399 BCE★★★★★
Trial and death of Socrates
The philosopher Socrates is convicted by an Athenian jury of impiety and corrupting the youth, and is executed by drinking hemlock.
DeathCulture· Greece
← Previous year with events: 431 BCENext year with events: 387 BCE →View on map →View the whole 4th century BCE
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. 475 BCE – 221 BCE★★★★★
Warring States period
Seven major states vie for supremacy for over two centuries, an era that also sees the flourishing of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
WarPolitics· China