BC

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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

Coloured mosaics used by Sumerains, e.g. at the Painted Temple at Tell Uqair.


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