The Book of History (Vol. 1 of 18) / A History of All Nations from the Earliest Times to the Present

by Various

LARGER IMAGE

LARGER IMAGE

NOTABLE EVENTS
B.C. 8000		B.C. 8000
	The earliest civilisation known is that of Egypt, traces of which have been found dating back to 7,000 or 8,000 B.C. Equally early civilisations were probably established in the Euphrates Valley. In the fifth millennium Khufu built the Great Pyramids; in the fourth a Semitic migration, spreading westward from Asia, peopled Babylonia, Assyria, Canaan, and Phœnicia afresh, establishing new nations and kingdoms. The third millennium saw the Aryan invasion of India; the beginning of Chinese history; and Aryan and Semitic waves of migration towards Europe.
2000		2000
	Egypt was conquered by the Hyksos, a Semitic nomadic race. Hittite Empire established in Syria. During the next three hundred years, of which the history is obscure, the dynasty of the Ramesides was established in Egypt, which waged wars with the Hittite Empire. Rameses II. is popularly identified with the Pharaoh of the Exodus, an event which is also identified with the expulsion of the Hyksos. The supremacy in the Mesopotamian regions alternates between Assyrian and Babylonian dynasties.
1200		1200
	Rise of a Hebrew nation. Age of Phœnician prosperity; commercial importance of Sidon and Tyre.
1100		1100
	Ionic and Doric migrations. Predominance of Phrygia among kingdoms of Asia Minor. 1048 B.C. David captures Jerusalem and becomes King over all Israel.
1000		1000
	975 B.C. Division of the Hebrew kingdom into Judah and Israel after the death of Solomon. Growth of the Hellenic States. The age of Homer.
900		900
	850 B.C. Foundation of Carthage. Beginnings of the Latin and Etruscan peoples.
800		800
	Assyrian conquest of Babylon, Syria, and Israel. 753 B.C. The foundation of Rome. Rapid spread of the Greek Colonies.
700		700
	Beginnings of the Macedonian kingdom. Rise of Media. Beginnings of Japanese history. Decline of Assyria, fall of Nineveh, and establishment of new Babylonian Empire.
600		600
	Cyrus, King of Persia, conquers Media, establishes his empire over Lydia, Assyria, and Babylonia (538 B.C.). His son Cambyses conquers Egypt, 525 B.C.
500		500
	The Greek States revolt against Persia and are triumphant. Egypt regains independence. Steady growth of Roman ascendancy in Italy. Struggle between Athens and Sparta.
400		400
	Conquests of Alexander the Great (334–322 B.C.). He conquers Persia, masters Egypt, and invades India. At his death his empire is divided: Egypt falls under the Ptolemies, Syria under the Seleucidæ.
300		300
	Babylon absorbed by Parthian Empire. Carthage dominates Spain. Wars between Rome and Carthage. Overthrow of Carthage (202 B.C.).
200		200
	Judea attains independence under the Maccabees. Growing power of Rome. Macedon a Roman province; Egypt and Syria made Roman protectorates. The Greek States are absorbed into province of Macedon.
100		100
B.C.	Cæsar conquers Gaul and lands in Britain. Egypt becomes a Roman province. Augustus Cæsar. Establishment of the Roman Empire.	B.C.

A TIME-TABLE OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD

continued from the preceding pages

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA TO THE PRESENT DAY

NOTABLE EVENTS
A.D.		A.D.
	For the first four centuries of the Christian era the Roman Empire absorbed the “known” world, bounded in Europe by the ocean, the Rhine, and the Danube, and in Asia by the Euphrates, and including the Mediterranean districts of Africa. Germanic tribes bore with ever-increasing pressure upon her European borders, and the Parthians defied her in the East. At the close of the third century the centre of political gravity was passing from Rome itself to Byzantium, preparing for the scission of the Empire, into Eastern and Western, which was practically at the close of the fourth century, when it was becoming increasingly clear that Rome could not stand against the Barbarian invaders, notably the Goths under Alaric.
400		400
	In the fifth century the Empire, long weakened by corruption and the tyranny of the army, was overwhelmed by the Barbarians. Vandals, Western Goths, and Suevi poured into Spain; Franks and Alemanni spread over Gaul; Ostro-Goths and Lombards settled in North Italy; Huns and Avars attacked Thrace. Britain was invaded by Saxons, Jutes, and Angles.
600		600
	The seventh and eighth centuries were marked by the rapid rise of Mohammedanism in Arabia; the conquests of the Saracens in Egypt, Africa, and West Asia; the establishment of the Caliphate at Bagdad; and their invasion of Spain. Here they were checked by the Franks. Charlemagne, son of Pippin, King of the Franks in Germany and Gaul, was crowned in 768, conquered Lombardy in 774, calling himself “King of the Franks and Lombards and Patrician of the Romans.” His empire was divided after his death; from it emerged modern France and Germany. His coronation by the Pope at Rome (A.D. 800) originated the idea of the Holy Roman Empire.
900		900
	Disintegration of the Empire of the Caliphs, and rise in Asia Minor of the Seljuk Turks, making war against the Byzantine Empire and the Crusaders, and conquering Egypt. India is invaded by Mohammedan Afghan rulers, who eventually establish a dynasty at Delhi.
1100		1100
	The Kingdoms of Hungary, Bohemia, and Poland, converted to Christianity in the tenth century, come into increasing prominence. The Kings of Castile, Navarre, Aragon and Portugal war against the Moors, who (A.D. 1248) are restricted to Granada. The Mamelukes (Slave kings) conquer Egypt (1252). Switzerland attains independence.
1300		1300
	Failure of England to absorb Scotland, or to conquer France. The Hundred Years’ War.
1400		1400
	The Turks capture Constantinople (1453). The Netherlands (Burgundy) united to the House of Hapsburg. (1477). Spain united; overthrow of the Moorish dominion.
1500		1500
	Bohemia and Hungary united to Austria. Spain and Portugal take possession of the New World. Mogul Empire established in Hindostan. The Reformation leads to revolt of the Netherlands from Spain; Spain absorbs Portugal.
1600		1600
	Union of English and Scottish crowns (1603); followed by legislative union (1707). Disruption of Germany in the Thirty Years’ War. Establishment of English Colonies in America. Portugal recovers independence.
1700		1700
	Spain becomes a Bourbon Power. Rise of Russia and Prussia. Partition of Poland between Russia, Prussia and Austria. Further disintegration of German Empire. British dominion in India and North America. Independence of United States.
1800		1800
	France predominant under Napoleon. Rise of South American States. Establishment of British India. Italy independent. Egypt, Greece, and Balkan States freed from Turkey. Foundation of German Empire.
1900		1900
A.D.	Independence of Norway (1905).	A.D.

CONTEMPORARY FIGURES IN HISTORY