c. 8th century BCE★★★★★
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey
The Iliad and the Odyssey, traditionally attributed to Homer, take shape around the 8th century BCE and become foundational works of Greek literature.
CultureArt· Greece
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Events this year
Ongoing
c. 16th century BCE – c. 5th century BCE★★★★★
Lapita culture spreads across the western Pacific
Bearers of the Lapita culture, known for their dentate-stamped pottery, settled islands from the Bismarck Archipelago to Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, laying the foundations of Polynesian societies.
ExplorationCulture· Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa
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