World History Timeline

Timeline

15 events

2nd century BCE

7th century

  1. 629 – 645★★★★★

    Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India

    The monk Xuanzang travels to India and brings back hundreds of Buddhist texts, which he translates into Chinese.

    ReligionExploration· China, India
  2. 651★★★★★

    Fall of the Sasanian Empire

    The last Sasanian king, Yazdegerd III, is killed, completing the Arab Muslim conquest of Persia.

    WarDynasty· Iran, Turkmenistan

9th century

  1. c. 819 – 999★★★★★

    The Samanids and Bukhara's golden age

    The Persian Samanid dynasty rules Central Asia and Khorasan, making Bukhara and Samarkand cultural and trade centres on the Silk Road.

    DynastyCultureEconomy· Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan

13th century

  2. 1227★★★★★

    Death of Genghis Khan

    The founder of the Mongol Empire dies during the campaign against Western Xia; his heirs continue its expansion.

    DeathPolitics· Mongolia, China
  3. 1271 – 1295★★★★★

    Travels of Marco Polo

    The Venetian merchant Marco Polo travels to China under Kublai Khan; the account of his journey shapes European knowledge of Asia.

    Exploration· Italy, China

14th century

  1. 1370 – 1405★★★★★

    Timur takes power in Samarkand

    Timur becomes ruler of the Chagatai Ulus, making Samarkand his capital and launching conquests across Western and South Asia.

    DynastyWar· Uzbekistan
  2. 1398★★★★★

    Timur sacks Delhi

    Timur's army defeats the Delhi Sultanate and devastates the city, gravely weakening the sultanate.

    War· India

15th century

  1. c. 1420s★★★★★

    Ulugh Beg Observatory in Samarkand

    Timurid ruler Ulugh Beg builds a great observatory in Samarkand, where one of the most accurate star catalogues of the age is compiled.

    Science· Uzbekistan

20th century

  1. 1917 – 1922★★★★★

    Russian Civil War

    The Bolshevik Red Army fights the White movement and other forces after the October Revolution; the Bolsheviks emerge victorious.

    WarRevolution· Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan
  2. December 30, 1922★★★★★

    Founding of the Soviet Union

    The Treaty on the Creation of the USSR unites Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the Transcaucasian Federation into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

    Politics· Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan
  3. April 12, 1961★★★★★

    Gagarin becomes the first human in space

    Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth aboard Vostok 1, becoming the first human in space.

    ExplorationTechnology· Russia, Kazakhstan
  5. December 26, 1991★★★★★

    Dissolution of the Soviet Union

    The Supreme Soviet formally dissolves the USSR, a day after Gorbachev's resignation.

    Politics· Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan
Timeline · World History Timeline