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*9,500 years ago: ] urban settlement founded in ] *9,500 years ago: ] urban settlement founded in ]
*9,000-10,000 years ago: In northern ], now northern ], cultivation of ] and ] begins. At first they are used for ], ], and ], eventually for ].<ref>Kiple, Kenneth F. and Ornelas, Kriemhild Coneè, eds., The Cambridge World History of Food, Cambridge University Press, 2000, p. 83</ref> In early agriculture at this time, the Planting stick is used, but it is replaced by a primitive ] in subsequent centuries.<ref>"No-Till: The Quiet Revolution," by David Huggins and John Reganold, ''Scientific American'', July 2008, pages 70-77.</ref> Around this time, a round stone tower, now preserved to about 8.5 meters high and 8.5 meters in diameter is built in ].<ref>Fagan, Brian M, ed. ''The Oxford Companion to Archaeology'', Oxford University Press, Oxford 1996 ISBN 978-0-521-40216-3 p 363</ref> *9,000-10,000 years ago: In northern ], now northern ], cultivation of ] and ] begins. At first they are used for ], ], and ], eventually for ].<ref>Kiple, Kenneth F. and Ornelas, Kriemhild Coneè, eds., The Cambridge World History of Food, Cambridge University Press, 2000, p. 83</ref> In early agriculture at this time, the Planting stick is used, but it is replaced by a primitive ] in subsequent centuries.<ref>"No-Till: The Quiet Revolution," by David Huggins and John Reganold, ''Scientific American'', July 2008, pages 70-77.</ref> Around this time, a round stone tower, now preserved to about 8.5 meters high and 8.5 meters in diameter is built in ].<ref>Fagan, Brian M, ed. ''The Oxford Companion to Archaeology'', Oxford University Press, Oxford 1996 ISBN 978-0-521-40216-3 p 363</ref>
⚫ ===Upper Paleolithic===
⚫ {{main|Upper Paleolithic}}
* 11,000 years ago: Emergence of ], which is now one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. * 11,000 years ago: Emergence of ], which is now one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
* 12,000 years ago: ] leaves ] and southern ]; start of the current ] epoch and ] and end of the last Ice Age. ] is the earliest given date for the beginning of the ancient era * 12,000 years ago: ] leaves ] and southern ]; start of the current ] epoch and ] and end of the last Ice Age. ] is the earliest given date for the beginning of the ancient era
⚫ ===Upper Paleolithic===
⚫ {{main|Upper Paleolithic}}
* c. 14,800 years ago: The Humid Period begins in North Africa. The region that would later become the ] is wet and fertile, and the ]s are full.<ref>"Shift from Savannah to Sahara was Gradual," by Kenneth Chang, '']'', May 9, 2008.</ref> * c. 14,800 years ago: The Humid Period begins in North Africa. The region that would later become the ] is wet and fertile, and the ]s are full.<ref>"Shift from Savannah to Sahara was Gradual," by Kenneth Chang, '']'', May 9, 2008.</ref>
* c. 16,000 years ago: ] sculpted in clay deep inside the cave now known as Le Tuc d'Audoubert in the French Pyrenees near what is now the border of ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Stuart|first=Gene S.|title=Mysteries of the Ancient World|year=1979|publisher=National Geographic Society|pages=8-€“10|chapter=Ice Age Hunters: Artists in Hidden Cages}}</ref> * c. 16,000 years ago: ] sculpted in clay deep inside the cave now known as Le Tuc d'Audoubert in the French Pyrenees near what is now the border of ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Stuart|first=Gene S.|title=Mysteries of the Ancient World|year=1979|publisher=National Geographic Society|pages=8-€“10|chapter=Ice Age Hunters: Artists in Hidden Cages}}</ref>
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* c. 32,000 years ago: ] culture begins in Europe. * c. 32,000 years ago: ] culture begins in Europe.
* 35 000 years ago: oldest known ] (]), age of the ] culture * 35 000 years ago: oldest known ] (]), age of the ] culture

===Middle Paleolithic=== ===Middle Paleolithic===
{{main|Middle Paleolithic}} {{main|Middle Paleolithic}}

Revision as of 18:06, 28 June 2011

For later historical events, see Timeline of ancient history.

Prehistory comprises all events which took place before the creation of written records. The timeline of prehistory lists events from the evolution of the universe and the Earth to the origin of life and human evolution, up to the invention of writing in approximately 4000 BC. Note that many of these dates are speculative or very rough estimates (approximations). For greater geologic detail, see the articles on the various geological periods.

Human prehistory

Main article: Stone Age

Timeline from the beginnings of human evolution to the invention of writing. All dates are approximate and conjectural, obtained through research in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, genetics, geology, or linguistics. They are all subject to revision due to new discoveries or improved calculations. This timeline encompasses the entirety of the Stone Age.

Neo- and Mesolithic

Main articles: Neolithic and Mesolithic
  • 7,000 years ago: late Neolithic civilizations, invention of the wheel and spread of proto-writing.
  • 9,000 years ago: Jiahu culture began in China
  • 9,500 years ago: Çatal Höyük urban settlement founded in Anatolia
  • 9,000-10,000 years ago: In northern Mesopotamia, now northern Iraq, cultivation of barley and wheat begins. At first they are used for beer, gruel, and soup, eventually for bread. In early agriculture at this time, the Planting stick is used, but it is replaced by a primitive Plow in subsequent centuries. Around this time, a round stone tower, now preserved to about 8.5 meters high and 8.5 meters in diameter is built in Jericho.
  • 11,000 years ago: Emergence of Jericho, which is now one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
  • 12,000 years ago: Land ice leaves Denmark and southern Sweden; start of the current Holocene epoch and Neolithic Age and end of the last Ice Age. Invention of agriculture is the earliest given date for the beginning of the ancient era

Upper Paleolithic

Main article: Upper Paleolithic

Middle Paleolithic

Main article: Middle Paleolithic

Lower Paleolithic

{{main|Lower Paleolithic

Complex life

Main article: Geologic time scale See also: Timeline of human evolution

Time from the dawn of complex life to the beginnings of the stone age.

Cenozoic

Main article: Cenozoic

Mesozoic

Main article: Mesozoic

Paleozoic

Main article: Paleozoic

Neoproterozoic

Main article: Neoproterozoic
  • 575 million years ago: oldest animal fossils
  • 580 million years ago: end of a possible Snowball Earth ice age
  • 600 million years ago: Early supercontinent, Pannotia forms in the southern hemisphere. First complex multicelled lifeforms.
  • 635 million years ago: beginning of the Ediacaran Period.
  • 750 million years ago: beginning of a possible Snowball Earth ice age

Formation

Main articles: Formation and evolution of the Solar System, Timeline of the Precambrian, and Timeline of the Big Bang

Time from the formation of universe to the beginnings of complex life

See also

References

  1. Kiple, Kenneth F. and Ornelas, Kriemhild Coneè, eds., The Cambridge World History of Food, Cambridge University Press, 2000, p. 83
  2. "No-Till: The Quiet Revolution," by David Huggins and John Reganold, Scientific American, July 2008, pages 70-77.
  3. Fagan, Brian M, ed. The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1996 ISBN 978-0-521-40216-3 p 363
  4. "Shift from Savannah to Sahara was Gradual," by Kenneth Chang, New York Times, May 9, 2008.
  5. Stuart, Gene S. (1979). "Ice Age Hunters: Artists in Hidden Cages". Mysteries of the Ancient World. National Geographic Society. pp. 8-€“10. {{cite book}}: C1 control character in |pages= at position 3 (help)
  6. Encyclopedia Americana, 2003 edition, volume 6, page 334.
  7. Stuart, Gene S. (1979). "Ice Age Hunters: Artists in Hidden Cages". Mysteries of the Ancient World. National Geographic Society. p. 19.
  8. James Trager, The People's Chronology, 1994, ISBN 0-8050-3134-0
  9. Gene S. Stuart, "Ice Age Hunters: Artists in Hidden Cages." In Mysteries of the Ancient World, a publication of the National Geographic Society, 1979. Pages 11-18.
  10. ^ This is indicated by the M130 marker in the Y chromosome. "Traces of a Distant Past," by Gary Stix, Scientific American, July 2008, pages 56-63.
  11. "Mount Toba Eruption - Ancient Humans Unscathed, Study Claims". Retrieved 2008-04-20. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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