World History Timeline

Timeline

18 events

3rd century

  1. 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
  2. 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

7th century

  1. 661 – 750★★★★★

    Umayyad Caliphate founded

    Muawiya I establishes the Umayyad dynasty with its capital at Damascus, making the caliphate hereditary.

    DynastyPolitics· Syria
  2. 690 – 705★★★★★

    Wu Zetian proclaims herself emperor

    Wu Zetian founds her own Zhou dynasty, becoming the only officially recognised female emperor in Chinese history.

    Politics· China

8th century

  1. 701★★★★★

    Birth of Li Bai

    Li Bai, the 'Immortal Poet' and one of the greatest poets of the Tang dynasty, is born.

    BirthArtCulture· China
  3. 711 – 718★★★★★

    Umayyad conquest of Hispania

    Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad cross the Strait of Gibraltar, defeat the Visigothic kingdom and take most of the Iberian Peninsula.

    War· Spain, Portugal
  4. 712★★★★★

    Kojiki compiled

    The Kojiki, Japan's oldest surviving chronicle, is presented to the imperial court.

    CultureReligion· Japan
  5. 722★★★★★

    Mai Thúc Loan's uprising

    Mai Thúc Loan rebels against Tang rule in Hoan Châu and proclaims himself emperor before the revolt is suppressed.

    War· Vietnam, China
  6. 732★★★★★

    Battle of Tours

    Frankish forces under Charles Martel defeat an Umayyad army between Tours and Poitiers, checking the Muslim advance into Gaul.

    War· France
  7. 747 – 750★★★★★

    Abbasid Revolution overthrows the Umayyads

    A movement rising from Khorasan defeats the Umayyads at the Battle of the Zab, establishing the Abbasid Caliphate.

    RevolutionDynasty· Iraq, Iran
  8. 755 – 763★★★★★

    An Lushan Rebellion

    The revolt of An Lushan and Shi Siming causes massive loss of life and permanently weakens the Tang dynasty.

    War· China
  9. 762★★★★★

    Founding of Baghdad

    Caliph al-Mansur builds the 'Round City' of Baghdad as the Abbasid capital; it soon becomes one of the world's largest cities.

    PoliticsCulture· Iraq
  10. June 8, 793★★★★★

    Viking raid on Lindisfarne

    Vikings plunder the monastery on Lindisfarne in England, an event often taken as the start of the Viking Age.

    War· United Kingdom, Norway
  11. 794★★★★★

    Capital moved to Heian-kyō (Kyoto)

    Emperor Kanmu moves the capital to Heian-kyō, beginning the Heian period, a golden age of Japanese court culture.

    PoliticsCulture· Japan
  12. c. 8th century – c. 10th century★★★★★

    Classic Maya collapse

    Many Maya cities of the southern lowlands are gradually abandoned, possibly due to drought, warfare and political crisis.

    Politics· Guatemala, Mexico
  13. c. 800s – c. 820s★★★★★

    Construction of Borobudur

    The Sailendra dynasty builds Borobudur in Central Java, the largest Buddhist monument in the world.

    ReligionArt· Indonesia
  14. December 25, 800★★★★★

    Coronation of Charlemagne

    Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans in Rome on Christmas Day.

    PoliticsReligion· Italy, France, Germany
Timeline · World History Timeline