Overview of Human History Lecture

Introduction

• Overview of a timeline chart available at usefulcharts.com.
• Focus on dividing history into various time periods or ages and their significance.

How the Timeline Chart Works

• Vertical Scale: Represents time, moving forward as you go down the page.
  • White lines represent 100 years.
  • Equidistant scale for accurate comparisons.
• Horizontal Sections: Represent different parts of the world.
  • Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, Pacific Islands.
• Lines: Represent different cultures, civilizations, or empires.
  • Width indicates relative importance.

Terminology: AD, BC, CE, and BCE

• AD: Anno Domini; years from the birth of Jesus.
• BC: Before Christ.
• Modern equivalents: CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before the Common Era).
• No year zero; 1 BC is followed by 1 AD.

Starting Point for History

• 3300 BCE: Chosen as starting point for history on the chart.
  • Marks the emergence of writing.
  • Everything before is prehistory, including Stone Age (~200,000 years ago) and Earth's prehistory (4.5 billion years ago).

Main Time Periods in History

1. Early Bronze Age

   • Development of writing and bronze in Egypt, Sumer, Indus Valley.
   • Technological advancements: wheel, plow, sail, astronomy, mathematics.
   • Other civilizations: Norte Chico in Peru, Stonehenge, Malta.

2. Bronze Age Proper

   • 4.2 Kiloyear Event: Major drought causing declines in civilizations.
   • Rise of new cultures: Middle and New Kingdoms in Egypt, Babylonian civilization.
   • New civilizations in China, Sub-Saharan Africa, North America.

3. Iron Age

   • Bronze Age Collapse: Major civilizations in Greece, Anatolia, Egypt disappear.
   • Greek Dark Ages; legendary tales like the Iliad and Mahabharata.
   • Introduction of iron; end of the three-age system (Stone, Bronze, Iron).

4. Classical Antiquity

   • Foundations of Western Civilization by Greeks and Romans.
   • Significant developments in philosophy, religion, and science.
   • The Silk Road connects Eurasia; moral and philosophical foundations laid.

5. Middle Ages (Medieval Period)

   • Fall of Western Roman Empire; rise of Islam and Christian kingdoms.
   • Not a "Dark Age" globally; Golden Ages in Middle East and China.
   • Large scale migrations and pandemics (bubonic plague).
   • Significant civilizations in Africa, Americas, and Mongol Empire.

6. Modern Age

   • Begins with the Black Death and Renaissance.
   • European colonization of the Americas, scientific and industrial revolutions.
   • Technological Revolution ongoing today.

Conclusion

• Common themes in transitions between periods: climate events, migrations, pandemics.
• Potentially entering a new period in history; ongoing challenges in 2020.
• Encouragement to engage and reflect on the trajectory of human history.