Human history is the record of humankind from prehistory to the present.

Prehistory (before written records)

  • Humans evolved in Africa around 300,000 years ago.
  • They migrated out of Africa during the Last Ice Age.
  • The Neolithic Revolution (10,000 BCE) brought the first systematic farming.
  • Civilizations emerged in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and China (3500 BCE).

Ancient history

  • The Bronze Age (3300-1200 BCE) saw the rise of writing and cities.
  • The Axial Age (800-200 BCE) witnessed transformative philosophical and religious ideas.
  • Empires developed in Persia, Greece, Rome, China, and India.

Post-classical history (500-1500 CE)

  • Islam spread rapidly, shaping the Middle East and North Africa.
  • Civilization expanded to new areas, including Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.
  • Gunpowder and the printing press were invented in China.

Early modern history (1500-1800 CE)

  • Europeans explored and colonized the world.
  • The Renaissance and Reformation transformed Europe intellectually and culturally.
  • The Industrial Revolution began in Britain around 1770.

Modern history (1800-present)

  • The Industrial Revolution spread globally, leading to rapid economic growth.
  • European powers colonized almost all of Africa.
  • Two world wars (1914-1918 and 1939-1945) devastated Europe and led to the decline of European empires.
  • The Cold War (1945-1991) was a conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.
  • The 21st century has seen globalization, technological advancements, and new challenges such as climate change.

Academic research

  • The study of human history integrates insights from various disciplines, including history, archaeology, anthropology, and genetics.
  • Periodization schemes help historians organize and understand human history, but they are not static and can vary depending on the chosen themes or approaches.