30 BCE★★★★★
Death of Cleopatra; Rome annexes Egypt
After defeat by Octavian, Cleopatra VII takes her own life; the Ptolemaic dynasty ends and Egypt becomes a Roman province.
PoliticsDeath· Egypt
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Events this year
Ongoing
c. 15th century BCE – c. 1st century★★★★★
Nok culture in West Africa
The Nok culture flourished in present-day central Nigeria, known for its terracotta sculptures and as one of the earliest iron-smelting cultures in sub-Saharan Africa.
CultureTechnology· Nigeria
c. 10th century BCE – c. 1st century★★★★★
Đông Sơn culture
A Bronze Age and early Iron Age culture of the Red River valley and north-central Vietnam, famous for its bronze drums.
CultureTechnology· Vietnam
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
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