BC
Contents
Key to entries
Items in normal text indicate South African events and activities Items in bold indicate theatre and performance events. All items in italics refer to international (i.e. non-South African) events
Entries
2.5-3 million years BC
Beginning of Early Stone age
1-3 million years BC
Australopithecus lives in southern Africa
90 000 - 1 million years BC
Homo erectus lives in southern Africa
±30 000-130 000BC
Evolution of Homo sapiens in southern Africa
Middle stone age
±25 000 – 26 000 BC
Earliest dated rock art
Stone age hunter gatherers evolve in southern Africa
±10 000-15 000 years BC
Scattered groups of hunter-gatherers (Khoisan) settle as sole residents in Southern Africa (till ±1AD), gradually evolving a pastoral culture among some groups (i.e. the Khoi-Khoi), while others remained hunter-gatherers (i.e the San)
In Mesopotamia, society shifts from food-gathering to food-producing
±6000BC
Hassuna culture introduces irrigation, permanent dwellings and fine pottery
±5000BC
Area between Babylon and Persian Gulf settled. Trade develops between Persian Gulf and Mediterranean.
±3500BC
Sumerians settle on banks of Euphrates. They develop pictographs to keep administrative records.
±3300-3100BC
Early records of San ritual / trance dances and communal narratives in rock paintings
Egyptians introduce calendar, hieroglyphs, Memphis built. Egyptian ritual dramas, the “Pyramid Text” rituals; Ramessun Dramatic Papyrus. Coronation plays.
±3100-3000BC
Early Dynastic period in Egypt. Coloured mosaics used by Sumerains, e.g. at the Painted Temple at Tell Uqair.
±2750BC
Cuneiform writing used by Sumerians for first formal contracts for land sales. “Praying Statues” from Tel Asmar indicate use of expressionistic techniques to show religious feeling among Sumerians. Gilgamesh, hero of Sumerian legend, reigns as king of Erech. Indus Valley civilization in India begins.
±2686-2494BC
The Triumph of Horus, The Memphite Drama & Abydos Passion Play in Egypt. Old Kingdom in Egypt begins. From Step Pyramid at Sakkarah to Great Pyramids and Sphinx. In Mesopotamia, at the tombs of Ur, many gold and silver artifacts are buried.
Return to
Return To A Chronology of South African Theatre and Performance
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
