Human Socio-Cultural Evolution
Years Before the Present
13.5 billion Matter and
energy appear. Beginning of physics. Atoms and molecules appear. Beginning of
chemistry.
4.5 billion Formation of
planet Earth.
3.8 billion Emergence of
organisms. Beginning of biology.
6 million Last common
grandmother of humans and chimpanzees.
2.5 million
Evolution of the genus Homo in Africa.
First stone tools.
2 million Humans spread
from Africa to Eurasia. Evolution of different human species.
500,000 Neanderthals evolve
in Europe and the Middle East.
300,000 Daily usage of
fire.
200,000 Homo sapiens
evolves in East Africa.
70,000 The
Cognitive Revolution. Emergence of fictive language.
Beginning of history. Sapiens spread out of Africa.
45,000 Sapiens settle
Australia. Extinction of Australian megafauna.
30,000 Extinction of
Neanderthals.
16,000 Sapiens settle
America. Extinction of American megafauna.
13,000 Extinction of
Homo floresiensis. Homo sapiens the only surviving human species.
12,000 The
Agricultural Revolution. Domestication of plants and animals. Permanent
settlements.
5,000 First kingdoms,
script and money. Polytheistic religions.
4,250 First empire – the
Akkadian Empire of Sargon.
2,500 Invention of coinage
– a universal money. The Persian Empire – a universal political order ‘for the
benefit of all humans’.
Buddhism in India – a universal truth ‘to liberate all beings from suffering’.
2,000 Han Empire in China.
Roman Empire in the Mediterranean. Christianity.
1,400 Islam.
500 Rise of
Modernity. The Scientific Revolution. Humankind admits its ignorance and begins
to acquire unprecedented power. Europeans begin to conquer America and the
oceans. The entire planet becomes a single historical arena. The rise of
capitalism.
200 The Industrial Revolution. Family and community are replaced by state and market. Massive extinction of plants and animals. The Present Humans transcend the boundaries of planet Earth. Nuclear weapons threaten the survival of humankind. Organisms are increasingly shaped by intelligent design rather than natural selection. The Future Intelligent design becomes the basic principle of life? Homo sapiens is replaced by superhumans?