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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~8000 B.C.E.The first bricks are invented and used, perhaps in modern-day West Bank
The first bricks that we know about were being made in Jericho as long ago as 8000 BC. The people there had discovered they could make simple bricks by leaving clay mud to dry in the sun.
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~8000 B.C.E.The Al-Magar civilization emerges in modern-day Saudi Arabia
Al-Magar was a prehistoric culture of the Neolithic whose epicenter lied in modern-day southwestern Najd in Saudi Arabia. Al-Magar is possibly one of the first cultures in the world where widespread domestication of animals occurred.
-
~8000 B.C.E.Humans invent the fishing net
The oldest known fishing net is the net of Antrea, found with other fishing equipment in the Karelian town of Antrea, Finland, in 1913. The net was made from willow, and dates back to 8300 B.C.E.
-
~9000 B.C.E. ???The first settlement at the site of modern-day Jericho are founded
Jericho is one of the earliest continuous settlements in the world.
-
~9000 B.C.E. ???Humans settle in the high Andes
Comparing these DNA sequences revealed that the Andes' lowland and highland peoples split about 8,750 years ago, give or take a few centuries.
-
~9000 B.C.E ???Agriculture develops independently in the Americas
Agriculture arose independently in at least three regions: South America, Mesoamerica, and eastern North America.
-
~9000 B.C.E. ???Gobekli Tepe – perhaps the world’s first temple – constructed in modern-day Turkey
Predating Stonehenge by 6,000 years, Turkey's stunning Gobekli Tepe upends the conventional view of the rise of civilization
-
~9000 B.C.E.Humans in Turkey domesticate cattle for first time
According to archaeological and genetic evidence, wild cattle or aurochs (Bos primigenius) were likely domesticated independently at least twice and perhaps three times.
-
~9000 B.C.E.Humans invent pictograms, using symbols to represent objects, activities, and more
Early written symbols were based on pictographs (pictures which resemble what they signify) and ideogams (symbols which represent ideas).
-
~9000 B.C.E ???Sto:lo culture emerges in modern-day British Columbia
The first traces of people living in the Fraser Valley date from 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. The Stó:lŠcalled this area, their traditional territory, S'ólh Téméxw. The early inhabitants of the area were highly mobile hunter-gatherers.
-
~8000 B.C.E.The first bricks are invented and used, perhaps in modern-day West Bank
The first bricks that we know about were being made in Jericho as long ago as 8000 BC. The people there had discovered they could make simple bricks by leaving clay mud to dry in the sun.
-
~8000 B.C.E.The Al-Magar civilization emerges in modern-day Saudi Arabia
Al-Magar was a prehistoric culture of the Neolithic whose epicenter lied in modern-day southwestern Najd in Saudi Arabia. Al-Magar is possibly one of the first cultures in the world where widespread domestication of animals occurred.
-
~8000 B.C.E.Humans invent the fishing net
The oldest known fishing net is the net of Antrea, found with other fishing equipment in the Karelian town of Antrea, Finland, in 1913. The net was made from willow, and dates back to 8300 B.C.E.
-
~9000 B.C.E. ???The first settlement at the site of modern-day Jericho are founded
Jericho is one of the earliest continuous settlements in the world.
-
~9000 B.C.E. ???Humans settle in the high Andes
Comparing these DNA sequences revealed that the Andes' lowland and highland peoples split about 8,750 years ago, give or take a few centuries.
-
~9000 B.C.E ???Agriculture develops independently in the Americas
Agriculture arose independently in at least three regions: South America, Mesoamerica, and eastern North America.
-
~9000 B.C.E. ???Gobekli Tepe – perhaps the world’s first temple – constructed in modern-day Turkey
Predating Stonehenge by 6,000 years, Turkey's stunning Gobekli Tepe upends the conventional view of the rise of civilization
-
~9000 B.C.E.Humans in Turkey domesticate cattle for first time
According to archaeological and genetic evidence, wild cattle or aurochs (Bos primigenius) were likely domesticated independently at least twice and perhaps three times.
-
~9000 B.C.E.Humans invent pictograms, using symbols to represent objects, activities, and more
Early written symbols were based on pictographs (pictures which resemble what they signify) and ideogams (symbols which represent ideas).
-
~9000 B.C.E ???Sto:lo culture emerges in modern-day British Columbia
The first traces of people living in the Fraser Valley date from 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. The Stó:lŠcalled this area, their traditional territory, S'ólh Téméxw. The early inhabitants of the area were highly mobile hunter-gatherers.
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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.