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Description
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Time / Year
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Answer
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This process begins: light energy synthesizes sugars from carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen as a waste product.
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- 3000 million
|
Photosynthesis
|
|
Practically all major animal phyla started appearing in the fossil record.
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- 541 million
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Cambrian explosion
|
|
Earth's most severe extinction event. Mysteriously, up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species now extinct.
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- 252 million
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Permian extinction
|
|
This diverse group of reptiles become extinct.
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- 66 million
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Dinosaurs
|
|
Using stone, homonids start hammering away at things using these implements.
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- 3.5 million
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Tools
|
|
Homonids learn how to control this useful exothermic chemical process.
|
-1.5 million
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Fire
|
|
Homo Sapiens begin using this useful communicative tool.
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- 200,000
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Speech
|
|
Rather than hunting and gathering, Homo Sapiens begin this food-producing practice.
|
- 11,500
|
Farming / Agriculture
|
|
Regular trading starts relationships between many states around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, starting the first of this kind of civilization.
|
-3500
|
River Valley Civilization
|
|
King Menes founds this pyramid-building civilization.
|
-3150
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Egypt
|
|
An abundance of this essential metal is first used in the Middle East and Balkans to make bronze.
|
-3000
|
Tin
|
|
Humans domesticate and tame the equus ferus caballus, otherwise known as the...
|
-2000
|
Horse
|
|
These early chariot-riding peoples start the Hittite Empire.
|
- 1600
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Indo-European
|
|
The Mycenaeans become the earliest form of this civilization.
|
- 1600
|
Greek
|
|
These expert seafarers and merchants take prominence after a violent collapse of the key bronze age civilizations. They would go on to invent the alphabet.
|
- 1500
|
Phoenician
|
|
Europeans begin using this abundant metal, bringing in the final of the three pre-historic periods.
|
- 1100
|
Iron
|
|
Saul becomes the first king of this newly united kingdom.
|
- 1037
|
Judah / Judea
|
|
This great Chinese teacher is born. His students would later write The Analects in his honour.
|
- 551
|
Confucius
|
|
Following antagonism from Cyrus the Great, these half-century wars between the Greek and Persian empire begin. Xerxes I is remembered as a key figure of this war.
|
499
|
Greco-Persian Wars
|
|
This enlightened religious leader is born in Ancient India.
|
- 480
|
Buddha
|
|
This Ancient Greek philosopher writes The Republic.
|
- 390
|
Plato
|
|
This 'great' leader of Macedonia conquers the entire Persian Empire
|
-330
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Alexander the Great
|
|
This Mauryan ruler gives five hundred elephants to his rival Selecus in an territorial alliance treaty.
|
-305
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Chandragupta
|
|
This ancient Phoenician city-state loses the name Tyre, establishing itself as a major colonial power in the third century BC.
|
- 264
|
Carthage
|
|
Emperor Ying Zheng unites all the seven states of China, thereby ending the Warring States period and bringing in this dynasty.
|
-221
|
Qin Dynasty
|
|
This period of Greek cultural influence and power ends, owing to Augustus's defeat of Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium.
|
-31
|
Hellenistic
|
|
In response to the previous, the suicide-by-asp of this ruler also marked the end of Ptolemaic Kingdom.
|
-30
|
Cleopatra
|
|
This empire establish colonial dominance throughout the Mediterranean
|
1
|
Roman
|
|
This individual is sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged and then crucified by the Romans.
|
30
|
Jesus Christ
|
|
This transcontinental network of trade routes proves integral to the development of Asian, Europe and the horn of Africa.
|
207-220
|
The Silk Road
|
|
China is split between the kingdoms of Wei, Shu (Han) and Wu in this period.
|
220 - 280
|
Three Kingdoms
|
|
The introduction of the camel to the western Sahara, opens the way to great economic changes in the area that would become this empire.
|
300
|
Ghana Empire / Wagadou
|
|
Byzantium is given this new name and is made the capital of the newly pious Roman Empire
|
330
|
Constantinople
|
|
The peace of the Gupta Empire starts the Indian Golden Age, known for creating zero, the decimal numeral system and this fun 8x8 game.
|
400
|
Chess
|
|
The largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas reaches its peak, with a population estimated at 125,000 or more, making it at least the sixth-largest city in the world.
|
450
|
Teotihuacan
|
|
Non-Romans destroy Western Rome, but Romans called them by this name.
|
476
|
Barbarians
|
|
This empire survives as 'Eastern Rome', more commonly known as this.
|
476
|
Byzantine Empire
|
|
This nomadic group establish dominance in inner Asia
|
576
|
Göktürks
|
|
Shortly following the death of the prophet Muḥammad, this Islamic Caliphate now controls most of the Middle East and much of North Africa.
|
654
|
Rashidun Caliphate
|
|
Key linguistic, scientific and cultural work hits its stride in this important levantine house / library, harkening in the Islamic Golden Age
|
756
|
Baghdad House of Wisdom
|
|
These Norse people begin to raid and establish settlements in Northern Europe. The longship was one of the keys to their success.
|
793
|
Vikings
|
|
This king of the Franks becomes the first Holy Roman Emperor.
|
800
|
Charlemagne
|
|
This federation of East Slavic and Finnic peoples begins.
|
882
|
Kievan Rus
|
|
Harold Godwinson loses the Battle of Hastings this year to this Duke of Normandy.
|
1066
|
William the Conquerer
|
|
The Byzantines are beaten by this Islamic dynasty at the Battle of Manzikert, establishing a wide area of dominance in the area.
|
1071
|
Seljuk Turks
|
|
Alexius I feels the pressure due to the above. The Pope orders Christian armies to march to Jerusalem, attacking several cities on their way.
|
1099
|
First Crusade / Siege of Jerusalem
|
|
The first of this kind of military government begins in Japan.
|
1192
|
Shogunate
|
|
This Mongolian emperor begins a campaign, conquering much of modern China, central Asia and Eastern Europe.
|
1206
|
Genghis Khan
|
|
This Emperor of Mali goes on tour. He may have been the richest person of the Middle Ages.
|
1324
|
Mansa Musa
|
|
This illness kills half of Europe, resulting in up to 200 million deaths.
|
1350
|
Black Death
|
|
With Java as its capital, this Hindu empire owns large swaths of land in the Indian and Pacific empire.
|
1389
|
Majapahit
|
|
Europe's rebirth, bringing them out of the cultural, social and economic dark ages marked by the fall of Rome.
|
1450
|
Renaissance
|
|
Constantinople falls to this Caliphate led by Mehmed the Conqueror, starting this empire.
|
1453
|
Ottoman Empire
|
|
This tribunal begins in Spain, rooting out non-Christians or burning them in public.
|
1478
|
Spanish Inquisition
|
|
Bartolomeu Dias becomes the first European to sail around this southernmost tip of Africa.
|
1488
|
Cape of Good Hope
|
|
This explorer sets off on his first voyage from Spain. He later finds the Americas.
|
1492
|
Christopher Columbus
|
|
This treaty between Spain and Portugal divides up the newfound lands of the Americas.
|
1494
|
Treaty of Tordesillas
|
|
Dynastic policy pursued by Maximilian I gets this family into French, Austrian, Dutch and Italian seats of power, causing monarchical control of Spain this year.
|
1516
|
Habsburg
|
|
A scathing criticism of the Catholic church by Martin Luther leads to this period of religious change.
|
1517
|
Reformation
|
|
This Sultan of the Ottoman state rules over at least 25 million people.
|
1540
|
Suleiman the Magnificent
|
|
The first Tsar of Russia. He establishes Muscovy as an empire after taking control of the entire Volga river.
|
1556
|
Ivan the Terrible
|
|
The Low Countries begin fighting for a republic after repression by the Habsburgs.
|
1566
|
The Dutch Revolt
|
|
Dutch companies invade Portuguese colonies in the Americas, Africa, India and the Far East, starting this maritime war.
|
1601
|
Dutch–Portuguese War / Spice War
|
|
The Dutch republic is established upon the signing of this treaty by the Lords States General of the United Netherlands and the Spanish Crown.
|
1648
|
Peace of Münster
|
|
The major powers of Great Britain, Prussia and France, the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria and the Russian Empire go to war over their colonies.
|
1756
|
Seven Years War
|
|
New manufacturing processes in engineering begin this revolution.
|
1760
|
Industrial Revolution
|
|
The Declaration of Independence is signed in this new country.
|
1776
|
United States of America
|
|
The British set off on this First Fleet to establish this colony in modern day Australia. Today it is the oldest state in Australia.
|
1788
|
New South Wales
|
|
Ex-slaves in this Caribbean country rise against the French Republic to establish independence from slave owners and colonial powers.
|
1791
|
Haiti
|
|
The original Thermidorian Reaction: this revolutionary and executionist of Louis XVI is himself executed in France, ending the Reign of Terror.
|
1794
|
Robespierre
|
|
This Corsican is crowned emperor of the French.
|
1804
|
Napoleon
|
|
The Qing dynasty fights back against colonial trade (especially British) in these wars.
|
1839
|
Opium Wars
|
|
Indians fight back against the East India trading company in these revolts.
|
1857
|
Indian Rebellion / Indian Revolt
|
|
In response to the above, the rule of the British East India Company is transferred to the Crown in the person of Queen Victoria, establishing this
|
1858
|
British Raj
|
|
This war between the Union and the confederacy ends, leading to the liberty of four million black slaves.
|
1865
|
American Civil War
|
|
Adoption of technological systems such as telegraph and railroad networks, gas and water supply, and sewage systems leads to the second of these industrial booms.
|
1870
|
Second Industrial Revolution
|
|
The Berlin Conference causes this colonial phenomenon, eliminating the autonomy of many African nations in favour of European dominion.
|
1884
|
Scramble for Africa
|
|
The mysterious explosion of the USS Maine is blamed on this country, leading to a war over Cuba.
|
1898
|
Spain
|
|
This car-powering fossil fuel is discovered in Persia.
|
1908
|
Oil
|
|
This conduit for maritime trade is created. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific ocean.
|
1914
|
Panama Canal
|
|
This major war begins.
|
1914
|
World War I
|
|
This secret treaty allowed the British, Italians and French to divide up the Middle East and control certain areas by proxy. When later exposed, it was seen as a betrayal of their promises to the Arabs.
|
1916
|
Sykes-Picot
|
|
Tsar Nicholas II's reign ends after this social revolution in Russia.
|
1917
|
Russian Revolution
|
|
T.E Lawrence helps the Arabs achieve a military victory against the Ottomans in this uprising. The creation of a unified Arab state would later fall through, however.
|
1918
|
Arab Revolt
|
|
This man becomes the first leader of the USSR.
|
1922
|
Vladimir Lenin
|
|
The Ottoman empire having come to an end, this country fights for and gains independence, preventing the establishment of a new Byzantine Empire.
|
1923
|
Turkey
|
|
This period of post-war prosperity begins, known for jazz, bootlegging mobsters and the Charlestone. It would later colloquially be known as this:
|
1920
|
The Roaring Twenties / The Jazz Age
|
|
The Stock markets crash, causing this period of economic hardship.
|
1929
|
The Great Depression
|
|
This man becomes the Monarch of Saudi Arabia.
|
1932
|
Ibn Saud
|
|
This six week massacre in China becomes a lasting memory of Japanese aggression during World War II.
|
1937
|
Rape of Nanking
|
|
This Japanese city is bombed by the USAAF, killing up to 160,000
|
1945
|
Hiroshima
|
|
This man becomes integral to the eventual independence of India this year.
|
1947
|
Mahatma Gandhi
|
|
This communist government is established by Mao in China.
|
1949
|
CPC
|
|
The USSR and USA fight over spaceflight achievements.
|
1957
|
The Space Race
|
|
The world nears nuclear war due to this confrontation between the USA and the USSR.
|
1962
|
Cuban Missile Crisis
|
|
Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on this natural satellite.
|
1969
|
Moon
|
|
By this year, most countries on this continent are decolonised.
|
1975
|
Africa
|
|
This system of racial segregation is repealed in South Africa.
|
1991
|
Apartheid
|
|
Moscow loses its governing power, leading to the fast dissolution of this socialist state.
|
1991
|
Soviet Union
|
|
The European Union introduces this currency. The UK keeps Sterling.
|
1999
|
Euro
|
|
Four coordinated terror attacks bring down this New York trade hub.
|
2001
|
World Trade Center
|
|
Poorly regulated lending leads to this market crash, the worst since the Great Depression.
|
2008
|
Great Recession
|
