480 BCE★★★★★
Battle of Salamis
The Greek fleet, urged on by Themistocles, defeats the Persian navy, turning the tide of Xerxes' second invasion of Greece.
War· Greece
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Events this year
480 BCE★★★★★
Battle of Thermopylae
A small Greek force led by the Spartan king Leonidas holds off the Persian army of Xerxes I before being overwhelmed.
War· Greece
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. 12th century BCE – c. 4th century BCE★★★★★
Rise of the Olmec civilization
The Olmecs develop the earliest known complex civilization of Mesoamerica along Mexico's Gulf Coast, known for their colossal stone heads.
Culture· Mexico
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