AP World History, Period 1: 10,000 BCE to 600 BCE

Early Civilizations: 4000 to 500 BCE + Teachers Notes

A panoramic overview of all the ancient civilizations of the Eastern Hemisphere up to 500 BCE. It gives a clear idea of the geographical and chronological settings of these civilization.

Ancient Middle East I: The Bronze Age + Teachers Notes

The Bronze Age Middle East from 3500 to 1275 BCE, covering the Sumerian, Babylonian, Ancient Egyptian and Hittite civilizations.

Teaching about Early Civilizations using the TimeMap of World History

Suggestions on how to use the TimeMap of World History with your students. They focus on using the free maps, but are equally relevant to the premium maps.

These suggestions are in addition to those offered in the teaching notes which accompany each Premium unit.

The World

Maps:

For a global perspective on this period, see

World maps for 3500 BCE – 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

Note: information on these maps can be found below each map; scroll down below the timelines and you’ll reach it.

Selected articles:
The Hunter-Gatherers
The Coming of Farming
The Rise of Civilization

The Ancient Middle East

Maps:

For a broad perspective on the Middle East, where the first urban civilizations in world history were located and spread their influence through trade and empire see:

Middle East 3500 BCE – 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

For a close-up on the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, see:

• Iraq 3500 BCE – 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE
• Egypt 3500 BCE – 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

For a look at other countries in the Middle East which were influenced by the great civilizations through trade or empire, see:

• Turkey 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE
• Syria 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE
• Arabia 1000 BCE – 500 BCE
• Iran 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

Selected articles:
The Ancient Middle East
Ancient Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Assyria
The Hittites
The Phoenicians
Ancient Israel

Ancient China and its neighbours

Maps:

For Ancient China, including the Shang and early Zhou dynasties, see:

China 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

For a broader perspective on East Asia, showing the spread of farming and civilization from China to neighbouring countries such as Korea and Japan, see:

East Asia 3500 BCE – 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

Selected articles:
History of Ancient East Asia
The Shang dynasty
The Zhou dynasty

Ancient America

Maps:

For the Chavin civilization:

Peru 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

For the Olmec civilization, see:

Central America 3500 BCE – 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

Selected articles:
Pre-Columbian civilization

Ancient Europe

Maps:

For Europe as a whole:

Europe 3500 BCE – 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

For Greece and the Aegean, the home of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations:

Greece 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE

Selected articles:

This region isn’t really mentioned in the AP course guidance, but it is useful for looking at the way influences from the Middle East led to the rise of civilization here:

Ancient Europe
The Minoan civilization