Events - Browse By Major Periods - Era of First Civilizations (-3800 to -1499)

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Sumerians develop first written script
-3300
Invention, Mesopotamia
Emergence of writing in Egypt with first pharaoh iconography (Narmer Palette)
-3200
Culture, Egypt
Unified state formed with capital in Memphis and mud-brick architecture
-3000
Culture, Egypt
Beginning of stone pyramids and flourishing trade with Nubia and Syria-Palestine
-2686
Culture, Egypt
Great Pyramid (tomb of King Khufu) along with other 2 pyramids of Giza completed
-2589
Architecture, Egypt
Stele of the Vultures celebrates victory of city-state of Lagash over Umma
-2450
Culture, Mesopotamia
Reunification under Mentuhotep II at Thebes
-2055
Culture, Egypt
New capital city at Itj-Tawy with new pyramids of mud brick cased in limestone
-1985
Culture, Egypt
Senwosret III is Egyptian pharaoh at time that Abraham lived in Canaan
-1874
Religion, Middle East
Hyksos invade Egypt with chariots
-1700
War, Egypt
Minoan cities buried in ash from volcano on island of Thera (Santorini)
-1620
Disaster, Greece
Great palace built at Mycenae
-1600
Architecture, Greece
Emergence of Mycenaean civilization on Greek mainland
-1600
Government, Greece
Introduction of horse and chariot--became status symbol of military elite
-1555
Culture, Egypt
Ahmose (Dynasty 18) reunites Egypt, which enters period of prosperity
-1550
Government, Egypt
Tutmosis I (Dynasty 18) builds the Valley of the Kings
-1504
Architecture, Egypt
Ramesses II makes peace with Hittites
-1258
Peace, Egypt
Conquest by Nubian/Kushite rulers from Napata, close to the 4th Cataract
-747
War, Egypt
Assyrian Esarhaddon takes Memphis forcing Egypt to pay tribute
-671
War, Egypt
Assyrian Assurbanipal sacks Thebes but retreats because of rebellion in Babylon
-667
War, Egypt
Naucratis, a Greek trading post, established in Egypt
-610
Trade, Egypt
Nebuchadnezzar II leads battle against Egyptians with heavy losses on both sides
-601
War, Egypt
Introduction of demotic script
-550
Culture, Egypt
Egyptians defeated by Cambyses at Battle of Pelusium
-525
War, Egypt
Alexander the Great invades Egypt
-332
War, Egypt
Foundation of Alexandria laid by Greek architect Deinocrates
-331
Culture, Egypt
Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) invades Egypt
-30
War, Egypt