First cities and the Bronze Age
3500 BC to 1200 BC, about 2,300 years
The first cities, kings and written records, in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus valley and China.
The twelve eras, each step to the right ten times closer to today.
Meanwhile, around the world
The 10 places on this site that we know from this era. Today’s coastlines.
Region by region
Africa
- About 2551 to 2528 BCKhufu reigns; the Great Pyramid
- About 2490 to 2472 BCMenkaure reigns; the third Giza pyramid
- About 1981 to 1975 BCMeketre’s tomb models
The Americas
Nothing written here yet. This is a gap in the archive, not in history.
Asia
- About 1254 to 1197 BCWu Ding reigns at Anyang
- about 1250 BCWriting, in China
- Last Shang capital, from Wu Ding’s reign to the end of the ShangAnyang (Yinxu)
Europe
- About 3000 BCThe first Stonehenge, an earthwork
- About 2500 BCThe stones of Stonehenge are raised
- About 2300 BCThe Amesbury Archer is buried
The Middle East
- 3400 to 3200 BCWriting, in Mesopotamia
Oceania
Nothing written here yet. This is a gap in the archive, not in history.
Subjects
Objects
A clay tablet recording barley
Cattle carved for King Khufu
Seated statue of King Menkaure
Model granary with scribes
Model bakery and brewery
Model of a boat being rowed
Model of a porch and garden
Blue faience hippopotamus
An inscribed oracle bone
A tall bronze wine beaker
A great bronze wine jar
A small jade water buffalo
On the school courses
- Primary: Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 11) The achievements of the earliest civilizations: an overview of where and when the first civilizations appeared
- Primary: Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 11) A depth study of one of: Ancient Sumer, the Indus Valley, Ancient Egypt, the Shang Dynasty of Ancient China