Classical Era Timeline

By bribry
  • 1000 BCE

    Sugar Cane

    REached India where it was cultivated on a larger scale and cross pollinated.
  • 1000 BCE

    Bananas

    First cultivated on the island of New Guinea, eventually traveling to Southeast Asia, India, and Africa.
  • 1000 BCE

    Phoenicians

    Dominated trade with the most advanced ships of their time. Imported and exported items, such as wine, spices, honey, metals, and cedar wood. Also traveled further than any other Mediterranean society.
  • 900 BCE

    Kamal

    Earliest known use of latitude sailing using stars. Originated with Arab navigators and used for sailing in the Indian Ocean.
  • 700 BCE

    Askum

    Traded gold, gems, spies, incense and ivory through port city of Adulus with Greece and other foreign regions.. Controlled gold and ivory trade.
  • 700 BCE

    Islam

    Religion spread (mainly to Indonesia) that spread through trade routes and the mingling of cultures.
  • 600 BCE

    Iron

    Made its way to China.
  • 600 BCE

    Triangular Lateen Sail

    First used on Arab dhows, they allowed ships to make sharper turns and move much faster. They also relied less upon the wind.
  • 551 BCE

    Confucius

    Developed many concepts related to society, education, and government. Confucianism soon became known world wide. (Widely known in China)
  • 550 BCE

    Alexander the Great

    Military leader that led the largest army of Greek soldiers. He defeated Persian Empire and extended Greek influence over Western and Central Asia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley.
  • 500 BCE

    Hanno

    Admiral for the city of Carthage, he made a voyage around the western coast of Africa, establishing several colonies and trading posts.
  • 500 BCE

    Camel Sadle

    A frame that held sadle over hump allowing camel to easily carry heavy loads while helping the rider to sit behind the hump, thus allowing for longer riding periods.
  • 440 BCE

    Cinnamon

    Origin of cinnamon is sill controversial, as some believe it originated in a place where others believe it could not have been grown, but it was traded during the classical area using the Indian ocean trade route.
  • 430 BCE

    Athenian Plague

    Killed 1/3 of Athenian during the Peloponnesian War, believed to have entered the city through its port, Piraeus.
  • 400 BCE

    Ivory

    Most popular ivory came from Africa. Of great value because African elephants had large tusks that were soft, making them easy for carving. May have come from an early port known as Periplus, as well as other ports in Africa.
  • 300 BCE

    Buddhism

    Spread from India to southeast Asia on trade routes, taking the place of Hinduism.
  • 300 BCE

    Tran-Saharan Trade

    Trade routes through the desert were made possible through the use of camels as a means of transportation.
  • 206 BCE

    Cloves

    Traded from the Maluku Islands in Indonesia and stretching from Europe to China. An important part of the spice trade.
  • 106 BCE

    Zhang Qian

    Established the silk road trade route. Introduced Chinese culture and technology to each area he visited. Also gathered information and goods from each area, such as music, dance, grapes, and watermelon.
  • 100 BCE

    Pearls

    Traded with the Roman empire, mainly by Persia. Made into jewelry, medicine, and decorations, pearls were an ideal trade because they could be sold for good price and took up little space on a ship.