Introducing the Timemaps Atlas of World History

The TimeMaps Atlas of World History offers a unique perspective that brings world history to life. With our user-friendly interface, you can easily navigate through epochs and explore the rich narratives that define humanity’s past.

Contents:

Section 1: The Atlas of World History

Section 2: Extension Units: Key Topics in World History

Section 1: The Atlas of World History

Level 1: World Maps

This level offers a panoramic overview of five and a half thousand years of world history.

3500 BCE – 2500 BCE – 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE – 500 BCE – 200 BCE –30 BCE – 200 CE –  500 CE – 750 CE – 979 CE – 1215 – 1453 –1648 – 1789 – 1837 – 1871 – 1914 – 1960 – 2005

Level 2: Big Regions of the World

These maps cover the histories of all the great historic regions of the world.

Africa – East Asia – Europe – India and South Asia – The Middle East – North America – Oceania – South America – South East Asia

Level 3: The Countries of the World

At this level, the maps track the different countries of the world through history. Like the two higher levels above, these maps all conform to the same set of dates. This means that the world can be explored at all three levels at twenty different points in history.

The different countries of the world emerged into the light of history at different dates. The dates in brackets mark the points at which the map sequences start.

Arabia – the countries of the Arabian peninsula, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, from 1000 BCE

Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay – from 1648

Australia – from 1648

Brazil – from 1453

Britain – from 30 BCE

Canada – from 1648

Central Europe  – the countries of Central Europe, including Austria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and The Czech Republic  – from 979 CE

China – from 2500 BCE

Chile – from 1648

Central Africa – the countries of Central Africa, including Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawai, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe – from 750 CE

Egypt – from 3500 BCE

France – from 500 BCE

Germany, Austria and Switzerland – from 979 CE

Greece and Southeastern Europe – including the countries of Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia – from 1500 BCE

Iran – from 2500 BCE

Iraq – from 3500 BCE

Italy – from 500 BCE

India and South Asia – including the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka – from 3500 BCE

Japan – from 200 BCE

Korea – from 200 BCE

Low Countries – Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands – from 979 CE

Mexico and Central America – Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvadore, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama – from 3500 BCE

New Zealand – from 1789

North East Africa -the countries of Eritrea, Ethiopia,  Somalia, Sudan, – from 1500 BCE

Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia – from 1500 BCE

Eastern Europe – the countries of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus from 750 CE

Scandinavia – the countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden from 750 CE

Spain and Portugal – from 500 BCE

South East Asia – the countries of East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

Southern Africa  – the countries of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, – from 1215.

Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan – from 2500 BCE

Turkey – from 2500 BCE

West Africa – Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guines Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauretania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo – from 500 CE

The United States – from 1648

Venezuela, Colombia and the Guianas – from 1453

And many more!

Section 2: Key Topics in World History

Listed below are Extension units which focus on specific episodes, events or developments in world history. These are currently available only to members of the Premium service. 

The Origins and Spread of Farming

A sequence of world maps shows the origins and spread of farming in world history, between c. 10000 BCE and c. 3500 BCE.

Early Civilizations: 4000 to 500 BCE

This unit offers a panoramic overview of all the ancient civilizations of the Eastern Hemisphere up to 500 BCE.

World Trade Routes at the time of the Early Civilizations, 3500 BCE to 500 BCE

A series of maps looking at the growth of trade routes during the early civilizations in world history.

The Ancient Middle East

This unit takes in Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Hittites, and the great empires of Assyria, Babylon and Persia. It also tracks the history of the Ancient Israelites, allowing users to see their story in the broader context of the ancient world.

World Trade Routes at the time of the Classical Civilizations, 500 BCE to 500 CE

A sequence of maps looks at the growth of trade routes in the Classical period of world history (500 BCE to 500 CE). These include the rise of such historic trade arteries as the Silk Road and Indian Ocean routes.

Greece and Persia: 585 BCE to 100 CE

Looks at the interactions between the Persians and the Greeks in the two centuries. They cover the period from before the Persian Wars to after the time of Alexander the Great.

The Persian Wars, 500 BCE to 478 BCE

Focuses on the famous wars between the Persian empire and the Greek city-states which included the battles of Marathon, Thermopylae and Salamis.

Ancient India

This map sequence covers the period in South Asia from the time of the Buddha to the Gupta empire. It includes the rise and fall of the Maurya empire, and the reign of Asoka, one of the most extraordinary figures in world history,

Ancient China

Covers the period from the time of Confucius, through the Warring States period and the unification of China under the First Emperor, and on to after the rise and fall of the great Han empire.

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire: 500 BCE to 500 CE

Follows the fortunes of Ancient Rome as it rises to dominate the Mediterranean world, and then enters a long period of decline and fall.

Roman Government (PowerPoint unit)

Traces the evolution of Roman government from the early days of Rome under the kings, right through the Republic and into the early Empire.

World Trade Routes in the Medieval Era, 500 to 1453

A sequence of maps looks at the development of trade routes in the Medieval Era of world history, and their impact as conduits of trans-regional influences.

Medieval China

Covers the middle centuries of the imperial age of Chinese history, when China’s identity as a Confucian, bureaucratic state was tested, confirmed and refined.

Medieval India

During this period of South Asian history, great cultural changes took place: the decline of Buddhism, the rise of mature Hinduism, and the coming of Islam.

Medieval Europe

Covers the period of massive transformations between the fall of the Roman empire to the rise of early modern Europe, and includes such events as the Viking invasions, the Norman Conquest of England, the Crusades, the Black Death, and much more.

The Islamic Caliphate: 622 to 1253 CE

Looks at the rise and spread of Islam in the centuries when, as well as being a new religion, it was one of the greatest empires of the world.

The Mongol Empire: 1200 to 1500 CE

The Mongol Empire was the largest land empire in world history. Its impact was powerfully felt across Europe, the Middle East, India, China, Japan and South East Asia.

World Trade Routes in the Early Modern Era, 1453 to 1789

A sequence of maps looks at the development of trade routes in the Early Modern Era of world history, a time when Europeans pioneer maritime trade, linking all the oceans together.

China: the Late Dynasties: 1450 to 1760 CE

Looks at the Ming and Qing dynasties, when imperial China reached its peak. The unit leaves the Qing dynasty at its magnificent height – its decline is dealt with in the next section.

India: the Mughal era: 1450 to 1750 CE

Covers the early modern period in the history of the Indian subcontinent, dominated by the  rise and fall of the glorious Mughal empire.

Early Modern Europe: 1450 to 1750 CE

Includes the periods of the Renaissance, Reformation, Counter-Reformation, Wars of religion, the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment.

India: the British Raj: 1750 to 1900 CE

Looks at the rise of British rule in India, the nature of that rule, and its impact on Indian society.

Modern China: the Later Imperial Period: 1760-1901 CE

Covers the Opium Wars, the Taiping rebellion, The Self-Strengthening Movement, the Sino-Japanese War and the Boxer rebellion.

Modern Europe: 1750-1900 CE

Takes in the French Revolution and Napoleon, the Industrial Revolution, the 1848 revolutions, and the unification of Italy and Germany.