History In Brief

A brief review of history. [This is always a work in progress.]

• Cosmic Scale
• Geologic and Paleontologic Scale
• Anthropologic Scale
• Historic Scale

Cosmic Scale

• Big Bang creates this universe: 13,700,000,000 years ago = 1.37e10 YA = 13.7 GYA = 0 y. The first singularity that we know of: Infinite density, temperature, pressure, etc., that was homogenous and isotropic. We don't know what came before the 1st singularity or how long it existed. It was the expansion of the first singularity, the Big Bang, that created the potential (difference, contrast, room), and that expansion continues today.
  • Planck epoch: 0 to 10^-43 s. The earliest period in time. One general force at the start, but by the end of this epoch there was gravity and the electronuclear force.
  • Grand unification epoch: 10^-43 s to 10^-36 s. Baryogenesis occurred, i.e. more matter than antimatter. By the end of this epoch there was gravity, strong interaction force, and electroweak interaction force.
  • Electroweak epoch: 10^-36 s to 10^-12 s. 10^28 K. Cosmic inflation occurs: The universe expanded by a factor of 10^26 linearly and 10^78 by volume.
  • Quark epoch: 10^-12 s to 10^-6 s. The four modern forces present: gravity, strong interaction, weak interaction, and electromagnetism. However the temperature is still to hot for quarks to form hadrons.
  • Hadron epoch: 10^-6 s to 1 s. Universe cools enough to for hadrons, including baryons such as protons and neutrons.
  • Lepton epoch: 1 s to 10 s. The hadrons and anti-hadrons annihilated each other. The Universe cooled enough to for leptons and anti-leptons to stop being formed and most of them annihilate each other.
  • Photon epoch: 10 s to 4 Ky. Photons dominate the universe. By the end of this epoch neutral hydrogen and helium atoms have formed by a recombination of charged electrons and proton. The reombination led to the decoupling of photons from matter leaving the protons free to travel, thus forming the famous Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation. Prior to the end of this epoch the universe was ionized and opaque, but by the end it was neutral and transparent.
• Dark epoch: 4 Ky to 150 My. After the recombination (the 1st major phase change of hydrogen) and decoupling, but before the reionization (the 2nd major phase change). There were no light sources in this age other than the fading CMB radiation.
• Reionization epoch: 150 My to 1 Gy. Quasars and stars start igniting, i.e. the neutral masses become ionized plasma. At the start of this epoch the universe was transparent, but by the end of the epoch it was 10% opaque.
• Stelliferous era: 150 My to 100 Ty. The era of stars started in the Reionization epoch and is still going on.
  • First star: 150 My.
  • First galaxies: 700 My. The Milky Way galaxy is this old too.
  • Our sun and solar system formed: 9.14 Gy = 4.56 GYA.
  • Present: 13.7 Gy = 0 YA. The sun gets around 10% more luminous/hotter every 1 Gy.
  • Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies merge: 17 Gy.
  • Our sun becomes a red giant: 19.1 Gy = 5.4 Gy from now = 10 Gy old sun. All the hydrogen will have been converted to helium. Its size will extend beyond earth's current orbit.
  • Our sun becomes a white dwarf: 21.1 Gy = 7.4 Gy from now = 12 Gy old sun.
  • Local Group galaxies merge: 100 Gy to 1 Ty.
  • Galaxies outside of the Local Supercluser no longer observable: 2 Ty.
  • No more gas available to from new stars: 100 Ty.
• Degenerate era: 100 Ty = 10^14 to 10^40 y. All stellar objects last until remnants decay.
  • Star formation ceases: 100 Ty = 10^14.
  • Planetary orbits decay: 1 Py = 10^15.
  • Stellar remnants escape galaxies or fall into black holes: 10^20 y.
  • Nucleons start to decay: 10^34 y.
  • All nucleons decay: 10^40 y.
• Black Hole era: 10^40 y to 10^100 y.
• Dark era: 10^100 y and beyond. Perpetual expansion, maximum entropy, heat death, no more potential.

Geologic and Paleontologic Scale

• Pre-Cambrian time
  • Earth created: 4,570,000,000 years ago = 4.57e9 YA = 4,570 MYA.
  • Life on earth begins: 4,000 MYA.
  • Complex cells appear: 2,100 MYA.
  • Sexual reproduction develops: 1,200 MYA.
  • Rodinia, the 1st supercontinent forms: 1,100 MYA.
  • Multicellular organisms appear: 1,000 MYA.
  • Rodinia the 1st supercontinent breaks up: 750 MYA.
  • Pannotia the 2nd supercontinent forms: 600 MYA.
  • Pannotia the 2nd supercontinent breaks up: 550 MYA.
• The Phanerozoic, the current eon, starts of with the Paleozoic era which starts with the Cambrian period. The Phanerozoic eon has 3 eras.
  • Paleozoic era starts 542 MYA. Its 6 periods in order: Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous (Mississippian and Pennsylvanian), and Permian.
    • Cambrian explosion, creates all the major body plans (phyla) of modern animals: 542/488 MYA.
      • Eyes develop: 543 MYA. This happened quickly: There were no eyes 544 MYA.
    • The Cambrian-Ordovician extinction events. The 1st of 7 extinctions events. 488 MYA.
    • The Ordovician-Silurian extinction events. The 2nd of 7 extinction events. 444 MYA.
    • The Late Devonian extinction events. A prolonged (20 MY) extinction that killed off 70% of all species. The 3rd of 7 extinction events. 360 MYA.
    • Pangea the 3rd and latest supercontinent forms: 300 MYA.
    • The Permian-Triassic extinction event, aka The Great Dying. Kills 95% of all marine species and 70% of all land species. The Wilkes Land crater, the cause of this extinction event was discovered in 2006. The 4th and greatest of 7 extinction events. 251 MYA.
  • Mesozoic era starts 251 MYA. Its 3 periods in order: Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous.
    • Triassic-Jurassic extinction event. The 5th of 7 extinction events. 200 MYA.
    • Pangea the 3rd and latest supercontinent breaks up: 180 MYA.
    • Common genetic ancestor of mice and humans: 100 MYA.
  • Cenozoic era, the present era, starts 65.5 MYA. Its 2 periods in order: Paleogene and Neogene.
    • Paleogene period starts 65.5 MYA.
      • The Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. Kills of 50% of all species. The 6th of 7extinction events. 65 MYA.
      • The order of Primates splits into suborders: Strepsirrhini (non-tarsier prosimians) and Haplorrhini (Tarsiers, Monkeys, and Apes). 63 MYA.
      • The suborder Haplorrhini with its Haplorrhines splits into infraorders: Tarsiiformes (Tarsiers) and Simiiformes (Simians). 58 MYA.
      • Current ice age begins: 40 MYA.
      • The infraorder Simiiformes with its Simians splits into parvorders: Platyrrhini (New World monkeys) and Catarrhini. 40 MYA.
      • The parvorder Catarrhini splits into superfamilies: Cercopithecoidea (Old World Monkeys) and Hominoidea (Apes). 25 MYA.
    • Neogene period, the current, starts 23.0 MYA. It has 4 epochs.
      • Miocene epoch starts 23.03 MYA.
        • The superfamily Hominoidea with its Hominoids splits into families: Hylobatidae (the Lesser Apes or Gibbons) and Hominidae (the Great Apes). 18 MYA.
        • The family Hominidae with its Hominids splits into subfamilies: Ponginae (Orangutans) and Homininae (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Humans). 14 MYA.
        • The subfamily Homininae with its Hominines splits into tribes: Other subtribes: Gorillini (Gorillas) and Hominini (Chimpanzees and Humans). 7 MYA.
      • Pliocene epch starts 5.33 MYA.
        • The tribe Hominini with its Hominins splits into subtribes: Paninina (Chimpanzees) and Homonina (Humans and extinct relatives). 5/3 MYA.
      • Pleistocene epoch starts 1.81 MYA = 1,810 KYA. This corresponds to the start of the Paleolithic age (Old Stone Age) of archaeology.
        • Homo erectus, an ancestor of modern man, develops in Africa and migrates to other continents. Brain cavity: 950-1100 cm³. 1.8 MYA.
          • 2005-04-08t22:40:38Z: My first Wikipedia article edit! In the article on Timeline of evolution [W], the arrival of Homo erectus was listed as "1.8 kYA" and I corrected it to "1.8 MYA". It's a minor edit, but I'm still very happy about it.
        • Homo heidelbergensis (Heidelberg Man), an ancestor of modern man. Brain cavity: 1100-1400 cm³. 800/300 KYA.
        • Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) lived. Tool user that coexisted in time with Homo sapiens for quite a while. 230/30 KYA.
        • Homo sapiens develops. The only extant species of the genus Homo. Earliest example found by the Omo river in Ethiopia. Brain cavity: 1400 cm³ average. 195 KYA.
        • The mitrochondrial Eve: 150 KYA.
        • The Y-chromosomal Adam: 90/60 KYA.
        • A catastrophic volcanic eruption (of what is now the Toba caldera in Indonesia) reduces the human population to roughly 10,000 people. 75/70 KYA.
        • People leave Africa that have the M168 genetic marker found in all modern non-Africans: 70/50 KYA.
        • People spread into Australia, Asia, and Europe, all of whom share the M9 genetic marker: 50/30 KYA.
        • Cro-Magnons, the earliest European examples of Homo sapiens sapiens: 35/10 KYA.
        • Asians spread to the Americas, they share the M3 genetic marker: 20/15 KYA.
        • Homo floresiensis lived. Halfling size. The last of the other species of the genus Homo. 18/15 KYA.
        • Start of current glacial retreat of the current ice age: 15 KYA.
      • Holocene epoch starts 10 KYA. This corresponds to the start of the Mesolithic age (Middle Stone Age) of archaeology.
        • The Holocene extinction event. It's happening right now. The 7th of 7 extinction events. Present.

Here is the human taxonomy. It is interesting to see how the more granular classifications fit into the evolution.

• Domain Eukaryota. A eurkaryote is an organism with a nucleus or nuclei.
• Kingdom Animalia. An animal does not have cell walls and is a heterotroph that ingests food.
• Phylum Chordata. A chordate has a notochord (rod shaped backbone like thing) and a muscular tail.
• Subphylum Vertebrata. A vertebrate has a backbone or spinal column.
• Class Mamallia. A mammal has mammary glands, hair, and is endothermic (warm blooded).
• Order Primates. A primate has five fingers, and fingernails. Includes the suborders: Strepsirrhini (non-tarsier prosimians) and Haplorrhini (Tarsiers, Monkeys, and Apes). This split occurred 63 MYA.
• Suborder Haplorrhini. Haplorrhines, the "dry-nosed" primates include the infraorders: Tarsiiformes (Tarsiers) and Simiiformes (Simians). This split occurred 58 MYA.
• Infraorder Simiiformes. Simians include the parvorders: Platyrrhini (New World monkeys) and Catarrhini. This split occurred 40 MYA.
• Parvorder Catarrhini. Includes the superfamilies: Cercopithecoidea (Old World Monkeys) and Hominoidea (Apes). This split occurred 25 MYA.
• Superfamily Hominoidea. Hominoids are the apes and include the families: Hylobatidae (the Lesser Apes or Gibbons) and Hominidae (the Great Apes). This split occurred 18 MYA.
• Family Hominidae. Hominids are the great apes and include the subfamilies: Ponginae (Orangutans) and Homininae (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Humans). This split occurred 14 MYA.
• Subfamily Homininae. Hominines include the tribes: Other subtribes: Gorillini (Gorillas) and Hominini (Chimpanzees and Humans). This split occurred 7 MYA.
• Tribe Hominini. Hominins include the subtribes: Paninina (Chimpanzees) and Homonina (Humans and extinct relatives). This split occurred 6.3/5.4 MYA.
• Subtribe Homonina. Hominans include the following genera, all of which are extinct except for Homo:
  • Sahelanthropus. This genus has a singular species, Sahelanthropus tchadensis. Like a mix between Chimpanzee and human. Oldest possible candidate of this subtribe. Controversy. 7/6 MYA.
  • Orrorin. This genus has a singular species, Orrorin tugenensis. Controversy. 6.1/5.8 MYA.
  • Ardipithecus. The size of a Chimpanzee but bipedal and with teeth more like the Australopithecus. 5.8/4.2 MYA.
  • Two genera are both called australopithecines and are considered the immediate ancestors of Homo. Brain cavity: 400-430 cm³.
    • genus Australopithecus. The famous "Lucy" of 3.9/3 MYA was a specimen of Australopithecus afarensis. 4.4/1.7 MYA.
    • genus Paranthropus. 2.7/1.3 MYA.
  • Kenyanthropus. This genus has a singular specimen, Kenyanthropus platyops, which if not its own genus, then may be a australopithecines or a homo. 3.5/3.2 MYA.
  • Homo.
• Genus Homo. Homos include the following species, all of which are extinct except for Homo sapiens.
  • Homo habilis (Man with ability). Tool user but possibly not of the genus homo. Brain cavity: 590-650 cm³. 2.5/1.8 MYA.
  • Homo rudolfensis (Rudolf Man)
  • Homo ergaster (Working Man). Alternatively, may be Homo erectus ergaster. 1.8/1.24 MYA.
  • Homo erectus (Upright Man). An ancestor of modern man. Includes famous finds such as Java Man, Peking Man, and Turkana Boy. Brain cavity: 950-1100 cm³. 1.25/0.07 MYA.
  • Homo heidelbergensis (Heidelberg Man). An ancestor of modern man. Brain cavity: 1100-1400 cm³. 800/300 KYA.
  • Homo antecessor (Explorer Man). Brain cavity: 1000-1150 cm³. 600-250 KYA.
  • Homo rhodesiensis (Rhodesia Man)
  • Homo cepranensis (Ceprano Man)
  • Homo georgicus (Georgia Man)
  • Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthal Man). Alternatively, may be Homo sapiens neanderthalensis. Tool user that coexisted in time with Homo sapiens for quite a while. 230/30 KYA.
  • Homo floresiensis (Flores Man, discovered 2003). Halfling size. The last of the other species of the genus Homo. 18/15 KYA.
  • Homo sapiens (Wise Man, modern humans). 200/ KYA.
• Species Sapiens. Includes the following subspecies, all of which are extinct except for Homo sapiens sapiens.
  • Homo sapiens neanderthalensis (Neanderthal Man). Alternatively, may be of the species Homo neanderthalensis. Tool user that coexisted in time with Homo sapiens for quite a while. 230/30 KYA.
  • Homo sapiens sapiens (Wise wise Man, modern humans). 195/ KYA.
  • Homo sapiens idaltu (Elderly Wise Man, discovered 1997). 160/150 KYA.
• Subspecies Sapiens. Brain cavity: 1400 cm³ average.

Here 8 major transitions in biological organization according to biologists John Maynard Smith and Eors Szathmary:

1. One replicating molecule → Interacting populations of replicating molecules
2. Replicating molecules → Replicating molecules strung int chromosone
3. Chromosone of RNA enzymes → DNA proteins
4. Cell without nucleus → Cell with nucleus
5. Asexual reproduction (cloning) → Sexual recombination
6. Solitary individual → Colonies and superorganisms
7. Primate societies → Language-based societies

Here are 6 major transition in the technium according to technologist Kevin Kelly:

1. Primate communication → Language
2. Oral lore → Writing/mathematical notation
3. Scripts → Printing
4. Book knowledge → Scientific method
5. Artisan production → Mass production
6. Industrial culture → Ubiquitous global communication

Anthropologic Scale

The anthropologic scale overlaps with the geological/paleontological scale and is based more upon evidence regarding behavior and will vary by area.

• Stone Ages
  • Paleolithic age = Old Stone Age. From the first stone tools (ca. 2 MYA) to the start of the Holocene epoch (10 KYA).
  • Mesolithic age = Middle Stone Age. From the start of the Holocene epoch (10 KYA) to the development of farming (ca 8 KYA or 6000 BCE depending on area). If the area had less glaciation, then the Mesolithic Age in that area is referred to as a Epipaleolithic age because it would have started and ended earlier.
    • Oldest written records: 5500 BCE
  • Neolithic age = New Stone Age. From the development of farming to the use of metal tools.
• Metal Ages
  • Chalcolithic = Copper Age.
  • Bronze Age. Bronze is copper and tin.
  • Iron Age. Once an area hits an Iron Age, it usually has historical records.

Historic Scale

• Egypt. 5000-30 BCE.
• Mesopotamia. 3500-538 BCE.
  • Sumeria. 3500-1900 BCE.
  • Babylon. 1900-729 BCE.
  • Assyria. 729-605 BCE.
  • Chaldea. 605- 538 BCE.
• Asia Minor
  • Hittites. 2000-1200 BCE.
  • Phoenicians. 1200-774 BCE.
  • Hebrews. 2000 BCE to 135 AD.
  • Lydians. 670-547 BCE.
  • Persia. 550-331 BCE.
• Agean
  • Minoans.
  • Mycenaeans. 1200 BCE.
• Greece
  • Pre-Homeric Age.
  • Homeric Age. 1000 BCE.
  • Age of Kings. 900 BCE.
  • Age of Nobles. 800-600 BCE.
  • Age of Tyrants. 600 BCE.
  • Age of Democracy. 500 BCE.
  • Persian Wars. 490-480 BCE.
  • Peloponnesian Wars. 431-404 BCE.
• Hellenistic Civilization. Greek and Asian fusion.
  • Phillip II of Macedonia. d 336 BCE.
  • Alexander the Great. 356- 323 BCE.
  • Post Alexander: Greece, Syria, and Egypt.
• Rome. 753 BCE to 410 AD.
  • Romulus and Remus found Rome. 753 BCE.
  • Etruscans conquer Rome. 753-509 BCE.
  • Tarquin the Proud revolts and forms Roman Republic. 509 BCE.
  • Democracy. 509-278 BCE.
  • Rome conquers Italy. 400-270 BCE.
  • Rome conquers Carthage in Punic Wars. 264-200 BCE.
  • Civil War, between Marius of the Poulares (poor) and Sulla of the Optimates (rich), marks the end of the Roman Republic. 88-82 BCE.
  • The gladiator Spartacus lead slave rebellion but is crucified. 73 BCE.
  • The First Triumvirate share power over Rome. 60 BCE. It consisted of Pompey (106-48 BCE), Marcus Licinius Crassus (112-53 BCE), and Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE). They are opposed by Cicero (106-43 BCE).
  • Gaius Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon River in the first act of Civil War in the Roman Republic. Early January 49 BCE.
  • Gaius Julius Ceasar rules Rome as consul, tribune, censor, dictator, and ruled by decree. 49-44 BCE.
  • Caesar murdered by Brutus and Cassius. Ides of March 15, 44 BCE.
  • The Second Trimvirate formed. 43 BCE. It consisted of Mark Antony (83-30 BCE), M. Aemiius Lepidus, and C.Julius Ceasar Octavianus (a.ka. Octavian or Octavius, although he preferred to be called Caesar.
  • Second Triumvirate dissolved when Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. 31 BCE.
  • Octavian rules as Augustus Caesar, an absolute Monarch. 31 BCE to 14 AD. He rules rome as Princeps (first citizen), Imperator (commander-in-chief), and Augustus (with absolute power).
  • Emperors rule Rome. 14-192 AD.
  • Barracks Emperors, i.e. army rules Rome. 192-284.
  • Emperor Diocletian (234-305, ruled 284-305) divides Rome into east and west for efficiency.
  • Emperor Constantine (ruled 306-337) reunifies Rome and then divides it by establishing Constantinople in what is now Turkey.

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