The world’s largest database of social change milestones from throughout human history
We are building the world’s largest database of social change milestones, from the first fire to today’s good news. Change is not only possible, it has happened consistently throughout human history.
Filter by era, country, topic, actor, source, and more. Submit your own milestones!
3782
social change milestones archived
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- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
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Era
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
Year
Topics
Region
Countries
State/Province
Institution
Sources
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~300 B.C.E.Buni culture flourishes in West Java in modern-day Indonesia
The Buni culture is a prehistoric clay pottery culture that flourished in coastal northern West Java, Jakarta and Banten around 400 BC to 100 AD and probably survived until 500 AD.
-
~300 B.C.E.Construction begins on the Library of Alexandria, perhaps the largest and most significant library of the ancient world
It flourished under the patronage of the Ptolemaic dynasty and functioned as a major center of scholarship from its construction in the 3rd century BC until the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC, with collections of works, lecture halls, meeting rooms, and gardens.
-
~300 B.C.E. ???Humans of Mesoamerica settle the site of Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan was the largest urban center of Mesoamerica before the Aztecs, almost 1000 years prior to their epoch.
-
~300 B.C.E.The Chola dynasty comes to power in modern-day India
The Chola dynasty was one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of southern India.
-
~300 B.C.E.The Pandyan dynasty begins in South India
The Pandyan dynasty was an ancient Tamil dynasty, one of the three Tamil dynasties, the other two being the Chola and the Chera. The kings of the three dynasties were referred to as the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam.
-
305 B.C.E.Construction begins on the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was a lighthouse built during the reign Ptolemy II which has been estimated to be 100 meters in overall height and one of the tallest structures on Earth for many centuries.
-
~320 B.C.E.Alexander the Great through conquest of Egypt, Persia, and India launches Hellenistic Age
Greek language introduced Greek literature into the former Persian Empire, thereby influencing the philosophical thought and writing of the region
-
~350 B.C.E ???Early Scandinavians invent the longship
Originally invented and used by the Vikings for commerce, exploration, and warfare, many of the longship's characteristics were adopted by other cultures.
-
~330 B.C.E.Aristotle speculates about the existence of the South Pole, becoming perhaps the first to do so
Aristotle speculated, "Now since there must be a region bearing the same relation to the southern pole as the place we live in bears to our pole...".
-
366 B.C.E.Lucius Sextius Lateranus becomes the first plebeian consul of Rome
The Lex Licinia Sextia, also known as the Licinian Rogations, was a series of laws proposed by the tribunes of the plebs, Lucius Sextius Lateranus and Gaius Licinius Stolo. These laws provided for a limit on the interest rate of loans and a restriction on private ownership of land. A third law, which provided for one of the two consuls to be a plebeian.
-
~300 B.C.E.Buni culture flourishes in West Java in modern-day Indonesia
The Buni culture is a prehistoric clay pottery culture that flourished in coastal northern West Java, Jakarta and Banten around 400 BC to 100 AD and probably survived until 500 AD.
-
~300 B.C.E.Construction begins on the Library of Alexandria, perhaps the largest and most significant library of the ancient world
It flourished under the patronage of the Ptolemaic dynasty and functioned as a major center of scholarship from its construction in the 3rd century BC until the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC, with collections of works, lecture halls, meeting rooms, and gardens.
-
~300 B.C.E. ???
Humans of Mesoamerica settle the site of Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan was the largest urban center of Mesoamerica before the Aztecs, almost 1000 years prior to their epoch.
-
~300 B.C.E.The Chola dynasty comes to power in modern-day India
The Chola dynasty was one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of southern India.
-
~300 B.C.E.The Pandyan dynasty begins in South India
The Pandyan dynasty was an ancient Tamil dynasty, one of the three Tamil dynasties, the other two being the Chola and the Chera. The kings of the three dynasties were referred to as the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam.
-
305 B.C.E.Construction begins on the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was a lighthouse built during the reign Ptolemy II which has been estimated to be 100 meters in overall height and one of the tallest structures on Earth for many centuries.
-
~320 B.C.E.Alexander the Great through conquest of Egypt, Persia, and India launches Hellenistic Age
Greek language introduced Greek literature into the former Persian Empire, thereby influencing the philosophical thought and writing of the region
-
~350 B.C.E ???Early Scandinavians invent the longship
Originally invented and used by the Vikings for commerce, exploration, and warfare, many of the longship's characteristics were adopted by other cultures.
-
~330 B.C.E.
Aristotle speculates about the existence of the South Pole, becoming perhaps the first to do so
Aristotle speculated, "Now since there must be a region bearing the same relation to the southern pole as the place we live in bears to our pole...".
-
366 B.C.E.Lucius Sextius Lateranus becomes the first plebeian consul of Rome
The Lex Licinia Sextia, also known as the Licinian Rogations, was a series of laws proposed by the tribunes of the plebs, Lucius Sextius Lateranus and Gaius Licinius Stolo. These laws provided for a limit on the interest rate of loans and a restriction on private ownership of land. A third law, which provided for one of the two consuls to be a plebeian.
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Submit a Milestone
Did we miss a social change milestone? What social progress have you seen around the world that I should include? Let us know!
NOTE: We cannot guarantee we will post all stories submitted here. We only post stories that represent milestones in human development (as opposed to “feel good” stories). We want something that would make sense to put on a timeline of human progress. For example, a story like “Random customer leaves a huge tip” isn’t a great fit. “Country X passes economic inequality reform bill” is a great fit.