World History Timeline

Timeline

6 events

3rd century BCE

  1. c. 300s BCE★★★★★

    Euclid's Elements

    In Alexandria, Euclid systematises geometry and number theory in the thirteen books of the Elements, one of the most influential mathematics textbooks ever written.

    Science· Egypt
  2. c. 240s BCE★★★★★

    Eratosthenes measures the Earth

    Eratosthenes estimates the Earth's circumference by comparing the angle of the Sun's rays at Syene and Alexandria, with a remarkably close result.

    Science· Egypt

2nd century

  1. c. 150s★★★★★

    Ptolemy's Almagest

    Claudius Ptolemy completes the Almagest, setting out a geocentric model of the cosmos that remains the standard work of astronomy for over a millennium.

    Science· Egypt

5th century

  1. 415★★★★★

    Murder of Hypatia

    The mathematician and philosopher Hypatia is murdered by a mob in Alexandria.

    DeathScience· Egypt

11th century

  1. c. 1011 – c. 1021★★★★★

    Ibn al-Haytham's Book of Optics

    Ibn al-Haytham composes the Book of Optics, explaining vision as light entering the eye and emphasising experimental method.

    Science· Egypt

19th century

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