assyrian rule. (Source: Disciples Bible)
ca. 1300-1190 BCE -- Joshua. (Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p.
49)
1300-612 BCE -- Assyrians rule Mesopotamia from Nineveh.
(Source: Jones World History Timeline)
ca. 1260 BCE -- Egyptian-Hittite treaty. (Source: Disciples
Bible)
1250 BCE -- Israelites invade Palestine (Joshua). (Pears
Cyclopaedia)
Joshua receives Moses' mission and leads the Israelites into
Canaan.
ca. 1430-1020 BCE -- Period of Judges. Repeatedly fell into
idolatry and immorality. Defeated by enemies, repented, and
liberated by righteous "judges" who ruled Israel. Samuel, the
final judge, anoints Saul king.
12 tribes settle in Canaan.
Defeat of Jericho and other gentile kings, tribes, and cities.
Repeatedly fall into idolatry, immorality, return to captivity, and
liberation by Judges.
1207 BCE -- Stele found describing Pharaoh Merneptah's
victory over Israel. (Time, 12/18/95, p. 48)
1200-590 BCE -- Iron Age. (Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p.
48-49)
1200-900 BCE -- Early Iron Age.
ca. 1190-1080 BCE -- Egyptian 20th Dynasty. (Disciples Bible)
ca. 12th century BCE -- Philistines in Palestine. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 1080 BCE-3rd century BCE -- Egyptian 21st to 31st
Dynasties. (Disciples Bible)
JEWISH KINGDOM
ca. 1020-1000 BCE -- Samuel, the final judge, anoints Saul,
inaugurating the first united kingdom of Israel.
1027-249 BCE -- Chou Dynasty in China. (Pears Cyclopaedia)
1000 BCE -- "Rig Veda" (India). (Pears Cyclopaedia) (See 400
BC)
1110 BCE -- David conquers Jerusalem, archaeological
evidence. ( Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p. 48-49)
1000-962 BCE -- Reign of King David. Defeats the Palestinian
tribes around Israel.
962-922 BCE -- Reign of King Solomon. Built the Temple of
Jerusalem; made alliances with empires. But his sons fought
and Israel fell into civil war, dividing into northern Israel and
southern Judah.
922-722 BCE -- Prophets Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Amos and
Hosea preach against idol worship and social injustice in
northern Israel.
10th-8th centuries BCE -- East Slavic "Skolot" tribes
(Chernoles culture) of Lower Dnieper River united to defend
against nomadic Kimmerians. (Source: Oleg Platonov,
Russkaya Tsivilizatsia, 1995, p. 6)
920 BCE -- Shishak I. (Source: Disciples Bible)
900-590 BCE -- Middle Iron Age.
900 BCE -- Magnetized iron began to be used as direction
indicators. (Source: Joseph Schwartz and Michael McGuinness,
Einstein for Beginners, 1979, Pantheon Books, New York, p.
54)
ca. 875 BCE -- Elijah in northern Israel fights against false
prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 870 BCE -- Destruction of Troy, recounted by Homer (ca.
700 BC) in Iliad and Odyssey.
ca. 860 BCE -- Battle of Qarqar. (Source: Disciples Bible)
ca. 850 BCE -- Prophet Elisha in northern Israel inherits
Elijah's position. (Source: Disciples Bible)
841 BCE -- Earliest date recorded in Chinese chronology.
(Source: Newsweek, July 7, 1997, p. 24)
ca. 810 BCE -- Prophet Jonah in northern Israel. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 780 BCE -- Prophet Amos in northern Israel. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 770 BCE -- Prophet Hosea in northern Israel. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 760 BCE -- Scholarly prophet Isaiah in Judah. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 755 BCE -- Prophet Micah. (Source: Disciples Bible)
753 BCE -- Foundation of Rome (traditional). (See 476 AD; 60
BC; Aug. 6, 1806; Jan. 26, 1871)
ca. 740 BCE -- Tiglath-Pileser III. (Source: Disciples Bible)
ca. 730 BCE -- Sargon I. (Source: Disciples Bible)
ca. 730 BCE -- Prophets Zephaniah, Jeremiah ("prophet of
God's Heart"), Nahum. (Disciples Bible)
722 BCE -- Northern Israel defeated and taken into captivity by
Assyria. Jews scattered and populated many nations, where
they are found up to the modern era.
ca. 720 BCE -- Sennacherib. (Source: Disciples Bible)
700 BCE -- Homer's poems written probably before this date.
(Pears Cyclopaedia)
7th century BCE -- Skolot tribes as autonomous entity joined
Scythian Federation. (Source: Oleg Platonov, Russkaya
Tsivilizatsia, 1995, p. 6)
ca. 630 BCE-539 BCE -- Babylonian rule. (Source: Disciples
Bible)
ca. 620 BCE -- Neco II. (Source: Disciples Bible)
612 BCE -- Medes and Chaldeans expel Assyrians and found
"New Babylonian" empire. (Source: Jim Jones World History
Timeline)
612-539 BCE -- New Babylonians rule Mesopotamia. (Source:
Jim Jones World History Timeline)
ca. 610 BCE -- Nebuchadnezzar II ruler of Babylonia. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 610 BCE -- Prophet Habakkuk. (Source: Disciples Bible)
ca. 600 BCE -- Lao Tsu, "Tao Te Ching", Daoism in China.
(Source: Pears Cyclopaedia)
ca. 600 BCE -- Legendary founding of Japanese imperial
dynasty by sun goddess Amaterasuomikami.
590 BCE-320 BCE -- Late Iron Age.
590 BCE-330 BCE -- Babylonian and Persian Period. (Source:
Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p. 48-49)
ca. 590 BCE -- Prophet Ezekiel. Apocalyptic visions. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
586-538 BCE -- Captivity of Jews in Babylon. Prophets Daniel
and Ezekiel. Persia overthrows Babylon.
ca. 580 BCE -- Prophet Daniel. Prophet of the Exile. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
570-496 BCE -- Pythagoras, Greek mathematician. (Source:
Essentials of Unification Thought, 1992)
565-485 BCE -- Gautama Buddha in India. Buddhism
eventually spreads throughout Far East and SE Asia. (elsewhere
568-488)
6th-4th century BCE -- Sauromatian (Sarmatian) tribes lived
around Volga River between Black Sea and Urals. Probably
migrated from Kazakhstan or southern Siberia. (Moscow Times,
Feb. 21, 1997)
September 29, 551-479 BCE -- Confucius in China.
Confucianism eventually spreads to China, Japan, and Korea.
559-529 BCE -- Persian emperor Cyrus. Defeated the Medes,
founded the Achaemenid dynasty. (Pears)
539 BCE -- Persians invade and conquer Mesopotamia.
(Source: Jim Jones World History Timeline)
538-360 BCE -- Persian rule of Judaea. (Source: Disciples
Bible)
538 BCE -- Edict of Cyrus of Persia liberates the Jews,
authorizes and funds rebuilding of the temple.
548-486 BCE -- Persian emperor Darius I. Founded Persepolis.
Defeated by Greeks at Marathon. (Pears)
537 BCE -- Baruch son of Neriah, a scribe, recorded
prophecies of Jeremiah. (Time, 12/18/95, p. 47)
519-465 BCE -- Persian emperor Xerxes. Defeated the Spartans
at Thermopylae. (Source: Pears Cyclo.)
495-406 BCE -- Sophocles, Greek tragic poet.
ca. 480 BCE -- Prophets Haggai and Zechariah. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
475-221 BCE -- Warring States period of China. (Source:
Newsweek, July 7, 1997, p. 24)
ca. 455 BCE -- Ezra the scribe led the last group of returning
Jews to Jerusalem. (Divine Principle)
450 BCE -- Walls of Jerusalem built. (Source: Time, Dec. 18,
1995, p. 48-49) Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem and
restores Israel's identity. Ezra leads repentance and reform
centered on God's Word. Malachi prophesies of the coming
Messiah.
HELLENIC ERA
509 BCE -- Foundation of Roman Republic (traditional). (Pears
Cyclopaedia)
508 BCE -- Democratic constitution proclaimed in Athens.
(Pears Cyclopaedia)
September 20, 480 BCE -- Greeks defeat Persia in naval battle
at Salamene. (Source: MK, Sept. 20, 1997)
470-399 BCE -- Socrates in Greece. Foundation of western
philosophy.
427-347 BCE -- Plato. Founded Academy in Athens.
Influential writings in western history.
ca. 425 BCE -- Malachi prophesies return of Elijah and coming
of the Messiah. (Source: Disciples Bible)
ca. 400 BCE -- Joel prophesies of the "Last Days". (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 400 BCE -- Torah (Laws) canonized as Bible of Judaism.
(Source: Disciples Bible) (See 200 BC; 75 AD; 400 AD)
ca. 400 BCE -- Bhagavad Gita, Sanskrit poem, incorporated
into the Mahabharata. (See 1000 BC)
384-322 BCE -- Aristotle. Tutor of prince Alexander the
Macedonian.
ca. 360 BCE -- Plato writes The Republic.
ca. 360-70 BCE -- Seleucid (Syrian) kings rule Judaea. (Source:
Disciples Bible)
ca. 360-50 BCE -- Ptolemies (Egypt). (Source: Disciples Bible)
356-323 BCE -- Alexander the Great. Extended Greek Empire
to Egypt, India, Persia.
342-270 BCE -- Epicurus of Samos, taught peace of mind
through freedom from fear. (Source: Pears)
342-270 BCE -- Zeno of Citium, founded Stoicism, elevating
virtue and denying passions. (Pears C.)
331 BCE -- Macedonian Greeks under Alexander conquer
Mesopotamia. (Source: Jim Jones World History Timeline)
330 BCE-70 BCE -- Hellenistic Period in Judaea. (Source:
Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p. 48-49)
4th century BCE -- Pyramids built in remote Altai territory of
Siberia. (Moscow Times, Feb. 26, 1997)
313-192 BCE -- Greek Seleucid dynasty. (Source: Jim Jones
World History Timeline)
287-212 BCE -- Archimedes. Greek mathematician and
inventor. Killed by Romans in the siege of Syracuse. (Source:
Pears Cyclopaedia)
3rd century BCE -- Sarmatian tribes invaded many times,
driving the ancient Russians into the dense forest, interrupting
the process of formation and maturation of Russian civilization.
Their culture regressed, but they retained their main spiritual
features. (Oleg Platonov, Russkaya Tsivilizatsia, 1995, p. 6)
(See 6th-4th century BC)
3rd century BCE-5th century A.D. -- Agricultural
"Chernyakhov" culture. (Russkaya Tsivilizatsia, 1995, p. 6)
247-182 BCE -- Hannibal, Carthaginian statesman, general. Led
Carthage against Rome.
200 BCE -- Nebi'im (Prophets) canonized as part of Jewish
Bible. (Source: Disciples Bible) (See 922-400 BC; 75 AD)
192-189 BCE -- War between Seleucids and Rome. (Source:
Jim Jones World History Timeline)
160 BCE -- Maccabean revolt of Jews against Seleucids (360-
70 BC). (See also 70 BC)
150 BCE-70 BCE -- Dead Sea Scrolls deposited. (Source: Time,
Dec. 18, 1995, p. 48-49)
108 BCE -- Ancient Chosun (northern Puyo, Koguryo, Tongye
and Okcho tribes; Three Han tribes in south) falls to armies of
Former Han Dynasty of China. These consolidated into the
Three Kingdoms: Shilla, Koguryo and Paekche. (Source: The
Koreans, Seoul, p. 19) (See 57 BC; 37 BC; 18 BC)
101-44 BCE -- Caius Julius Caesar. General, writer, dictator.
Paved the way for Roman Empire. (Pears)
70 BCE-300 A.D. -- Roman Period. (Source: Time, Dec. 18,
1995, p. 48-49)
70 BCE -- Maccabean revolt begins, archaeological evidence.
(Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p. 48-49) (See also 160 BC)
70 BCE -- Romans under Pompey seize Jerusalem,
archaeological evidence. (Time, 12/18/95, p. 48-49)
ca. 60 BCE -- Qumran community. (Source: Disciples Bible)
60-44 BCE -- Ascendancy of Julius Caesar. Conquers Gaul
and Britain, defeats Pompey, becomes dictator of Rome. Death
of Caesar. (Source: Pears Cyclopaedia)
September 23, 63 BCE-14 A.D. -- Caius Octavian Augustus
Caesar. First Roman emperor. (Pears C.)
57 BCE-668 A.D. -- Shilla kingdom in southeast Korea.
(Source: The Koreans, Seoul, p. 19)
ca. 55 BCE -- Lucretius wrote De Rerum Naturae. (Source:
Joseph Schwartz and Michael McGuinness, Einstein for
Beginners, 1979, Pantheon Books, New York, p. 54)
1st Century BCE -- Publilius Syrus, Roman writer.
Roman rule of Israel.
November 17, 42 BCE -- Birth of Tiberius Caesar (r. 14-37
AD). (Mosk. Komsomolets, Nov. 16, 1996)
40 BCE-0 BCE -- Herod the Great, archaeological evidence.
(Source: Time, Dec. 18, 1995, p. 48-49)
37 BCE-668 A.D. -- Koguryo kingdom in northern Korea.
(Source: The Koreans, Seoul, p. 19)
18 BCE-660 A.D. -- Paekche kingdom in southwest Korea.
(Source: The Koreans, Seoul, p. 19)
August 1, 10 BCE -- Birth of Claudius, Roman emperor.
(Moskovskiy Komsomolets, Aug. 1, 1997)
Zechariah and Elizabeth.
4 BCE-27 A.D. -- John the Baptist.
4 BCE-29 A.D. -- Jesus.
CHRISTIAN ERA
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