Upright man Homo erectus, ancestor of modern humans, developed longer legs and shorter arms, helping it to walk upright. Its brains and intelligence grew, allowing it to use finely crafted tools to catch food.
BIRTH OF EARTH (4.6 billion years ago) planet Earth forms.
4.6 bsilaligoon year
UPRIGHT MAN (1.8 mya) Homo erectus (“upright man”) appears. It is the first human ancestor that is similar to modern humans.
ANCIENT EGYPT (3100 BCE) The civilization of ancient Egypt begins to grow around the Nile River. »pp22–23
SOAP (2800 BCE) The first soap, made of oil and salt, is used for washing fabric, not people. »pp46–47
STONE TOOLS (2.5 mya) Early human ancestors called Homo habilis (“able man”) make tools for the first time. Most are made of stone.
BRONZE (3200 BCE) People in Egypt and Mesopotamia learn to make the durable metal bronze. »pp24–25
WHEELED TRANSPORTATION (3200 BCE) Two-wheeled carts—the earliest wheeled vehicles—are made in what is now Slovenia. »pp46–47
WRITING (3400 BCE) The first forms of writing are created in Sumer (in Mesopotamia) and Egypt. »pp20–21
PACIFIC SETTLERS (2000 BCE) Lapita people become the first of five waves of settlers moving to islands in the Pacific. »pp42–43
OLMECS AND CHAVÍN (1200 BCE) The Olmecs are the first civilization in Mexico, while the Chavín culture dominates Peru. »pp26–27
The Great Pyramid at Giza
THE GREAT PYRAMID (2500 BCE) The pyramid tomb of the pharaoh Khufu is completed in Giza, Egypt. »pp22–23; 44–45
ANCIENT GREECE (700–400 BCE) The ancient Greek civilization becomes the most influential power in the Mediterranean region. »pp28–29
Ancient times Humans have come a long way since their ancestors walked the planet 2.5 million years ago (mya). For many thousands of years, people lived simple lives as huntergatherers, spending their time looking for food and defending themselves from wild animals. Then, with the advent of farming, civilizations grew. Inventions and discoveries—the wheel, irrigation, and writing— were slow at first, but progress has sped up ever since.
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Greek vase showing a temple
MOCHE CULTURE (100 CE) The Moche people of northern Peru create sophisticated art and textiles. »pp26–27
600 CE
SPREADING CHRISTIANITY (60 CE) Paul the Apostle sets up churches across the Roman Empire. »pp40–41
IF THE 4.6 BILLION YEARS OF EARTH’S HISTORY IS REPRESENTED AS
