TIMELINE 

200,000 - 70,000 BC: 

Paleolithic Era Early evolutionary traits of “the modern human” begin to become distinct: abstract thought, symbolic sophistication, and increasingly developed rituals and customs (shamanism). Archaeological evidence of behavioral modernity includes hearths, burial, fishing, figurative art (cave paintings, figurines), systematic use of pigment (such as ochre), jewelry for self ornamentation, using bone material for composite tools, blade technology, transport of resources over long distances, standardization, and regionally distinct artifacts.

10,000 BC: 

Agricultural Revolution (Neolithic) Shift to settled life, leading to new social structures and agrarian-focused religions.

3,500 BC:

Dawn of Civilization Invention of writing (cuneiform, hieroglyphs) in Mesopotamia and Egypt; beginning of the Bronze Age.

2000 - 1200 BC: 

Pre-Israel The peoples who became biblical “Israel” engage the great empires of Babylon and Egypt.

2000 - 1500 BC: 

Flood Myth Recorded Earliest versions of the Flood story (Sumerian/Akkadian) appear, suggesting a common archaic source with the biblical narrative.

1550 - 1070 BC: 

New Kingdom of Egypt Era of imperial power and wealth, including Pharaoh Akhenaten and the biblical Pharaoh Ramesses II (c. 1274 BC).

1353 - 1336 BC: 

Amarna Period Pharaoh Akhenaten attempts a revolutionary monotheistic reform centered on the sun-god Aten.

1200 BC: 

Late Bronze Age Collapse Widespread societal collapse across the Mediterranean; major empires fall, ushering in the Iron Age.

1200 - 1000 BC: 

Israelite Settlement Israelites settle in the land of Canaan, mostly in the central and southern highlands as family / clan-based villages.

1000 - 930 BC:

Kingdom of Israel The Israelites are forged into a local imperial state with its capital in Jerusalem, built on the model of surrounding city-empires, such as Egypt. Reigns of David and Solomon; construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

930 - 720s BC: 

Monarchies of Judah and Israel After Solomon, Israel's elders led a movement of secession that resulted in the separate and independent monarchical states of Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Israel was destroyed by invading Assyrians in the 720s, while Judah survived—barely.

753 BC: 

Founding of Rome Traditional date for the city's foundation.

722 BC: 

Assyrian Conquest The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

720 - 586 BC: 

Monarchy of Judah Judah under the leadership of King Hezekiah and his advisor, the prophet Isaiah, managed to hold off Assyria, but his successors could not hold off the next empire to invade, Babylon.

600 - 200 BC: 

The Axial Age A global explosion of philosophy and religion. Key figures include Buddha (India), Confucius & Laozi (China), and Zoroaster (Persia).

586 BC: 

Babylonian Exile Babylon destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling the Judean elite.

585 - 540 BC: 

Jewish Theological Development During Babylonian Exile, parts of Genesis are edited and the first (of two) of the creation accounts in chapter 1 are written. Key concepts like Covenant and Sabbath are solidified.

539 BC: 

Persian Conquest Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon and allows exiled peoples, including Jews, to return home.

509 BC: 

Roman Republic Founded

477 - 431 BC: 

Golden Age of Athens Flourishing of democracy (Pericles), philosophy (Socrates), and drama. Parthenon is built.

334 - 323 BC: 

Alexander the Great's Conquests Creates a vast Hellenistic empire, spreading Greek culture from Egypt to India.

300 - 200 BC: 

Peak Greek Philosophy Plato founds his Academy; Aristotle, his student, writes on a vast range of subjects. His student, Alexander, dreams of being a philosopher king.

264 - 146 BC: 

Punic Wars Rome defeats Carthage, gaining dominance over the Mediterranean.

200 - 100 BC: 

Evolution of Jewish Thought Beliefs in an afterlife and a more adversarial Satan develop, influenced by Greek and Persian thought amid untold Jewish oppression.

27 BC: 

Roman Empire Begins Augustus becomes the first emperor, ending the Republic. He is given the title "Son of God."

27 BC - 180 CE: 

Pax Romana ("Roman Peace") A period of unprecedented stability and prosperity that facilitated the spread of ideas.

4 BC - 30 CE: 

Life of Jesus of Nazareth His ministry and crucifixion under Pontius Pilate form the basis of Christianity.

48 – 65 CE: 

Pauline Theology The letters of the Apostle Paul form the earliest Christian theology.

50 – 100 CE: 

Gospels Written The canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) are composed, providing narrative accounts of Jesus' life.

70 CE: 

Destruction of the Second Temple Romans crush a Jewish revolt and destroy the Temple, profoundly reshaping Judaism.

100 – 200 CE: 

Christianity vs. Gnosticism Orthodox Christianity affirms Jesus' full humanity against Gnostic spiritualizing interpretations.

235 – 284 CE: 

Crisis of the Third Century The Roman Empire faces civil war, plague, and economic collapse.

313 CE: 

Edict of Milan Emperor Constantine ends the persecution of Christians, granting religious tolerance.

325 CE: 

First Council of Nicaea Constantine convenes bishops to unify Christian doctrine, resulting in the Nicene Creed.

380 CE: 

Christianity Becomes State Religion Emperor Theodosius I makes Nicene Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

410 CE: 

Sack of Rome The city is plundered by the Visigoths, a major psychological blow to the Empire. St. Augustine responds by writing City of God.

476 CE: 

Fall of the Western Roman Empire The last Western Roman Emperor is deposed, marking the traditional start of the Middle Ages.