Human History Timeline

A.D. Time Period

  • 14 A.D.    Death of Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire.
  • 18 A.D.    Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid), poet of Heroides, Amores, and Metamorphoses dies.
  • 27 A.D.    Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist.
  • 30 A.D.    John the Baptist executed.
  • 30 A.D.    Crucifixion of Jesus ordered by Pilate.
  • 34 A.D.    The disciple Paul makes his first visit to Jerusalem.
  • 41 A.D.    Caligula is assassinated as a result of his extravagance and quest for unconstrained personal power.
  • 43 A.D.    London (Latin: Londinium) is established by the Romans.
  • 45 A.D.    Disciple (apostle) Paul begins his missionary works.
  • 59 A.D.    Agrippina is murdered by her son, Nero.
  • 64 A.D.    Great fire destroys much of Rome.
  • 66 A.D.    Gospel of Mark is written – it is the first gospel.
  • 68 A.D.    Death of Roman Emperor Nero.
  • 70 A.D.    The Gospel Matthew portion of the bible is written.
  • 75 A.D.    The Gospel Luke portion of the bible is written.
  • 79 A.D.    The volcano Vesuvius erupts, spewing lava so quickly that it preserved the city of Pompeii. Titus is the current emperor of Rome.
  • 80 A.D.    The Roman Colosseum and the Baths of Titus are completed.
  • 95 A.D.     The Gospel John and The Book of Revelations is written.
  • 105 A.D.    Cai Lun creates the paper-making process in China.
  • 126 A.D.    The Roman Pantheon is built in Rome.
  • 130 A.D.    Egypt’s new capital city Antinopolis is created.
  • 161 A.D.    Marcus Aurelius becomes the new Emperor of Rome.
  • 166 A.D.    Marcus Aurelius sends gifts to Emperor Huan Ti.
  • 217 A.D.    Macrinus becomes the new Emperor of Rome.
  • 220 A.D.    End of Han Dynasty and China’s “Imperial Age”. The period of “Three Kingdoms” in China begins (an last’s until 265 a.d.)
  • 222 A.D.    Alexander Severus becomes the new Emperor of Rome.
  • 227 A.D.    A new Persian empire is founded by Ardashir.
  • 230 A.D.    The first known ruler of Japan, Emperor Sujin, is documented.
  • 235 A.D.    Maximinus Thrax becomes the new Emperor of Rome.
  • 238 A.D.    Gordian III becomes the new Emperor of Rome.
  • 249 A.D.   Decius becomes the Emperor of Rome.
  • 250 A.D.   Decius persecutes Christians.
  • 251 A.D.   Gallus becomes Emperor of Rome, Decius dies in battle with Goths.
  • 253 A.D.   Valerian becomes Emperor of Rome, shares throne with his son, Gallienus.
  • 268 A.D.   Claudius II becomes  Emperor of Rome.
  • 270 A.D.   Aurelian becomes Emperor of Rome.
  • 275 A.D.   Tacitus becomes Emperor of Rome, killed by his own military troops one year later.
  • 276 A.D.   Probus becomes Emperor of Rome.
  • 282 A.D.   Carus becomes Emperor of Rome, killed by his own military troops one year later.
  • 284 A.D.   Diocletian becomes Emperor of Rome.
  • 286 A.D.   The Roman Empire is divided by Diocletian, he rules the East, Maximiam rules the West.
  • 303 A.D.  Christians are persecuted by Diocletian.
  • 306 A.D.   Constantine I (known as Constantine the Great) becomes Emperor of Rome in the East kingdom.
  • 308 A.D.   Maxentius becomes Emperor of Rome in the West kingdom.
  • 312 A.D.    Maxentius is killed in the battle of Milvian Bride. Constantine converts to Christianity.
  • 313 A.D.    Constantine unites all of Rome and issues the Edict of Milan. The “Edict of Toleration” is proclaimed and Constantine allows Christianity in his kingdom.
  • 324 A.D.   The East and West kingdoms of Rome are re-united by Constantine.
  • 330 A.D.   Constantinople is formed by Constantine and is the new capital of the Roman Kingdom.
  • 337 A.D.   Constantine dies, is baptized on deathbed.
  • 391 A.D.    Roman empire makes Christianity the official religion.
  • 410 A.D.    Rome is sacked by the Goths.
  • 428 A.D.    St. Patrick begins his missionary work in Ireland.
  • 440 A.D.    Leo, known as Leo the Great, becomes Pope.
  • 475 A.D.    Romulus Augustus becomes Emperor.
  • 590 A.D.    Gregory I, known as Gregory the Great becomes Pope.
  • 593 A.D.    Suiko becomes the new Empress of Japan.
  • 604 A.D.    Construction of the Grand Canal begins in China.
  • 610 A.D.    Vision of Muhammad.
  • 624 A.D.    Aisha and Muhammad are married.
  • 625 A.D.    Muhammad starts his dictation of the Koran.
  • 632 A.D.    Death of Muhammad.
  • 639 A.D.    Muslim conquest of Egypt begins.
  • 814 A.D.    Arabs start using the Indian numerals 0 through 9.
  • 832 A.D.   The city of Baghdad is established and rises as a city of learning.
  • 843 A.D.    Treaty of Verdun is signed and divides the current Frankish Empire into 3 (east of Rhine, France and then Italy, Provence, Burgundy and Lorraine.)
  • 844 A.D.    The Picts are defeated by Kenneth MacAlpine (King of the Scots) and a new unified Scotland is established.
  • 850 A.D.   The Muslim scholars of Tabari compile the medical writings of Greece, Rome, Persia and India.
  • 861 A.D.      Iceland is discovered by exploring Vikings.
  • 1082 A.D.    King Henry IV’s troops storm Rome.
  • 1085 A.D.    The Moors lose Toledo to Alfonso Vi.
  • 1086 A.D.    Canute IV of Denmark is assassinated.
  • 1088 A.D.    Urban II becomes the new Pope.
  • 1096 A.D.    The First Crusade begins at the urging of Pope Urban.
  • 1098 A.D.    Crusaders defeat the Saracens at Antioch.
  • 1099 A.D.    Crusaders take Jerusalem.
  • 1108 A.D.    Louis VI becomes the new king of France.
  • 1111 A.D.     Henry V becomes the Holy Roman Emperor.
  • 1139 A.D.    Alfonso becomes the first king of Portugal.
  • 1141 A.D.    Chinese defeat Muslim ruler of Persia.
  • 1145 A.D.    The Second Crusade begins.
  • 1156 A.D.    Military class struggle begins in Japan.
  • 1174 A.D.    Syria is conquered by Saladin.
  • 1177 A.D.    Saladin is defeated by Baldwin IV at Montgisard.
  • 1180 A.D.    A truce is formed between Saladin and Baldwin IV.
  • 1182 A.D.    Jews are banished from France by Philip II.
  • 1211 A.D.    Mongols invade China.
  • 1219 A.D.    Mongols invade Persia.
  • 1258 A.D.    Mongols destroy Baghdad.
  • 1297 A.D.    William Wallace, a Scottish man defeats the English army in the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
  • 1300 A.D.    Wenceslas II becomes the new king of Poland.
  • 1304 A.D.    Petrarch, the well known Italian poet is born.
  • 1328 A.D.    Philip VI becomes the current king of France.
  • 1368 A.D.    The Ming dynasty is formed in China.
  • 1412 A.D.    Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) is born.
  • 1413 A.D.    Henry V becomes the King of England.
  • 1421 A.D.    China names Beijing as it’s capital city.
  • 1422 A.D.    Death of Henry V (England) and Charles VI (France).
  • 1453 A.D.    The Hundred Years War comes to an end.
  • 1458 A.D.    Athens is taken over by the Ottomans.
  • 1492 A.D.   The Americas are discovered by Christopher Columbus while in search of a shorter route to India.
  • 1590 A.D.   First flushing toilet is invented by John Harrington.
  • 1606 A.D.   Japan outlaws Christianity.
  • 1607 A.D.   Jamestown, Virginia colony in North America is founded.
  • 1608 A.D.   Hans Lippershey tries to obtain a patent for the telescope. This marks this first official documentation of the telescope as an invention.
  • 1609 A.D.   Galileo Galilee makes his first observations of stars with a telescope.
  • 1610 A.D.   The theory of relative motion is put forward by Galileo Galilee.
  • 1618 A.D.    Start of the Thirty Years’ War initiated by the Defenestrations of Prague.
  • 1619 A.D.   The first shipment of African slaves arrive in Virginia to work the tobacco plantations.
  • 1620 A.D.   Pilgrims from England sailing on the Mayflower ship arrive in America and found the colony of Plymouth.
  • 1621 A.D.    Philip IV becomes the next King of Spain. In America, Pilgrims celebrate the First Thanksgiving after a bountiful harvest.
  • 1624 A.D.    Dutch found New Amsterdam (New York).
  • 1631 A.D.    Construction on the Taj Mahal begins.
  • 1642 A.D.   Montreal is founded by Dutch. Civil War of England.
  • 1648 A.D.    Taj Mahal is completed, used as tomb for wife of Emperor Shah Jahan. The Treaty of Westphalia is signed, ending the Thirty Years’ War.
  • 1652 A.D.    Cape Town is founded by Dutch. Anglo-Dutch War.
  • 1665 A.D.    There is a massive plague that sweeps over London.
  • 1666 A.D.    Great fire of London.
  • 1676 A.D.    Polish-Ottoman War ends.
  • 1682 A.D.    Peter the Great is born.
  • 1683 A.D.    Great Turkish War begins.
  • 1686 A.D.    Issac Newton publishes his laws of motion and gravity.
  • 1687 A.D.    Sir Isaac Newton tells about his theory of gravity and the three laws of motion.
  • 1689 A.D.    Treaty of Nerchinsk between Russia and China.
  • 1696 A.D.    Peter is the sole ruler of Russia.
  • 1701 A.D.    The seed-drill is invented by Jethro Tull.
  • 1703 A.D.    Peter the Great founds St Petersburg.
  • 1725 A.D.    Peter the Great dies.
  • 1744 A.D.    King George War begins.
  • 1747 A.D.    Nader Shah assassinated.
  • 1754 A.D.    French and Indian War begins.
  • 1755 A.D.    Lisbon earthquake kills between 10,000-100,000.
  • 1757 A.D.    British rule established in India.
  • 1763 A.D.   French and Indian War ends.
  • 1765 A.D.    Stamp Act on American colonies.
  • 1770 A.D.    Boston Massacre.
  • 1773 A.D.    Boston Tea Party.
  • 1774 A.D.    The First Continental Congress is formed in opposition to the British rule in America.
  • 1775 A.D.   The American Revolutionary War begins.
  • 1776 A.D.    On July 4, the Declaration of Independence is signed.
  • 1783 A.D.   The American Revolutionary War ends.
  • 1787 A.D.   The Constitution of the United States is signed into place at the Federal Convention.
  • 1788 A.D.    The Times is created and published for the first time in London.
  • 1789 A.D.   George Washington is elected the first president of the United States.
  • 1791 A.D.    “The Rights of Man“, written by Thomas Paine is published. The Bill of Rights, which are 10 amendments to the US Constitution, is approved.
  • 1797 A.D.    The parachute is invented.
  • 1803 A.D.    Britain and France start warring.  France sells vast area of land west of the Mississippi to the United States in whats known as The Louisiana Purchase.
  • 1804 A.D.   World population reaches 1 billion.
  • 1807 A.D.   The slave trade is abolished in Britain via the Slave Trade Act.
  • 1812 A.D.    United States and Britain start warring.
  • 1814 A.D.    Missionaries colonize New Zealand.
  • 1815 A.D.    Battle of Waterloo. The Treaty of Vienna is signed.
  • 1820 A.D.   The Missouri Compromise is passed – prohibiting slavery to the north and west of the state.
  • 1830 A.D.   The Book of Mormon is published by Joseph Smith.
  • 1832 A.D.   The foundations of modern democracy are established with the passing of the Great Reform Act.
  • 1835 A.D.   Texas makes independence claim away from Mexico, known as the Texas Revolution.
  • 1836 A.D.    Battle of the Alamo – Mexican Army storms the Texas fort known as the Alamo. United States passes resolution recognizing the independence of Texas.
  • 1841 A.D.   The 2,000-mile long Oregon Trail in America opens.
  • 1844 A.D.   The telegraph is invented.
  • 1845 A.D.   The United States annexes Texas.
  • 1848 A.D.   Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish the “Communist Manifesto”.
  • 1849 A.D.   Gold discovered in California leads to a “gold rush”.
  • 1850 A.D.   Fugitive Slave Act (United States) established – required every citizen to help in the returning of escaped slaves.
  • 1853 A.D.   The Crimean War begins.
  • 1854 A.D.   Kansas-Nebraska Act passed (United States). Act established territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Republican Party is founded in opposition of the act as well as to slavery.
  • 1856 A.D.   The Crimean War ends.
  • 1859 A.D.   Charles Darwin publishes his “On the Origin of Species” paper outlining evolution and natural selection.
  • 1861 A.D.   The American Civil War begins. Gatling gun is invented.
  • 1863 A.D.  Abraham Lincoln issues the emancipation proclamation – changing the status of many people in the southern United States from slave to free. Battle of Gettysburg occurs.
  • 1865 A.D.   The United States abolishes slavery with the thirteenth amendment to the US Constitution.
  • 1867 A.D.   Alaska is purchased from Russia by the United States. Reconstruction Act allows the Southern US states to re-enter the Union. The explosive dynamite and the typewriter are invented.
  • 1868 A.D.   DNA is discovered.
  • 1869 A.D.   Suez Canal opens. First Transcontinental Railroad is completed in the United States.
  • 1870 A.D.   The 15th US Constitutional Amendment is enacted – giving African-Americans the right to vote.
  • 1871 A.D.   Huge fire burns most of the city of Chicago.
  • 1876 A.D.   Alexander Graham Bell patents the first practical telephone.
  • 1879 A.D.   Thomas Edison invents the first successful light bulb.
  • 1890 A.D.   Native Americans are massacred as the battle at Wounded Knee.
  • 1901 A.D.   Queen Victoria of England dies.
  • 1903 A.D.   The Wright Brothers make their first powered flights.
  • 1905 A.D.   Albert Einstein publishes his theory of special relativity.
  • 1907 A.D.   First manned helicopter flight in France.
  • 1914 A.D.    Start of World War I (WWI)
  • 1916 A.D.    Albert Einstein publishes his theory of general relativity.
  • 1917 A.D.    The scientific principles of the laser are defined by Albert Einstein. The United States enters WWI.
  • 1918 A.D.    WWI ends.
  • 1919 A.D.   Sale of alcohol is banned with the 18th US Constitutional Amendment.
  • 1920 A.D.   The first public broadcasting station is opened in Britain. The 19th US Constitutional Amendment gives women the right to vote.
  • 1927 A.D.   Charles Lindbergh is first man to fly solo across the Atlantic ocean. The idea that the universe began in a Big Bang is developed by Abbe George Lemaitre. World population reaches 2 billion.
  • 1928 A.D.   Penicillin is discovered on accident by Alexander Flemming.
  • 1929 A.D.   NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) crashes after a panic induced sell-off of shares.
  • 1933 A.D.   The “New Deal” is launched by US President Roosevelt.
  • 1936 A.D.   Start of the Spanish Civil War.
  • 1939 A.D.   Start of World War II (WWII). The Spanish Civil War ends.
  • 1941 A.D.   Pearl Harbor in Hawaii is attacked by the Japanese. The United Sates to enters WWII.
  • 1945 A.D.   Atomic bomb is dropped and WWII ends when Japan surrenders. The United Nations (UN) is established after WWII.
  • 1946 A.D.   First microwave oven is sold under the name of Radarange.
  • 1947 A.D.   India and Pakistan are founded (gained independence).
  • 1948 A.D.   Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, was assassinated. The polio vaccine is developed.
  • 1949 A.D.   The Communist party lead by Mao Zedong comes to power in China.
  • 1953 A.D.   The Cuban Revolution lead by Fidel Castro begins.
  • 1955 A.D.   Start of the Vietnam War.
  • 1957 A.D.   United States FDA approves the birth control pill.
  • 1959 A.D.   World population reaches 3 billion.
  • 1961 A.D.   The Berlin Wall is built, divides Germany.