Prehistory (c. 2.6 million years ago - 3,000 BCE)
- Development of hominids from Australopithecus to Homo sapiens
- Stone Age: Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), Neolithic (New Stone Age)
- Invention of fire, tools, and shelter
Ancient Civilizations (c. 3,000 BCE - 500 BCE)
- Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq): Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, Assyria
- Egypt: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom
- Indus Valley Civilization (modern-day Pakistan and India)
- China: Xia and Shang dynasties
- Greece: Mycenaean civilization, Dark Ages
Classical Antiquity (c. 500 BCE - 500 CE)
- Greece: Archaic and Classical eras, Persian Wars, Athenian Empire
- Rome: Republic, Empire, Pax Romana
- Rise of Christianity and Islam
- Indian subcontinent: Mauryan Empire, Gupta Empire
Middle Ages (c. 500 - 1500 CE)
- Europe: Dark Ages, Feudalism, Crusades, Renaissance
- Islamic Golden Age: Caliphate of Cordoba, Abbasid Caliphate
- China: Sui, Tang, Song dynasties
- Japan: Nara, Heian periods
- Americas: Maya, Aztec, Inca civilizations
Early Modern Era (c. 1500 - 1800 CE)
- Age of Exploration and Colonialism
- Reformation and Counter-Reformation
- Scientific Revolution
- Enlightenment
- American and French Revolutions
19th Century (c. 1800 - 1900 CE)
- Industrial Revolution
- Nationalism and Imperialism
- Russian Revolution
- Rise of the United States as a world power
20th Century (c. 1900 - 2000 CE)
- World Wars I and II
- Decolonization and Cold War
- Space race and technological advances
- Digital Revolution
- Global terrorism and globalization
21st Century (c. 2000 - Present)
- War on Terror
- Climate change and environmental concerns
- Rise of social media and artificial intelligence
- Ongoing global conflicts and political instability