Viaje a través de las grandes civilizaciones desde el 3000 a.C. hasta el 500 d.C.
c. 3100 BCE
El rey Narmer (Menes) unificó el Alto y Bajo Egipto, estableciendo la Primera Dinastía e iniciando el Período Dinástico Temprano. Esto marcó el nacimiento de una de las primeras grandes civilizaciones del mundo.
La unificación unió dos culturas distintas y estableció Menfis como capital. Este evento está conmemorado en la famosa Paleta de Narmer, uno de los documentos históricos más antiguos de Egipto.
c. 2560 BCE
La Gran Pirámide de Guiza, construida como tumba para el faraón Keops, fue la estructura hecha por el hombre más alta del mundo durante más de 3.800 años.
This architectural marvel contains approximately 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing 2.5 to 15 tons. The precision of its construction demonstrates the Egipcias' advanced knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and engineering.
1279-1213 BCE
Ramsés II, también conocido como Ramsés el Grande, fue el tercer faraón de la Dinastía XIX de Egipto. Su reinado se destacó por campañas militares, grandes proyectos de construcción y logros diplomáticos.
He is famous for the construction of Abu Simbel temples, expanding the Egipcia Empire, and signing the world's first known peace treaty with the Hittites after the Battle of Kadesh.
c. 2000-1450 BCE
La civilización minoica en Creta alcanzó su apogeo, con complejos palaciegos elaborados en Cnosos, Festos, Malia y Zakros. Esta civilización de la Edad del Bronce es considerada la primera civilización avanzada de Europa.
Los minoicos desarrollaron un sistema de escritura sofisticado (Lineal A), crearon arte y cerámica exquisita, construyeron edificios complejos de varios pisos con sistemas de plomería avanzados y establecieron amplias redes comerciales en todo el Mediterráneo.
776 BCE
The first recorded Olympic Games were held at Olympia in honor of Zeus. Initially a one-day event featuring only a foot race called the "stade," the games grew to include multiple events over several days.
The Olympics united the Griega city-states in peaceful competition every four years. During this time, a sacred truce (ekecheiria) was observed, allowing athletes and spectators to travel safely to Olympia. Winners received olive wreaths and were celebrated as heroes in their home cities.
480-404 BCE
Under the leadership of Pericles, Athens experienced a cultural and intellectual renaissance. This period saw the construction of the Parthenon and other architectural marvels on the Acropolis.
Democracy flourished, and Athens became the center of arts, philosophy, and science. Great thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle developed their philosophies, while playwrights like Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes created enduring works of drama. The historian Herodotus and the physician Hippocrates also made significant contributions during this era.
336-323 BCE
Alexander III of Macedon created one of the largest empires in ancient history, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. His conquests spread Griega culture throughout the known world.
Alexander's empire ushered in the Hellenistic Age, characterized by the blending of Griega, Egipcia, Persian, and Indian cultures. He founded numerous cities named Alexandria, the most famous being in Egypt, which became a center of learning and home to the Great Library. Though his empire fragmented after his death, his legacy of cultural diffusion continued for centuries.
753 BCE (traditional)
According to Romana mythology, Rome was founded by the twin brothers Romulus and Remus on the Palatine Hill. Romulus became the first king after killing his brother in a dispute.
The early settlement grew from a small Latin village to a city that would eventually rule much of the known world. Rome was initially governed by kings before becoming a republic in 509 BCE. The seven hills of Rome—Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, and Aventine—defined the city's original boundaries.
49 BCE
Julius Caesar's decision to cross the Rubicon River with his army marked the beginning of the Romana Civil War. By law, generals were forbidden to bring their armies into Italy proper. Caesar's famous declaration "The die is cast" (alea iacta est) signaled his commitment to this irreversible action.
This event led to Caesar's victory over Pompey and the Senate forces, his appointment as dictator, and ultimately the end of the Romana Republic. The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has entered common language to describe passing a point of no return.
27 BCE
Octavian, Julius Caesar's adopted son, became the first Romana Emperor after defeating Mark Antony and Cleopatra. He took the name Augustus and established a new system of government while maintaining the facade of the Republic.
Augustus initiated the Pax Romanaa (Romana Peace), a period of relative peace and stability that lasted about 200 years. He reformed the military, created a standing army, established a system of civil service, and embarked on extensive building projects, famously claiming, "I found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble."
70-80 CE
Emperor Vespasian began construction of the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre), which was completed under his son Titus. This massive stone and concrete structure could seat 50,000-80,000 spectators.
The Colosseum hosted gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. It featured complex underground structures for staging and machinery, as well as a retractable awning system (velarium) to shield spectators from the sun. The inaugural games in 80 CE lasted 100 days and included the slaughter of thousands of animals.
476 CE
Odoacer, a Germanic chieftain, deposed Emperor Romulus Augustulus, marking the end of the Western Romana Empire. He became the first King of Italy, while the Eastern Romana Empire (Byzantine Empire) continued for nearly another thousand years.
The fall was the result of multiple factors including economic troubles, overreliance on slave labor, military problems, government corruption, and the rise of Christianity. The empire had been in decline for centuries, facing increasing pressure from "barbarian" invasions. While 476 CE marks the conventional end date, the transformation from ancient Rome to medieval Europe was a gradual process spanning centuries.