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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~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans create the first star chart, perhaps in modern-day Germany
The oldest known star chart may be a carved ivory Mammoth tusk that was discovered in Germany in 1979. This artifact is 32,500 years old and has a carving that resembles the constellation Orion.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans first arrive and settle in the Arctic
The first indigenous peoples evolved physically and culturally to meet the rigorous demands of their remarkable environment.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans in modern-day Europe invent flatbread
Starch grains found on grinding stones suggest that prehistoric man may have consumed a type of bread at least 30,000 years ago in Europe, US researchers said.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans migrate to and settle in the Eurasian Steppe
Cro-Magnon entered Eurasia by the Zagros Mountains around 50,000 years ago, with one group rapidly settling coastal areas around the Indian Ocean and another migrating north to the steppes of Central Asia.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans, perhaps in Europe, invent rope
Impressions of cordage found on fired clay provide evidence of string and rope-making technology in Europe dating back 28,000 years.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Rock paintings tradition begins in Bhimbetka rock shelters in India
The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site in central India that spans the prehistoric paleolithic and mesolithic periods, as well as the historic period. It exhibits the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent and evidence of Stone Age starting at the site in Acheulian times.
-
~35,000 B.C.E ???Humans discover and settle the island of Sri Lanka
Balangoda Man arrived on the island about 34,000 years ago and has been identified as Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who lived in caves
-
~35,000 B.C.E. ???Humans invent dancing
Dancing as self-expression probably developed perhaps as early as speech and language and almost certainly by the time people were painting on cave walls, making clay figurines and decorating their bodies with ornaments.
-
~35,000 B.C.E. ???Homo sapiens settle the Korean peninsula for the first time
The earliest radiocarbon dates for the Paleolithic indicate the antiquity of occupation on the Korean peninsula is between 40,000 and 30,000 BP.
-
~35,000 B.C.E. ???Humans in the Levant invent the mortar and pestle to grind ingredients for food or medicine
Mortar and pestle are implements used since ancient times to prepare ingredients or substances by crushing and grinding them into a fine paste or powder in the kitchen, medicine and pharmacy.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans create the first star chart, perhaps in modern-day Germany
The oldest known star chart may be a carved ivory Mammoth tusk that was discovered in Germany in 1979. This artifact is 32,500 years old and has a carving that resembles the constellation Orion.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans first arrive and settle in the Arctic
The first indigenous peoples evolved physically and culturally to meet the rigorous demands of their remarkable environment.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans in modern-day Europe invent flatbread
Starch grains found on grinding stones suggest that prehistoric man may have consumed a type of bread at least 30,000 years ago in Europe, US researchers said.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans migrate to and settle in the Eurasian Steppe
Cro-Magnon entered Eurasia by the Zagros Mountains around 50,000 years ago, with one group rapidly settling coastal areas around the Indian Ocean and another migrating north to the steppes of Central Asia.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Humans, perhaps in Europe, invent rope
Impressions of cordage found on fired clay provide evidence of string and rope-making technology in Europe dating back 28,000 years.
-
~30,000 B.C.E. ???Rock paintings tradition begins in Bhimbetka rock shelters in India
The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site in central India that spans the prehistoric paleolithic and mesolithic periods, as well as the historic period. It exhibits the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent and evidence of Stone Age starting at the site in Acheulian times.
-
~35,000 B.C.E ???Humans discover and settle the island of Sri Lanka
Balangoda Man arrived on the island about 34,000 years ago and has been identified as Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who lived in caves
-
~35,000 B.C.E. ???Humans invent dancing
Dancing as self-expression probably developed perhaps as early as speech and language and almost certainly by the time people were painting on cave walls, making clay figurines and decorating their bodies with ornaments.
-
~35,000 B.C.E. ???Homo sapiens settle the Korean peninsula for the first time
The earliest radiocarbon dates for the Paleolithic indicate the antiquity of occupation on the Korean peninsula is between 40,000 and 30,000 BP.
-
~35,000 B.C.E. ???Humans in the Levant invent the mortar and pestle to grind ingredients for food or medicine
Mortar and pestle are implements used since ancient times to prepare ingredients or substances by crushing and grinding them into a fine paste or powder in the kitchen, medicine and pharmacy.
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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.