c. 5th century BCE – c. 5th century★★★★★
Nazca Lines created
In the desert of southern Peru, the Nazca and earlier cultures create enormous geoglyphs on the ground, best seen in full from above.
CultureArt· Peru
Timeline
10 events5th century BCE
1st century BCE
- c. 1st century BCE – c. 6th century★★★★★
Teotihuacan flourishes
Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico grows into one of the largest cities in the world of its time, with the Pyramid of the Sun and the Avenue of the Dead.
Culture· Mexico
2nd century
- 105★★★★★
Cai Lun improves papermaking
The Han court official Cai Lun presents a papermaking process using bark, rags and fishing nets.
Technology· China - 117★★★★★
Roman Empire reaches its greatest extent
By the end of Emperor Trajan's reign the Roman Empire stretches from Britain to Mesopotamia.
Politics· Italy - 122★★★★★
Construction of Hadrian's Wall begins
On Emperor Hadrian's orders, the Romans begin building a defensive wall across northern Britain.
TechnologyWar· United Kingdom - 132★★★★★
Zhang Heng builds his seismoscope
The polymath Zhang Heng builds the first known instrument for detecting earthquakes.
ScienceTechnology· China - 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 - March 17, 180★★★★★
Death of Marcus Aurelius
The death of the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius is often regarded as marking the end of the Pax Romana.
DeathPolitics - 184★★★★★
Yellow Turban Rebellion
A peasant uprising led by Zhang Jiao shakes the Eastern Han and paves the way for an era of rival warlords.
WarReligion· China - c. 192★★★★★
Founding of Linyi (Champa)
A revolt against Han rule in Rinan commandery founds the kingdom of Linyi, the precursor of Champa in central Vietnam.
Politics· Vietnam