C. 6500 BCE
The Ubaid Period, marked by evidence of significant agriculture settlement in Mesopotamia, begins.
C. 5400 BCE
Eridu, described in mythological sources as the first Sumerian city, is founded.
C. 3800 BCE
Ur, the Sumerian capital, is founded.
2334 BCE
Sargon the Great becomes king.
C. 2300 BCE
Enheduanna, high priestess of Ur, writes and distributes her temple hymns. They are the oldest literary compositions in human history to have a credited author.
C. 2290 BCE
The small Akkadian city of Babylon, which will later be rebuilt to become the largest city on Earth, is founded.
2154 BCE
The Akkadian Empire collapses under attack from Gutian invaders.
C. 2100 BCE
The Code of Ur-Nammu, the oldest surviving legal code, is recorded in writing.
2004 BCE
Ur is invaded and nearly destroyed by Elamite forces.
C. 1800 BCE
The first known copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest surviving work of long-form fiction, is transcribed.
1772 BCE
The Code of Hammurabi is recorded in writing.
1763 BCE
Hammurabi conquers central and southern Mesopotamia, establishing the Babylonian Empire.
1162 BCE
Elamites conquer and raid Babylon, stealing the statue of Marduk.
C. 1114 BCE
A Babylonian army led by Nebuchadnezzar I raids the Elamite capital of Susa, reclaims the statue of Marduk, and brings it back to Babylon.
605 BCE
The Babylonian-Mede army decisively defeats the Assyrian-Egyptian army at the Battle of Carshemish, destroying the Assyrian Empire.
587 BCE
The Babylonian Empire conquers Jerusalem, destroys its temple, and exiles members of the Jewish priestly class to Babylon.
539 BCE
The Persian Empire defeats the Babylonians and conquers Babylon itself, destroying the last Mesopotamian Empire.
331 BCE
Alexander the Great conquers the Mesopotamian region.
1932 CE
Iraq, containing much of the territory of ancient Mesopotamia, becomes an independent nation.
The Ubaid Period, marked by evidence of significant agriculture settlement in Mesopotamia, begins.
C. 5400 BCE
Eridu, described in mythological sources as the first Sumerian city, is founded.
C. 3800 BCE
Ur, the Sumerian capital, is founded.
2334 BCE
Sargon the Great becomes king.
C. 2300 BCE
Enheduanna, high priestess of Ur, writes and distributes her temple hymns. They are the oldest literary compositions in human history to have a credited author.
C. 2290 BCE
The small Akkadian city of Babylon, which will later be rebuilt to become the largest city on Earth, is founded.
2154 BCE
The Akkadian Empire collapses under attack from Gutian invaders.
C. 2100 BCE
The Code of Ur-Nammu, the oldest surviving legal code, is recorded in writing.
2004 BCE
Ur is invaded and nearly destroyed by Elamite forces.
C. 1800 BCE
The first known copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest surviving work of long-form fiction, is transcribed.
1772 BCE
The Code of Hammurabi is recorded in writing.
1763 BCE
Hammurabi conquers central and southern Mesopotamia, establishing the Babylonian Empire.
1162 BCE
Elamites conquer and raid Babylon, stealing the statue of Marduk.
C. 1114 BCE
A Babylonian army led by Nebuchadnezzar I raids the Elamite capital of Susa, reclaims the statue of Marduk, and brings it back to Babylon.
605 BCE
The Babylonian-Mede army decisively defeats the Assyrian-Egyptian army at the Battle of Carshemish, destroying the Assyrian Empire.
587 BCE
The Babylonian Empire conquers Jerusalem, destroys its temple, and exiles members of the Jewish priestly class to Babylon.
539 BCE
The Persian Empire defeats the Babylonians and conquers Babylon itself, destroying the last Mesopotamian Empire.
331 BCE
Alexander the Great conquers the Mesopotamian region.
1932 CE
Iraq, containing much of the territory of ancient Mesopotamia, becomes an independent nation.
World History
