The Historical Ephemeris
Astro-historical timelines 1:

ANCIENT PERIOD

NEPTUNE-PLUTO CYCLE 1:
577-83 BCE

Part one: waxing hemicycle  577-334 BCE

© COPYRIGHT 1989/99 Palden Jenkins

-700

-

* N AFRICA: EGYPTIAN LATE PERIOD (715-332); Egypt ruled by Ethiopia 715-663

-

MIDEAST: Assyrians conquer Judaea, Jerusalem, Phoenicia, destroy Babylon, Memphis & Thebes

-

* C AMERICA: OLMEC CIVILISATION (BCE 1200-400)

-

* MIDEAST: building of Assyrian capital at Nineveh (founding of Library at Nineveh)

-

* INDIA: end of LATE VEDIC PERIOD (1000-700); period of Aryan predomination in N India

-

* GREECE: Greek culture expanding; Sappho of Lesbos; Ionians adopt a money economy

-

* GREECE: deities Apollo, Dionysius (Bacchus) and Orphism gain acceptance in Greece.

-

* MIDEAST: Marduk temple (Babel) in Babylon begun (Nebuchadnezzar sponsors art & architecture)

-

* CHINA: decline of CHOU DYNASTY (1027-256BCE) (consolidators of Chinese governance & heritage)

-683

GREECE: monarchy replaced by officialdom (Archons) in Athens

-680

MIDEAST: Assyria reaches greatest territorial extent under Esarhaddon (680-669)

-668

MIDEAST: Ashurbanipal, Assyrian king (668-626) presides over cultural zenith at Nineveh

-663

N AFRICA: Egypt falls to Assyria, freed by Psamtik, Pharoah (663-609) (Egypt opens to Ionians)

-660

JAPAN: foundation of 1st Japanese state, the Yamato kingdom

-

PERSIA: approx birth of Zoroaster, prophet, in Media (later active in Bactria)

-654

* CHINA: gradual introduction of Iron technology into China

-650

GREECE: TYRANT' RULE IN GREECE (650-510) (Peisistratus to Hippias & Hipparchus)

-

GREECE: unrest & change in Ionia (power moves from nobility to mercantile classes and people)

-649

* MED'N: Carthage (Phoenician outpost) has own fleet and armies, exerts influence

-648

MIDEAST: Assyria conquers Babylon

-639

MIDEAST: Josiah, King of Judaea (639-09) (spiritual rebirth amongst Jews; prophet Jeremiah)

-625

PERSIA: Media becomes a major power under Cyaxares (625-585)

-624

GREECE: Athenian reform under Dracon (expanding trade, rise of middle class, peasant bondage)

-612

MIDEAST: Sack of Nineveh by Babylonians, Medes & Scythians, COLLAPSE OF ASSYRIAN POWER

-

MIDEAST: end of kingdom of Urartu (1270-612BCE) (Ararat, Armenia) by the Medes

-611

IDEAS: Anaximander of Miletus (611-546), philosopher (identifies marine origins of all life)

-604

MIDEAST: Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562) (Babylon flourishes under Chaldeans, great works built)

-600

MED'N: Greeks found colony at Massilia (Marseilles, beating Phoenicians); colonies in Ukraine & Crimea

-600 UR -ssq NE Aq Pi

-

* GREECE: introduction of papyrus into Greece (writing down of hitherto oral laws & customs)

-599

* C AMERICA: earliest Mayan temple-pyramids built

-

-598

-598 Sa CONJ UR Aq Aq

-

-597

AFRICA: Phoenician mariners circumnavigate Africa (financed by Egyptians, taking three years)

-

-596

-596 UR -sxt PL Aq Ar

-596 NE Ar

-

-595

-595 NE Ar

-

-594

* GREECE: Athenian Archon Solon (640-560) (currency & social reform, law code, statesmanship)

-594 Sa CONJ NE Ar Ar

-594 UR Pi

-

-593

-593 Sa CONJ PL Ar Ar

-593 UR Pi

-

-592

-592 UR -ssx NE Pi Ar

-

-592 Sa CONJ PL Ar Ar

-591

-591 UR -ssq PL Pi Ar

-

-591 UR -ssx NE Pi Ar

-590

-

-589

-

-588

MIDEAST: Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egyptians (shockwaves in sheltered Egypt)

-588 PL Ta

-

N AFRICA: Apries, Pharoah (588-568) weakens Egypt ('a broken reed'; invaded by Persia 525)

-587

MIDEAST: Babylonian destruction of Judaea and Jerusalem (end of kgdm of Judah, -925-587)

-587 PL Ta

-

-587 UR Ar

-586

MIDEAST: Phoenicia taken by Babylonians (539-332); Tyre besieged 585-573

-586 UR -ssx PL Ar Ta

-586 PL Ta

-

MIDEAST: Babylonian Captivity (586-36) of the Jews (during which Old Testament is compiled)

-586 UR Ar

-585

GREECE: GREEK RATIONALISM BEGINS: Thales of Miletus, Greek philosopher predicts an eclipse

-

-584

-

-583

-583 NE Ta

-

-582

-582 NE Ta

-

-581

MIDEAST: Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar II burns Jerusalem

-

-580

-

-579

-578 NE CONJ PL Ta Ta

-579 UR Ta

-

-578 Sa OPPN UR Sc Ta

-578

ROME: Servius Tullius (578-34), last king of Rome but one

-578 Sa OPPN PL Sc Ta

-578 UR Ta

-

-578 Sa OPPN NE Sc Ta

-577

* INDIA: Aryan cultural dominance in N India (over indigenous Dravidian culture)

-577 UR CONJ PL Ta Ta

-

* MED'N: expansion of Phoenician trading cities in Spain and Maghreb

-577 Sa OPPN UR Sc Ta

-576

* IDEAS: early writings of Old Testament (in Babylon) & Upanishads (in India)

-577 Sa OPPN PL Sc Ta

-

-577 Sa OPPN NE Sc Ta

-575

* CHINA: agricultural transformation (iron implements, use of oxen, irrigation, organisation)

-576 UR CONJ PL Ta Ta

-

-576 UR CONJ NE Ta Ta

-574

-575 UR CONJ NE Ta Ta

-

-573

-

-572

-572 UR Ge

-

-571

-

-570

IDEAS: Xenophanes of Colophon founds school of philosophy in S Italy

-

-569

N AFRICA: Amasis, Pharoah (569-25) ousts Apries (Egyptian decline, cultural diff'n & trade)

-569 NE Ge

-

-568

* IDEAS: Lao Tzu (605-520), teacher, founder of Taoism, active in China

-568 UR +ssx PL Ge Ta

-568 NE Ge

-

-567

INDIA: stabilisation of territories & daily life after Aryan expansion & domination

-567 UR +ssx PL Ge Ta

-

-566

-566 UR Cn

-

-565

-565 UR Cn

-

-564

-564 UR +ssq PL Cn Ta

-

-563

INDIA: Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha (563-483), teacher (or 550-480)

-563 UR +ssq PL Cn Ta

-

-563 UR +ssx NE Cn Ge

-562

MIDEAST: decline of Chaldean Babylon on death of Nebuchadnezzar (greatest monarch to date)

-562 UR +ssx NE Cn Ge

-

-561

GREECE: Croesus (561-46) subjugates Ionia & Greek states of Asia Minor (autonomy of cities kept)

-561 Sa CONJ PL Ta Ta

-

-560

GREECE: Athens advances culturally & politically under Peisistratus (benefits to ordinary people)

-560 UR +sxt PL Cn Ta

-

-559

PERSIA: Cyrus revolts against Media, founds a new Persian empire

-559 UR +sxt PL Cn Ta

-559 UR Le

-

-559 Sa CONJ NE Ge Ge

-559 PL Ge

-558

PERSIA: Zoroaster (630-553) (founder of Persian fire religion) begins prophetic work

-558 PL Ge

-

-557

-557 UR +ssq NE Le Ge

-557 PL Ge

-

-556

-556 UR +ssq NE Le Ge

-556 NE Cn

-

-555

* MED'N: Greek westward colonisation halted by Carthage & Etruscan pressure

-555 Sa CONJ UR Le Le

-555 NE Cn

-

-554

-

-553

PERSIA: Elamite Cyrus the Great (553-29) welds Medes & Persians (Persia becomes great empire)

-553 NE +ssx PL Cn Ge

-553 UR Vi

-

-552

-552 UR +SQR PL Vi Ge

-552 UR Vi

-

-552 NE +ssx PL Cn Ge

-551

* PERSIA: Zoroastrianism becomes official religion of Persia

-551 UR +SQR PL Vi Ge

-

? IDEAS: Xenophanes founds a school of philosophy in Greece

-551 UR +sxt NE Vi Cn

-550

* GREECE: Age of 'Seven Wise Men of Greece'; height of influence of Delphic Oracle

-550 UR +sxt NE Vi Cn

-

GREECE: Peleponnesian League formed under Spartan military dominance

-549

-

-548

-

-547

MIDEAST: Cyrus I of Persia overthrows Croesus of Lydia (exposing Grecian city-states to attack)

-547 UR Li

-

-546

MIDEAST: Asia Minor under Persian rule (547-333) (until Alexander the Great)

-546 UR Li

-

-545

-545 Sa OPPN PL Sg Ge

-

-544

GREECE: Heraklitus (544-483), Greek philosopher

-544 Sa OPPN PL Sg Ge

-

-543

-543 UR +tri PL Li Ge –

-

-542 UR +tri PL Li Ge

-542 NE Le

-542

-541

* GREECE: Peisistratus, Tyrant of Athens (social, cultural, economic transformation)

-541 UR +tri PL Li Ge

-541 NE Le

-

-540

IDEAS: Deutero-Isaiah at work on Old Testament books during exile in Babylon

-540 Sa OPPN NE Aq Le

-540 UR Sc

-

* INDIA: Mahavira (d. -528), teacher, founds Jain religion (first rebel against caste system)

-539

MIDEAST: Phoenicia conquered by Persians

-539 UR Sc

-

-538

MIDEAST: FALL OF BABYLON; Mesopotamia under Persian rule (539-332) (until Alexander the Great);

-538 UR +SQR NE Sc Le

-

-538 NE +ssq PL Le Ge

-537

GREECE: tyranny of Polycrates of Samos (537-22) (Samos flourishes as Aegean power)

-538 UR +sqt PL Sc Ge

-

-537 UR +SQR NE Sc Le

-536

MIDEAST: Jews freed from Babylonian Captivity by Cyrus II of Persia

-537 NE +ssq PL Le Ge

-

-537 UR +sqt PL Sc Ge

-535

-536 NE +ssq PL Le Ge

-535 PL Cn

-

-535 NE +ssq PL Le Ge

-534

-534 PL Cn

-

-533

-533 UR +qcx PL Sg Cn

-533 PL Cn

-

-533 UR Sg

-532

-532 UR +qcx PL Sg Cn

-

-531

-531 Sa OPPN UR Ge Sg

-

-531 UR +qcx PL Sg Cn

-530

* IDEAS: Pythagoras of Samos (581-497), philosopher & mathematician, active in Greece

-530 Sa OPPN UR Ge Sg

-

-529

MIDEAST: Cambyses II of Persia invades Egypt (529-22, crunch 525) (end of independent Egypt)

-529 Sa CONJ PL Cn Cn

-529 NE Vi

-

-528

-528 Sa CONJ PL Cn Cn

-528 NE Vi

-

-527

-527 NE Vi

-

-526

MIDEAST: Cambyses II conquers Egypt; Egypt under Persian control 526-404 (becoming a backwater)

-526 UR Cp

-

-525

-525 UR Cp

-

-524

-524 UR +tri NE Cp Vi

-

-524 Sa CONJ NE Vi Vi

-523

PERSIA: revolt against Cambyses II, who dies; Darius I (523-486) ascends throne

-523 UR +tri NE Cp Vi

-

-522

PERSIA: Darius I organises provincial empire from Nile to Indus (taxes, currency, sound govt)

-522 UR +tri NE Cp Vi

-

-521

INDIA: Sakyamuni Buddha's first teaching at Deer Park, Benares (Enlightenment shortly before)

-521 UR OPPN PL Cp Cn

-

-521 UR +tri NE Cp Vi

-520

? N AFRICA: Darius I of Persia completes canal connecting Nile and Red Sea

-520 UR OPPN PL Cp Cn

-

-519

* CHINA: Chou feudal state declines (growth of pop'n, cities, admin, agriculture)

-519 UR OPPN PL Cp Cn

-

-518

* INDIA: Maghada becomes the dominant Hindu kingdom (rajah Bimbisara, 540-490)

-518 UR OPPN PL Cp Cn

-518 UR Aq

-

-517

-517 PL Le

-

-516

-516 UR +sqt NE Aq Vi

-516 PL Le

-

-515

* S ASIA: Sinhalese immigration into Ceylon

-515 UR +sqt NE Aq Vi

-515 PL Le

-

* MIDEAST: ACHAEMENID PERSIAN EMPIRE AT ITS ZENITH

-515 NE Li

-514

-514 UR +sqt NE Aq Li

-514 NE Li

-

-513

RUSSIA: Darius I of Persia beaten back by Scythians in Ukraine (failing expansionism)

-513 UR +sqt NE Aq Li

-

-512

INDIA: Gandhara & Sind incorporated into Persian empire by Darius I

-512 UR +sqt NE Aq Li

-

-511

IDEAS: Confucius (Kung Fu-tse, 551-479), Chinese philosopher and reformer, active

-

IDEAS: Siddhartha Gautama Buddha at peak of his teaching mission, north India

-510

GREECE: expulsion of last tyrant ruler of Athens (clearing the way for creation of democracy)

-510 Sa OPPN PL Aq Le

-510 UR Pi

-

ROME: FOUNDATION OF ROMAN REPUBLIC (treaty with Carthage over spheres of influence)

-509

GREECE: TYRANT CLEISTHENES' DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN ATHENS (Greek democracy starts)

-

-508

-508 Sa CONJ UR Pi Pi

-

-508 UR +qcx NE Pi Li

-507

* INDIA: Ramayana written (classical Hindu religious poem)

-507 UR +qcx NE Pi Li

-

-506

GREECE: Athens overcomes Sparta, Boetia and Chalcedon (democracy spreads)

-506 UR +qcx NE Pi Li

-

-505 UR -qcx PL Pi Le

-505

* GREECE: Theatre at Delphi built; musical modes and octaves established by Pythagoras

-505 UR +qcx NE Pi Li

-

-505 Sa OPPN NE Ar Li

-504

* ITALY: high point of Etruscan political power in Central Italy; Etruscans defeat Romans

-504 UR -qcx PL Pi Le

-

-504 UR +qcx NE Pi Li

-503

* IDEAS: beginning of historical writing in Greece (Hecateus & Dionysius of Miletus)

-504 Sa OPPN NE Ar Li

-503 UR Ar

-

-503 UR -qcx PL Pi Le

-503 PL Vi

-502

* IDEAS: Aesop's Fables (moral stories)

-502 UR -qcx PL Ar Vi

-502 PL Vi

-

-502 UR Ar

-501

* C AMERICA: BIRTH OF ZAPOTEC CULTURE (BCE 500- CE 800, Monte Alban, Oaxaca, in Mexico)

-501 UR -qcx PL Ar Vi

-501 NE Sc

-

-500

AFRICA: Nok Culture (500BCE-200CE) in Northern Nigeria

-500 NE Sc

-

* MIDEAST: Aramaic language begins to replace Old Hebrew in Palestine

-499

GREECE: Ionian Revolt (499-4) (Greeks vs Persia, decline of Persian power)

-

* MED'N: Sardinia captured; Greek (Messina, Syracuse) & Phoenician (Carthage) move to west

-498

ROME: first Temple of Saturn in Rome

-

-497

-

-496

-496 UR -sqt PL Ar Vi

-496 UR Ta

-

-495

* MIDEAST: Hanging Gardens of Babylon, plus much elegant building in Hellenistic world

-495 UR -sqt PL Ta Vi

-495 UR Ta

-

-494

ROME: Latin League against Etruscans (secession of plebeians, creation of tribunate)

-494 UR -sqt PL Ta Vi

-

-494 Sa CONJ PL Vi Vi

-493

GREECE: destruction of Miletus by Persia (deportation of inhabitants to Mesopotamia)

-493 UR -sqt PL Ta Vi

-

-493 Sa CONJ PL Vi Vi

-492

PERSIA: Darius I demands great tribute from Greece

-492 UR OPPN NE Ta Sc

-

-492 UR -sqt PL Ta Vi

-491

-491 UR OPPN NE Ta Sc

-491 PL Li

-

-490

GREECE: Bt of Marathon (Greeks beat Persians, Athens grows in influence)

-490 UR OPPN NE Ta Sc

-490 PL Li

-

-489

* CHINA: Confucian Analects set system of imperial and mandarin conduct (to last 2400 years)

-489 UR OPPN NE Ta Sc

-489 UR Ge

-

-488

-488 UR OPPN NE Ta Sc

-488 UR Ge

-

-488 UR -tri PL Ge Li

-487

? AFRICA: Hanno the Carthaginian explores down the west coast of Africa

-487 UR -tri PL Ge Li

-487 NE Sg

-

-487 Sa OPPN UR Sg Ge

-486

-487 Sa CONJ NE Sc Sc

-486 NE Sg

-

-486 UR -tri PL Ge Li

-485

PERSIA: decline increases on death of Darius I; successor Xerxes (485-465)

-486 Sa OPPN UR Sg Ge

-

-486 PL Peri 10Li

-484

-485 UR -tri PL Ge Li

-

-485 Sa OPPN UR Sg Ge

-483

GREECE: Themistocles builds Athenian navy

-484 UR -tri PL Ge Li

-

INDIA: death of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha

-482

-482 UR Cn

-

-481

* GREECE: Themistocles (-525-459), Athenian statesman & general (peak of influence)

-481 UR Cn

-

-480

GREECE: naval Bt of Salamis (Greeks beat Persians, ending Persian threat & winning independence)

-

PERSIA: revolts & uprisings in regions (power battles and repression)

-

MED'N: Syracuse (Greek) beats Carthage (Phoenician) in competition for Sicily & W Medn trade

-479

* GREECE: PERIOD OF GREEK CLASSICAL CULTURE (479-338); earthquake & sea wave kills thousands

-479 UR -qcx NE Cn Sg

-479 PL Sc

-

MIDEAST: Persians destroy Babylon after revolt (endpoint of a major ancient period)

-478

GREECE: Delian League (against Persia): beginning of Athenian domination of Greeks

-478 UR -qcx NE Cn Sg

-478 PL Sc

-

-477

-477 UR -qcx NE Cn Sg

-

-476

-476 UR -qcx NE Cn Sg

-476 UR Le

-

-475

-475 NE +ssq PL Sg Sc

-475 UR Le

-

-474 NE +ssq PL Sg Sc

-474

-474 Sa OPPN PL Ta Sc

-

-473 UR -SQR PL Le Sc

-473

-473 NE +ssq PL Sg Sc

-473 NE Cp

-

-473 UR -sqt NE Le Sg

-472

-472 UR -SQR PL Le Sc

-472 NE Cp

-

-472 NE +ssq PL Cp Sc

-471

ROME: Plebeians in Rome choose their own Tribune

-472 UR -sqt NE Le Cp

-

-471 UR -SQR PL Le Sc

-470

-471 NE +ssq PL Cp Sc

-

-471 UR -sqt NE Le Cp

-469

IDEAS: Socrates (469-399), Athenian philosopher & teacher

-470 NE +ssq PL Cp Sc

-469 UR Vi

-

-470 UR -sqt NE Le Cp

-468

-470 Sa OPPN NE Cn Cp

-

-469 NE +ssq PL Cp Sc

-467

-469 Sa OPPN NE Cn Cp

-

-468 NE +ssq PL Cp Sc

-466

-467 NE +ssq PL Cp Sc

-466 PL Sg

-

-467 UR -tri NE Vi Cp

-465

ITALY: democracy established in Syracuse (Greek colony)

-466 UR -tri NE Vi Cp

-

GREECE: disastrous earthquakes in Sparta (reducing population sharply, 20,000 dead)

-466 NE +ssq PL Cp Sc

-465 PL Sg

-

GREECE: land & naval victories by Greeks against Persia (Greek security & hegemony in E Medn)

-465 UR -tri NE Vi Cp

-464

-465 NE +ssq PL Cp Sg

-

-464 UR -tri NE Vi Cp

-463

-464 NE +ssq PL Cp Sg

-463 UR Li

-

-464 Sa CONJ UR Vi Vi

-462

GREECE: rise of Pericles of Athens (500-429) (heralding Periclean Age of thinkers & artists)

-463 Sa CONJ UR Vi Vi

-462 UR Li

-

-463 NE +ssq PL Cp Sg

-461

GREECE: building of long walls from Athens to Piraeus (461-56)

-461 UR -sxt PL Li Sg

-

-460

GREECE: war against Athens dominance (460-45) (halfhearted, Athens hegemony in Greece results)

-460 UR -sxt PL Li Sg

-

-459

-459 NE Aq

-

-458

CHINA: partition of the state of Ch'in (amongst the Han, Chao & Wei houses)

-

-457

MIDEAST: Ezra returns to Jerusalem to restore & record the Laws of Moses

-

-456

-456 Sa CONJ PL Sg Sg

-456 UR Sc

-

-455

-455 UR -ssq PL Sc Sg

-

-454

N AFRICA: Greek advances in Egypt beaten by Persian satrap Megabyzus

-454 UR -SQR NE Sc Aq

-

-454 UR -ssq PL Sc Sg

-453

* EUROPE: La Tene Celtic culture in ascendancy; first towns in Britain under High King Belinus

-453 UR -SQR NE Sc Aq

-

* INDIA: BEGINNING of MAGHADA EMPIRE ('cradle of Buddhism' , start of Mauryan empire

-452 UR -SQR NE Sc Aq

-452

BRITAIN: regular direct metal trading between Phoenicians and Britons starts (Cornwall)

-451

ROME: three Roman senators sent to Greece to study Greek laws

-

* ITALY: Etruscan power in Italy declining (prelude to Roman ascendancy)

-450

* MIDEAST: Torah becomes moral foundation of Jewish state (promoted by Ezra)

-450 Sa CONJ NE Aq Aq

-450 PL Cp

-

ROME: Twelve Tables of Roman Law codified by the Decemvirs (the State prevails over nobility)

-449

GREECE: peace between Delian League and Persia (Sparta seeks to end Athenian dominance)

-449 UR -ssx PL Sc Sg

-449 UR Sg

-

-449 PL Cp

-448

* EUROPE: rise of Massilia (Marseilles) (as Hellenistic port to W Europe via Rhone valley)

-

-447

MIDEAST: revolt of Syria province against Persia (led by Megabyzus)

-

-446

-

-445

GREECE: Thirty Year Truce between Athens and Sparta (after uprisings & failed peace talks)

-445 NE Pi

-

-444

ROME: intermarriage permitted between classes in Rome (loosening society for future change)

-

-443

GREECE: Pericles elected Athenian general (heralds Athenian cultural expansion)

-

-442

-442 UR Cp

-

-441

-441 Sa OPPN UR Cn Cp

-

-440

MIDEAST: Judaean law forbids intermarriage of Jews with Gentiles (the Torah becomes moral core)

-440 Sa OPPN UR Cn Cp

-

-440 Sa OPPN PL Cn Cp

-439

ROME: Plebeian revolt in Rome; Lucius Cincinnatus becomes dictator

-439 Sa OPPN PL Cn Cp

-

-438

GREECE: consecration of the Parthenon (peak of Athenian grandeur)

-438 UR -sxt NE Cp Pi

-

-438 NE +sxt PL Pi Cp

-437

-437 UR CONJ PL Cp Cp

-

-437 NE +sxt PL Pi Cp

-436

-437 UR -sxt NE Cp Pi

-

-436 UR -sxt NE Cp Pi

-435

-436 NE +sxt PL Pi Cp

-

-435 NE +sxt PL Pi Cp

-434

-435 Sa OPPN NE Vi Pi

-434 UR Aq

-

-434 NE +sxt PL Pi Cp

-433

-434 Sa OPPN NE Vi Pi

-

-432

ROME: completion of Temple of Apollo

-432 NE Ar

-

-431

GREECE: Peloponnesian War (431-404) (Athens v Sparta & Corinth, for Aegean domination)

-431 NE Ar

-

GREECE: Pericles' "Shining example" oration about Athens (appraisal of Athenian achievements)

-430

GREECE: plague in Hellenistic world (430-23), particularly Athens

-430 PL Aq

-

-429

-429 UR -ssq NE Aq Ar

-429 PL Aq

-

-428

-428 UR -ssq NE Aq Ar

-

-427

-

-426

GREECE: earthquake & three tsunamis kill thousands in C Greece (darkening times in Greece)

-426 UR Pi

-

-425

-425 UR +ssx PL Pi Aq

-

-424

-424 UR +ssx PL Pi Aq

-

-423

-

-422

-422 Sa CONJ PL Aq Aq

-

-421

GREECE: Peace of Nicias (between Athens & Sparta -- strategic deadlock)

-

-420

IDEAS: Socrates (469-399) (Athenian philosopher & teacher) at work

-420 UR +ssq PL Pi Aq

-

-420 UR -ssx NE Pi Ar

-419

-419 UR +ssq PL Pi Aq

-419 UR Ar

-

-419 UR -ssx NE Pi Ar

-419 NE Ta

-418

-418 Sa CONJ UR Ar Ar

-418 UR Ar

-

-418 NE Ta

-417

-417 Sa CONJ UR Ar Ar

-

-416

-

-415

ITALY: Sicilian expedition (415-13) by Athenians (disastrous failure of colonial attempt)

-415 Sa CONJ NE Ta Ta

-

-414

GREECE: renewal of war between Sparta & Athens

-

-413

-

-412

CHINA: Ever-Normal Granary (a social security system, by King Wen of Wei)

-412 UR Ta

-

-411

GREECE: coup d'etat in Athens (oligarchy takes over from democracy in chaos)

-411 UR Ta

-

-410

* IDEAS: Herodotus (-485-424), "Father of History" (writes on Persian Wars & exploration)

-

-409

* EUROPE: migration of Celts from Upper Rhine & Danube to France, N Italy, Spain, Britain

-

-408

GREECE: Athenians capture Byzantium

-408 Sa OPPN PL Le Aq

-

-407

PERSIA: revolts of Medians against Persia (unsuccessful, Persia struggling)

-407 NE +SQR PL Ta Aq

-

-407 Sa OPPN PL Le Aq

-406

* GREECE: Athens democracy dies 411; surrender to Sparta 404; democracy & ind restored 402

-406 NE +SQR PL Ta Aq

-

-405

GREECE: Spartan navy destroys Athenian navy: end Peloponnesian War (Greece fails to unite)

-405 NE +SQR PL Ge Pi

-405 PL Pi

-

* S AMERICA: ZENITH of CHAVIN CULTURE and INFLUENCE (400-200 BCE, Equador))

-405 UR +SQR PL Ge Pi

-405 NE Ge

-404

GREECE: surrender of Athens to Sparta (after plague & starvation of city by siege)

-404 UR CONJ NE Ge Ge

-405 UR Ge

-

* GREECE: end of Athenian (or any) dominance in Greece

-404 NE +SQR PL Ta Aq

-404 NE Ge

-403

CHINA: CHAN-KUO, WARRING STATES ERA (403-221) (mandarin-ruled city-states & landscapes)

-404 UR +SQR PL Ge Pi

-404 PL Pi

-

* C AMERICA: decline of Olmec civilisation (Mexico, 1200-400BCE, 1st high culture in Americas)

-404 UR Ge

-402

GREECE: Athenian democracy restored (after Spartan subjugation)

-

* E AFRICA: Iron working spreads into East Africa (Ethiopia)

-401

PERSIA: Iranian viceroy recruits The Ten Thousand (Greek mercenaries) against Persia (failure)

-

* C AMERICA: steep decline of Olmec civilisation (La Venta, Mexico)

-400

* MIDEAST: Pentateuch (Five Books of Moses) takes form in Palestine

-

* INDIA: approx period of writing of Mahabharata (classical Hindu religious work); popn 25m

-399

GREECE: Spartans wage war on Persia & Athens; Persia joins Sparta against Athens 394

-398 UR Cn

-

* S AMERICA: dawn of MOCHICA CULTURE (coastal Peru, 400BCE-600CE, zenith +50-600CE)

-397

IDEAS: Plato's independent work begins after Socrates' death 399

-397 UR +tri PL Cn Pi

-397 UR Cn

-

* S AMERICA: decline of Paracas culture (Andean Peru, proto-Nazca, 600-400BCE)

-397 Sa OPPN NE Sg Ge

-396

ITALY: Romans capture Etruscan capital of Veii after 10 years siege (Etruscan decline)

-396 UR +tri PL Cn Pi

-

-395

-395 UR +tri PL Cn Pi

-

-395 Sa OPPN UR Cp Cn

-394

* GREECE: Greece lapses into disunity & calamity (ending with Macedonian conquest -338)

-394 Sa OPPN UR Cp Cn

-

-393

-

-392

-392 UR +sqt PL Cn Pi

-392 UR Le

-

-392 UR +ssx NE Le Cn

-392 NE Cn

-391

-391 UR +sqt PL Cn Pi

-391 UR Le

-

-391 UR +ssx NE Le Cn

-391 NE Cn

-390

ITALY: newly immigrated Celts sack Rome, withdraw with booty (Roman awareness rising)

-

-389

-389 UR +qcx PL Le Pi

-

-389 Sa CONJ PL Pi Pi

-388

IDEAS: Plato, philosopher (427-347) (pupil of Socrates 407-399) founds Academy of Athens

-388 UR +qcx PL Le Pi

-

-387

GREECE: peace between Sparta and Athens: Asia Minor cities ceded to Persia

-387 UR +qcx PL Le Pi

-

-386

ROME: Rome rebuilt, city walls 377 (after Celtic raids)

-386 UR +ssq NE Le Cn

-386 UR Vi

-

-385

-385 UR +ssq NE Vi Cn

-385 UR Vi

-

-384

-

-383

-

-382

-382 NE +tri PL Cn Pi

-

-381 UR OPPN PL Vi Pi

-381

-381 NE +tri PL Cn Pi

-

-380 UR OPPN PL Vi Pi

-380

N AFRICA: Egyptian 30th Dynasty (380-343) (last native dynasty)

-380 UR +sxt NE Vi Cn

-

-380 NE +tri PL Cn Pi

-379

GREECE: massacres of Spartan tyrants at Thebes (dissent in Sparta)

-380 Sa CONJ NE Cn Cn

-379 UR Li

-

-379 UR OPPN PL Vi Pi

-378

-379 UR +sxt NE Vi Cn

-378 UR Li

-

-379 NE +tri PL Cn Pi

-378 NE Le

-377

-378 NE +tri PL Cn Pi

-377 NE Le

-

-376

-376 PL Ar

-

-375

-375 Sa OPPN PL Li Ar

-375 PL Ar

-

-374

-374 Sa OPPN PL Li Ar

-374 PL Ar

-

-373

-373 UR Sc

-

-372

-372 Sa CONJ UR Li Li

-372 UR Sc

-

-372 UR -qcx PL Sc Ar

-371

GREECE: Sparta hegemony in Greece defeated (Sparta begins to decline in influence)

-371 UR -qcx PL Sc Ar

-

-370

* S AMERICA: dawn of NAZCA CULTURE (Andean Peru, 370BCE-450CE)

-370 NE +sqt PL Le Ar

-

-370 UR -qcx PL Sc Ar

-369

* GREECE: Peloponnese Confederation (beginning of end of independent city states)

-369 NE +sqt PL Le Ar

-

-368

-368 NE +sqt PL Le Ar

-

-368 UR -sqt PL Sc Ar

-367

-367 UR +SQR NE Sc Le

-

-367 NE +sqt PL Le Ar

-366

ROME: first plebeian elected to office of consul

-367 UR -sqt PL Sc Ar

-366 UR Sg

-

-366 UR +SQR NE Sc Le

-365

-366 NE +sqt PL Le Ar

-365 UR Sg

-

-366 UR -sqt PL Sc Ar

-365 NE Vi

-364

INDIA: rise of Nanda dynasty in Maghada, Ganges valley (prelude to Mauryan dynasty)

-365 UR +SQR NE Sc Le

-364 NE Vi

-

-363

-363 UR -tri PL Sg Ar

-

-362

ITALY: wars between Rome and surrounding peoples draw them into Roman fold

-362 UR -tri PL Sg Ar

-

-362 PL Aphn 12Ar

-361

-361 Sa OPPN NE Pi Vi

-

-360

-360 Sa OPPN NE Pi Vi

-

-359

GREECE: rise of Macedon: Philip II reorganises and expands Macedon, overcomes Greece by 337

-

-358

CHINA: minister Shang Yang (358-38) organises cent gov't, officialdom, law & agric in Ch'in

-358 Sa CONJ PL Ar Ar

-358 UR Cp

-

-357

-357 NE +qcx PL Vi Ar

-

-356

CHINA: building of the first wall against Mongolian nomad incursions

-356 NE +qcx PL Vi Ar

-

-355

-355 NE +qcx PL Vi Ar

-

-354

ITALY: alliance between Rome & Samnites (to resist Celts & dominate local tribes)

-354 NE +qcx PL Vi Ar

-

-353

-353 UR -SQR PL Cp Ar

-

-352

? PERSIA: revolt of Persian Jews against Artaxerxes III

-352 UR -SQR PL Cp Ar

-

-352 UR +tri NE Cp Vi

-351

* EUROPE: movement of Celts from S France to N Italy (decline of Etruscan power)

-351 UR +tri NE Cp Vi

-351 NE Li

-

-351 Sa OPPN UR Cn Cp

-350

* CHINA: ZENITH OF CHINESE PHILOSOPHY (350-200): Taoist, Legalist, Confucian schools

-350 UR +tri NE Aq Li

-350 UR Aq

-

* C AMERICA: EARLIEST MAYAN CITY-STATES FOUNDED, Peten, S Mexico

-350 Sa OPPN UR Cn Cp

-350 NE Li

-349

MIDEAST: Phoenician cities Tyre, Sidon, Byblus & Aradus secede from Persia

-349 UR +tri NE Aq Li

-

-348

MED'N: 2nd treaty & trade agreement between Rome & Carthage

-

-347

-

-346

-

-345

* IDEAS: Aristotle (384-22), philosopher, at work (teacher to Alexander the Great)

-345 Sa CONJ NE Li Li

-345 PL Ta

-

-344 UR +sqt NE Aq Li

-344

-344 Sa CONJ NE Li Li

-344 PL Ta

-

-343 UR +sqt NE Pi Li

-343

N AFRICA: Persians reconquer Egypt under Artaxerxes III

-343 Sa OPPN PL Sc Ta

-343 PL Ta

-

-343 UR -sxt PL Pi Ta

-343 UR Pi

-342

ITALY: first Samnite war (343-341)

-342 UR +sqt NE Pi Li

-342 UR Pi

-

-342 Sa OPPN PL Sc Ta

-341

-341 UR +sqt NE Pi Li

-

-340

ITALY: Latin war (340-38); Romans & Samnites subdue neighbour tribes (Rome grows in strength)

-340 UR +sqt NE Pi Li

-

-339

ROME: first use of coinage in Rome

-

-338

-

-337

GREECE: Philip II of Macedon unites Greece (Corinthian League), (war with Persia; dies 336)

-337 NE Sc

-

-336

GREECE: REIGN OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT (336-323) (end of Greek Classical culture)

-336 UR +qcx NE Pi Li

-336 NE Sc

-

GREECE: Alexander suppresses revolt by Thebes, Athens & Peloponnesus; destroys Thebes 335

-335

GREECE: Aristotle founds Athenian School of Philosophy (first university; dies -322)

-335 UR +qcx NE Ar Sc

-335 UR Ar

-

-334

GREECE: Alexander's campaign of invasion (334-323) starts (Persia defeated 333, subdued 328)

-334 UR +qcx NE Ar Sc

-

-333 NE OPPN PL Sc Ta