History

Prehistory (before 5000 BC)

Prehistory has a narrower meaning on this site than it does in general. Here, it refers to the entire period before 5000 BC. Early prehistory is the period before before 50,000 years ago. This includes studies of the period of human evolution as reconstructed by anthropologists from fossil remains. Middle prehistory includes studies of the period from 50,000 years ago to 10,000 years ago. Developments taking place mostly in this period include the dispersion of modern man all over the world. It also includes cultures of the latest ice age and its ending. Late prehistory includes the studies of the period from 10,000 years ago, or 8000 BC to 5000 BC. Important developments of this period include the development of agriculture and the early roots of civilization.

Antiquity (5000 BC - 501 BC)

During the 5th millennium BC, civilization began to develop in Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China, although the evidence is for them is archaeological and not written. The 4th millennium BC includes the period sometimes called protohistory. Developments in Egypt, the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, and civilizations in India and China are noted for the development of writing late in the millennium and for early Bronze Age material culture. The 3rd millennium BC is noted for the beginning of the Minoan civilization in Crete, the Old kingdom of Egypt and the building of the pyramids, the Sumerian and Akkadian empires in Mesopotamia and the Elamites in what is now southwestern Iran. The Harappan civilization of India and Pakistan, and developments in China can also be considered. The 2nd millennium BC includes the spread of Indo-European speaking peoples across Europe and Asia. Minoan and Mycenean peoples were present in Greece, the end of the Middle kingdom in Egypt and the beginning of the New Kingdom, the rise of the Hittites in Asia Minor. It is believed that Israel and the beginnings of the Old Testament date to this period, but the exact timing is unknown. The Babylonian and Assyrian empires were prominent. The Indo-Aryan synthesis occurred in South Asia, and the bornze age Shang empire of China arose. Alphabetic writing originated and the Iron age had begun among the Hittites. The early first millennium BC includes the early classical Greek civilization The Assyrian and Babylonian empires were succeded by the Achamenid Persian empire with its religion of Zoroastrianism. The latter portion of the Old Testament was written. In South India, Gautama Buddha founded Buddhism and Hahavira founded Jainism. In the Orient, Confucius and Lao Tzu are thought to have lived and taught.

Classical and Medieval (500 BC - 1500 CE)

The Early Classical period (500 BC - 1 BC) is best known for the Greeks, the Roman Republic, and the military defeat of the Persian empire but it also marks the rise of the Mauryan empire in India and the Han empire in china, and possibly high civilizations in the Americas as well. The Late Classical period (1 CE - 500 CE) is known in Europe for the Roman Empire, its division into Eastern and Western parts, and the collapse of the Western Roman empire. The Mauryan Empire in India and the Han Empire in China collapsed. Christianity originated within the Roman Empire, and variants of it spread throughout the Empire and into other neigboring regions. Buddhism began to spread throughout Asia. The Early Medieval period (501 CE - 1000 CE) was known as the Dark ages in western Europe. The remains of the Western Roman empire were dominated by the Roman Catholic Church, while the Byzantine empire dominated much of the Middle East. The new religion of Islam embarked on a wave of conquest in the remainder of the Middle East. Various dynasties arose in India and China. In the Late Medieval period (1000 - 1500 CE), while the nations of Europe began to take their modern shape and struggled with a powerful medieval church, Islam advanced into Central and Southeast Asia and Mongols from east Central Asia spread terror across the continent. Europeans became aware of the east and began to explore the world.

Modern (1501 CE - present)

The 16th Century is noted as a period of exploration and discovery, as European navigators encountered the Americas and began colonization and conquest of South America, and developed sea trade routes with the nations of Asia. The 17th Century is noted for the primarily English colonization of North America and for continued intense religious warfare in Europe. The 18th Century is noted for a decline in religious warfare but an increase in European trade and colonial activity, and liberalized ideas in religion, government, economics, education, and philosophy, and the development of recognizably modern science. The 19th Century is noted for an industrial revolution in Europe, based on the large scale use of coal and steel, which included development of railroads. Science advanced substantially, with a corresponding increase secularism. Europeans, most importantly the British Empire, extended their direct political influence over much of Asia and the rest of the world in numerous colonial and imperial wars. The 20th Century is marked by the appearance of automobiles, aircraft, radio communication, and a shift in technology to use of petroleum and electricity. There was a rise in large, multinational corporations. Marxist Communism became influential but later declined. The influence of Europe in general and the British empire in particular declined, while the United States rose to world supremacy following two world wars, and Asiatic peoples and African peoples, which had adopted many European institutions and industry, began to reassert themselves. Current events, including those of the early 21st century, are also included here.

Future

In general, the future is unknown. The near future is somewhat predictable based on scheduling and plans of the dominant institutions in societies, but there is always some degree of uncertainty involved. The middle future is less predictable and far more speculative, since events of great significance can go unnoticed at the time they occur. The far future is almost entirely speculative.