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
9 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
3rd century
- 208★★★★★
Battle of Red Cliffs
Allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeat Cao Cao's army on the Yangtze, preventing him from conquering the south.
War· China - 220 – 280★★★★★
Three Kingdoms period
After the fall of the Han, China splits into the states of Wei, Shu and Wu until reunification under the Jin in 280.
WarDynasty· China - 224★★★★★
Founding of the Sasanian Empire
Ardashir I defeats the last Parthian king, founding the Sasanian Empire, the last Iranian empire before the rise of Islam.
DynastyWar· Iran, Iraq - 235 – 284★★★★★
Crisis of the Third Century
The Roman Empire nearly collapses under civil wars, invasions, plague and economic crisis until Diocletian's accession.
PoliticsEconomy· Italy - 248★★★★★
Uprising of Lady Triệu
Triệu Thị Trinh leads an uprising against Eastern Wu rule in Jiuzhen.
War· Vietnam - c. 3rd century – c. 9th century★★★★★
Classic period of Maya civilization
Maya city-states such as Tikal, Palenque and Calakmul reach their height in architecture, writing, astronomy and calendrics.
CultureScience· Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras - c. 3rd century – c. 11th century★★★★★
The Ghana Empire in West Africa
The Soninke Ghana Empire (Wagadu) flourished in what is now Mauritania and Mali, growing rich from control of the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade.
DynastyEconomy· Mauritania, Mali