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. - ???)
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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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~500 B.C.E ???Humans of ancient China invent cuju, perhaps the earliest precursor to soccer/football
Invented in the Han Dynasty, cuju is recognized by FIFA as the earliest form of association football for which there is evidence, being first mentioned as an exercise in a Chinese military work from 3rd€“2nd century BC.
-
~500 B.C.E. ???The ancient Chinese, perhaps of the Zhou Dynasty, invent the trip hammer
A trip hammer, also known as a tilt hammer or helve hammer, is a massive powered hammer used in agriculture, mining, finery forges, and a variety of other applications.
-
~500 B.C.E.The Nazca people begin construction of the Nazca Lines in Peru
Scratched on the ground, they number in the thousands and depict creatures from both the natural world and the human imagination.
-
~500 B.C.E.Saladoid culture thrives in modern-day Venezuela and the Caribbean
Saladoid culture is a pre-Columbian indigenous culture of territory in present-day Venezuela and the Caribbean that flourished from 500 BCE to 545 CE. Concentrated along the lowlands of the Orinoco River, the people migrated by sea to the Lesser Antilles, and then to Puerto Rico.
-
509 B.C.E.Republic established in ancient Rome
In the late 6th century BCE, the small city-state of Rome overthrew the shackles of monarchy and created a republican government that, in theory if not always in practice, represented the wishes of its citizens.
-
~550 B.C.E.Cyrus the Great founds the Achamenid Persian Empire
The Achaemenid Persian empire was the largest that the ancient world had seen, extending from Anatolia and Egypt across western Asia to northern India and Central Asia.
-
~550 B.C.E.Humans of ancient Greece invent the crane
The archaeological record shows that no later than c. 515 BC distinctive cuttings for both lifting tongs and lewis irons begin to appear on stone blocks of Greek temples.
-
~550 B.C.E ???Sun Tzu writes the Art of War
The Art of War remains the most influential strategy text in East Asian warfare. It has a profound influence on both Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy and beyond.
-
~550 B.C.E.The Temple of Artemis as Ephesus is completed
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, also known as the Artemesium, was constructed in the mid 6th century BCE. It was located in Ephesus (modern Turkey), and was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
-
~550 B.C.E.The Greeks build the world's first underground aqueduct, the Tunnel of Eupalinos, on the island of Samos
The tunnel is the second known tunnel in history which was excavated from both ends and the first with a geometry-based approach in doing so.
-
~500 B.C.E ???
Humans of ancient China invent cuju, perhaps the earliest precursor to soccer/football
Invented in the Han Dynasty, cuju is recognized by FIFA as the earliest form of association football for which there is evidence, being first mentioned as an exercise in a Chinese military work from 3rd€“2nd century BC.
-
~500 B.C.E. ???The ancient Chinese, perhaps of the Zhou Dynasty, invent the trip hammer
A trip hammer, also known as a tilt hammer or helve hammer, is a massive powered hammer used in agriculture, mining, finery forges, and a variety of other applications.
-
~500 B.C.E.The Nazca people begin construction of the Nazca Lines in Peru
Scratched on the ground, they number in the thousands and depict creatures from both the natural world and the human imagination.
-
~500 B.C.E.Saladoid culture thrives in modern-day Venezuela and the Caribbean
Saladoid culture is a pre-Columbian indigenous culture of territory in present-day Venezuela and the Caribbean that flourished from 500 BCE to 545 CE. Concentrated along the lowlands of the Orinoco River, the people migrated by sea to the Lesser Antilles, and then to Puerto Rico.
-
509 B.C.E.Republic established in ancient Rome
In the late 6th century BCE, the small city-state of Rome overthrew the shackles of monarchy and created a republican government that, in theory if not always in practice, represented the wishes of its citizens.
-
~550 B.C.E.Cyrus the Great founds the Achamenid Persian Empire
The Achaemenid Persian empire was the largest that the ancient world had seen, extending from Anatolia and Egypt across western Asia to northern India and Central Asia.
-
~550 B.C.E.
Humans of ancient Greece invent the crane
The archaeological record shows that no later than c. 515 BC distinctive cuttings for both lifting tongs and lewis irons begin to appear on stone blocks of Greek temples.
-
~550 B.C.E ???Sun Tzu writes the Art of War
The Art of War remains the most influential strategy text in East Asian warfare. It has a profound influence on both Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy and beyond.
-
~550 B.C.E.The Temple of Artemis as Ephesus is completed
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, also known as the Artemesium, was constructed in the mid 6th century BCE. It was located in Ephesus (modern Turkey), and was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
-
~550 B.C.E.The Greeks build the world's first underground aqueduct, the Tunnel of Eupalinos, on the island of Samos
The tunnel is the second known tunnel in history which was excavated from both ends and the first with a geometry-based approach in doing so.
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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.