xviii Chronology 3200 B.C.E Hieroglyphic Writing The Egyptians develop hieroglyphic writing This style was gradually replaced by the Greek system 2340 B.C.E Sargon, King of Akkad Sargon builds Akkad as the new seat of government and unites all of the Sumerian cities into one centrally organized empire 3050–2890 B.C.E Egypt’s First Dynasty King Menes creates the first dynasty of Egypt and unites Egypt into a single kingdom, bringing together the two separate Lower and Upper kingdoms 2205–1766 B.C.E Xia Dynasty Founded by Emperor Yu, it is traditionally accepted as China’s first historic dynasty 3000 B.C.E First Chariots The first known use of wheels for transport occurs in Sumer; they are used both for transport and on early chariots 2060 B.C.E Third Dynasty of Ur Founded (Sumeria) Ur-Nammu of Ur seizes power from Utukhegal and creates a new Sumerian dynasty Under his son Shulgi the empire of Ur extends as far as Anatolia 2900 B.C.E Great Pyramid Built The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) at Giza outside present-day Cairo is built around 2900 It takes 4,000 stonemasons and as many as 100,000 laborers to build the pyramid 2055 B.C.E Mentuhotep II Reunifies Egypt After a period of strife between the nobles and the kings known as the First Intermediate Period, King Mentuhotep reunites the kingdom under a new dynasty 2900 B.C.E Indus Valley Civilization begins in the Indus Valley Most of the peoples of the Harappan civilization live either near or in the city of Harappa or Mohenjo-Daro 2000 B.C.E Great Stone Palaces at Knossos The stone palaces at Knossos and Malia are built on Crete at around 2000 2700 B.C.E Epic of Gilgamesh In the Fertile Crescent, the epic poem on the founding of Uruk, the first major city, is created 2000 B.C.E Babylonians Develop Mathematic System The Babylonians develop a mathematical system based on units of 60 They also divide a circle into a 360 units 2700 B.C.E Founding of China Chinese mythical ruler Yellow Emperor becomes leader of tribes along the Yellow River plain Chinese writers accept him as the founder of the Chinese nation 2000 B.C.E Preclassic Period in Maya Zones Permanent settlements mark the emergence of the Early Preclassic Period in the Maya zones of Mesoamerica 2700 B.C.E Early Minoan Culture The Minoan civilization emerges on the island of Crete 1991–1786 B.C.E Amenemhat I Founds the Middle Kingdom Amenemhat I reduces the power of the nobles and establishes a strong central government 2686–2613 B.C.E Egypt’s Third Dynasty The Third Dynasty is founded by Pharaoh Djoser 2613–2498 B.C.E Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty The Fourth Dynasty is founded by the Pharaoh Sneferu He builds the pyramid at Dahshur 2350–2198 B.C.E Three Emperors of China Period of the mythical Three Emperors—Yao, Shun, and Yu —whose reigns are remembered as a golden age 2341–2181 B.C.E Egypt’s Sixth Dynasty During the course of the Sixth Dynasty, the powers of the pharaoh decrease The growing power of the nobility limits the absolute power of the Egyptian kings 1900 B.C.E Cotton Used for Textiles in Asia and Fishnets in Peru Beginning around 1900 b.c.e., the Harappans begin growing and weaving cotton into fabric; Pacific Coast polities in central Peru continue growing and weaving cotton into fishnets, providing a maritime basis for the emergence of Andean civilizations 1900 B.C.E Mycenaeans Arrive in Greece Around 1900 b.c.e., the Mycenaeans arrive from the north and gain control of Greece This is the period of Greek history written about by Homer and known as the Heroic period or Mycenaean age