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1754 BCE
The Code of Hammurabi
The Code of Hammurabi is one of the oldest known sets of laws, created by King Hammurabi of Babylon. It established a system of justice based on written laws, influencing future legal systems and the concept of state-sponsored law enforcement. -
550 BCE
The rise of the Persian Empire
Under Cyrus the Great, the Persian Empire became one of the largest empires in history. Its centralized administration, infrastructure like roads and communication systems, and respect for local customs set a model for future empires. -
27 BCE
The Roman Republic
The Roman Republic introduced a form of government with elected officials and a Senate, influencing the development of representative democracy in the Western world. It showed how political power could be distributed across a system rather than concentrated in one monarch. -
300
The Spread of Buddhism in Asia
Buddhism spread across Asia, especially under Emperor Ashoka of India. This spread promoted ideas of nonviolence and individual rights, influencing social structures, cultural norms, and political institutions in countries like China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. -
476
The Fall of the Roman Empire
The fall of the Roman Empire marked the end of classical antiquity and began the Middle Ages in Europe. It led to a shift from centralized power to feudalism, significantly changing political structures in Europe. -
1000
The Rise of Feudalism in Europe
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe developed feudalism as a response to political instability. This decentralized political structure saw lords hold land and vassals pledge loyalty in exchange for protection, drastically altering social hierarchies. -
1350
The Mongol Empire
The Mongols, under Genghis Khan, created the largest contiguous empire in world history. They changed the political landscape of Asia and Europe by uniting vast territories under a single political structure and encouraging trade and communication across the Silk Road. -
1351
The Black Death
The Black Death decimated Europe’s population, reducing social and economic productivity. The plague led to shifts in labor systems, weakened feudalism, and contributed to the rise of centralized monarchies as feudal systems collapsed. -
1453
The Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War between England and France drastically altered political relations in Europe. It helped consolidate national identities, contributed to the decline of feudalism, and led to the rise of more centralized monarchies in both countries. -
1517
The Reformation
Martin Luther's 95 Theses initiated the Protestant Reformation, challenging the authority of the Catholic Church and altering the political and religious structures of Europe. The Reformation influenced the rise of nation-states and the decline of the Catholic Church's centralized authority. -
1550
The Renaissance
The Renaissance sparked a cultural and intellectual rebirth in Europe, where art, science, and political thought flourished. This period redefined political and social structures, challenging medieval religious and feudal systems, and fostering the ideas that would later lead to the Enlightenment.