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!
3899
social change milestones archived
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Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
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Search
Era
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
- Today (2017 C.E. - ???)
Year
Topics
Region
Countries
State/Province
Institution
Sources
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~350 C.E.Humans first settle the island of Madagascar
Archaeologists have estimated that the earliest settlers arrived from the Malay Archipelago between 250 BC and 550 AD, making Madagascar one of the last major landmasses on Earth to be settled by humans.
-
311 C.E.Roman Emperor Galerius issues Edict of Serdica, ending persercution of Christians in the Roman Empire
The Edict implicitly granted Christianity the status of religio licita, a worship that was recognized and accepted by the Roman Empire.
-
~300 C.E.Barangay city-states thrive in modern-day Philippines
Some barangays were well-organized independent villages, consisting of thirty to a hundred households. Other barangays - most notably those in Maynila, Tondo, Panay, Pangasinan, Cebu, Bohol, Butuan, Cotabato, and Sulu - were integrated into large cosmopolitan polities.
-
301 C.E.Saint Marinus founds San Marino, the world’s oldest republic still in existence
San Marino lays claim to being the oldest extant sovereign state in the world, as well as the oldest constitutional republic.
-
~250 C.E.Malays from Borneo become perhaps the first humans to discover Seychelles
The early history of Seychelles is unknown. Malays from Borneo, who eventually settled on Madagascar, perhaps lingered here circa 200-300 AD.
-
225 C.E.The Sasanian Empire flourishes in modern-day Iran
The Sasanian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians, was the last kingdom of the Persian Empire before the rise of Islam.
-
~200 C.E.Kalina culture emerges in South America
Making up for lack of written records, archaeologists have to date uncovered 273 Amerindian archeological sites on only 310 km² of the land recovered from the Sinnamary River by the Petit-Saut Dam. Some date back as far as two thousand years, establishing the antiquity of the Amerindian presence in this area.
-
150 C.E.Ptolemy publishes Geography, revolutionizing cartography
The Geography represents the culmination and synthesis of the scientific tradition in Greek cartography; it consists of eight books, and anywhere from 26 to 64 maps.
-
132 C.E.Zhang Heng invents the seisometer
A seismometer or seismoscope is an instrument that detects and measures the motions of the ground as a result of seismic waves gushing from an earthquake, volcanic eruption or powerful explosion.
-
122 C.E.Ancient Romans begin construction of Hadrian's Wall in Britain
Hadrian's Wall was the north-west frontier of the Roman empire for nearly 300 years.
-
~350 C.E.Humans first settle the island of Madagascar
Archaeologists have estimated that the earliest settlers arrived from the Malay Archipelago between 250 BC and 550 AD, making Madagascar one of the last major landmasses on Earth to be settled by humans.
-
311 C.E.Roman Emperor Galerius issues Edict of Serdica, ending persercution of Christians in the Roman Empire
The Edict implicitly granted Christianity the status of religio licita, a worship that was recognized and accepted by the Roman Empire.
-
~300 C.E.Barangay city-states thrive in modern-day Philippines
Some barangays were well-organized independent villages, consisting of thirty to a hundred households. Other barangays - most notably those in Maynila, Tondo, Panay, Pangasinan, Cebu, Bohol, Butuan, Cotabato, and Sulu - were integrated into large cosmopolitan polities.
-
301 C.E.Saint Marinus founds San Marino, the world’s oldest republic still in existence
San Marino lays claim to being the oldest extant sovereign state in the world, as well as the oldest constitutional republic.
-
~250 C.E.Malays from Borneo become perhaps the first humans to discover Seychelles
The early history of Seychelles is unknown. Malays from Borneo, who eventually settled on Madagascar, perhaps lingered here circa 200-300 AD.
-
225 C.E.
The Sasanian Empire flourishes in modern-day Iran
The Sasanian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians, was the last kingdom of the Persian Empire before the rise of Islam.
-
~200 C.E.Kalina culture emerges in South America
Making up for lack of written records, archaeologists have to date uncovered 273 Amerindian archeological sites on only 310 km² of the land recovered from the Sinnamary River by the Petit-Saut Dam. Some date back as far as two thousand years, establishing the antiquity of the Amerindian presence in this area.
-
150 C.E.Ptolemy publishes Geography, revolutionizing cartography
The Geography represents the culmination and synthesis of the scientific tradition in Greek cartography; it consists of eight books, and anywhere from 26 to 64 maps.
-
132 C.E.Zhang Heng invents the seisometer
A seismometer or seismoscope is an instrument that detects and measures the motions of the ground as a result of seismic waves gushing from an earthquake, volcanic eruption or powerful explosion.
-
122 C.E.Ancient Romans begin construction of Hadrian's Wall in Britain
Hadrian's Wall was the north-west frontier of the Roman empire for nearly 300 years.
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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.