c. 3rd century – c. 9th century★★★★★
Classic period of Maya civilization
Maya city-states such as Tikal, Palenque and Calakmul reach their height in architecture, writing, astronomy and calendrics.
CultureScience· Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Events this year
Ongoing
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
220 – 280★★★★★
Three Kingdoms period
After the fall of the Han, China splits into the states of Wei, Shu and Wu until reunification under the Jin in 280.
WarDynasty· China
235 – 284★★★★★
Crisis of the Third Century
The Roman Empire nearly collapses under civil wars, invasions, plague and economic crisis until Diocletian's accession.
PoliticsEconomy· Italy