The rise and fall of various ancient civilizations significantly shaped human history. The Egyptian Middle Kingdom, beginning around 2040 BCE, marked a period of cultural zenith with unified governance and notable advancements in art and literature.
117 AD - By this point, Rome had reached the height of its power under the emperor Trajan, spanning 3 continents. While expansive, and experiencing a time of relative peace and prosperity, conflicts over the coming centuries would ensure that this wouldn't last forever. Indeed, nearly 3 centuries later, in 395 BCE, Rome split in two, ironically as a result of emperor Diocletian attempting to stabilize the empire. The sheer amount of space that the Empire covered is remarkable, with many major nations in the world today, including nearly the entire continent of Europe, have been changed by Rome, the world would have been very different had Rome not existed, for better or worse.
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27 BCE - A massive change occurs in the city of Rome. Until this point, Rome was a Republic, but after the death of dictator Julius Caesar nearly 20 years ago, a death in which Caesar was stabbed 23 times in a crowd of politicians, things changed. Rome has now become an empire, and will perhaps the most influential empire in history, at least in regards to the western world. While there was a lot of time between Julius Caesar's death and Rome officially becoming an empire, his death was certainly an event that shaped the course of history.
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31 BCE - Egypt by this point had begun to decline, and the machinations of Cleopatra II, one of the most iconic leaders and history, a leader known for being cruel, ruthless, and willing to do whatever it takes to get her way. The end was the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, with Cleopatra and her Greek lover Mark Antony routed, with the Greeks conquering Egypt shortly after. Egypt was one of the longest lived empires, lasting for 3000 years, and the impact they made on the ancient world and culture in general cannot be understated.
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2040 BCE - The Egyptian Middle Kingdom begins, known as the height of Egyptian culture, both art and literature. Things were stable, and Upper and Lower Egypt were unified. During this period, the 12th Dynasty implemented the very first standing army, which was a power check on the monarch's power. Many Egypt texts view this era as one of peace and prosperity, with records suggesting an incredibly efficient government, as opposed to the perceived lawlessness of before. Many temples were built, and their was unity of purpose. The image was chosen as a representation of the art of this period, while the art itself may not be significant, it is indicative of a greater trend.
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c. 2613 BCE - The Egyptian Old Kingdom begins, known largely for feats of engineering such as the Great Pyramids. The sixth dynasty rules Egypt at the start, and this is considered to be a 'Golden Age', things were experimental and unique, and the feats of the Old Kingdom, including the many pyramids they built, continue to influence culture to this day. Unfortunately, the Old Kingdom didn't end as great as it existed, with a variety of pressures, both internal and external, causing chaos. The image chosen is of the Great Pyramid of Giza, as while many other sites have been found predating this, there is perhaps no other structure that has captured the interest of people for millennia the way the pyramid has.
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3500 BCE - Around this time, the Mesopotamian city states first appear. Referred to as a cradle of civilization, the Mesopotamian city states are some of the first large scale societies. The first known written text is attributed to Mesopotamia, around 3400 BCE. This is effectively the beginning of western history as we know it.
539 BCE - The time of Mesopotamia as a power effectively ends, with the Persian Empire conquering the state of Babylon.
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1750s BCE - Hammurabi's Code is written, a legal code written to outline how many legal matters should be handled, notably family law, criminal law, and civil law. Many of the concepts in the code continue to be used today, albeit with much less severe punishments.
10,000 BCE - Around this time, what may be considered 'society' started. While humans have existed for millennia beforehand, with the Neolithic revolution, organized communities began to form. The agricultural revolution allows communities to begin settling down and focus on cultural develop. Additionally, some believe that this is was the origin of conflict, with settlements fighting over resources. The image chosen represents the first steps of man leaving behind traces still present today, and of the beginning of art and preserved history.
