541★★★★★
Plague of Justinian
The first recorded pandemic of bubonic plague sweeps the Mediterranean, devastating the Byzantine Empire and killing vast numbers.
Disease· Turkey, Egypt
Events this year
Ongoing
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
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
c. 3rd century – c. 11th century★★★★★
The Ghana Empire in West Africa
The Soninke Ghana Empire (Wagadu) flourished in what is now Mauritania and Mali, growing rich from control of the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade.
DynastyEconomy· Mauritania, Mali