Western Civ Political Timeline

Mesopotamia

3000 BCE

This is one of the earliest functioning societies. City-states were formed, and political leaders controlled these city-states. Political influence led to many advancements that contribute to a functioning society.

Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt

3000 BCE

This was necessary because it merged two distinct political systems into one. It showed that peace could be found between countries. They made many advancements, built the pyramids, and developed the writing of Cuneiform.

The Code of Hammurabi

1754 BCE

This is one of the earliest sets of laws known to man from Mesopotamia and is based on fairness. The political leaders made these laws to establish a way to achieve justice.

Ancient Greece

800 BCE

Athens had the first democracy. This was a new political concept because the people had more power. This political concept would be used many years later.

The Rise of the Roman Republic

509 BCE

This is an important point in time because officials were now elected, and it strayed away from the previous monarchy. This makes for a broader representation of the population. A key political leader in the Roman Republic was Julius Caesar.

The Peloponnesian War

431 BCE

The Peloponnesian War was a result of political Conflict between Athens and Sparta. Sparta was a militaristic society, while Athens was more for the arts. Sparta would become victorious.

End of Roman Republic

27 BCE

When Julius Caesar was assassinated, the start of the Roman Empire accelerated. When Augustus was elected, he became the first leader of the Roman Empire. He was a great leader and demonstrated an era of peace.

Charlemange

768

Charlemagne had a memorable political influence. He was a leader who led a great military campaign and made many advancements in education in the Carolingian Empire.

Viking Raids

800

The Viking raids had a significant political influence. One example is the Carolingian Empire. They had trouble fighting off the Vikings, leading to political instability. The Vikings also took over many places themselves and had set political ways.

The Renaissance

1300

During the Renaissance, many people began to change their ways. This led to a change in government systems. Education was now approached differently.

The Black Death

1347

The plague devastated Europe. There was a significant loss of life, and it led to political chaos. The loss of life led to fewer workers, and it led to less political power.

The Fall of Constantinople

1453

This is when the Ottoman Empire took over the Byzantine capital. It marked a political shift in power to the Ottoman Empire. The Byzantine Empire had ruled for over a thousand years previously, so this was a big change.

Exploration

1492

This is when Christopher Columbus found the Americas. This created a global political power for Europe. After colonizing the Americas, Europe became a massive power in Western Civilization.

The Protesant Reformation

1517

This is when Martin Luther challenged the catholic church because they allowed people to pay for salvation. This caused havoc between the people and led them to question the church, ultimately leading to political unrest.