|
2000
BC |
|
|
|
1900-1300 |
|
The
Patriarchal Period (Gen 12-50): Era of founders of Israelite religion
and establishment of twelve tribes. Near the end of this period, many of
the tribes had migrated to Egypt, possibly because of famine.
|
|
1700 |
|
Hammurabi's
Code produced in Babylon.
|
|
1300-1250 |
|
The
Exodus and migration to Canaan (probably during reign of Pharaoh Rameses
II). Traditionally, the era of Moses and the establishment of the Mosaic
covenant and law (Ex, Num, Josh). Initial conquest of Promised Land
begun by Joshua
. |
|
1250-1020 |
|
Era
of the Judges, and gradual conquest of the Promised Land. Establishment
of tribal alliance (Jud, 1 Sam).
|
|
1000
BC |
|
|
|
1020-930 |
|
United
monarchy of David and Solomon replaces the tribal alliance, giving
Israel centralized leadership and making it a stronger rival to its
neighbors.
|
|
930-722 |
|
The
Divided Kingdom: Israel divides into northern (Israel) and southern (Judah) kingdoms. The Assyrian
empire rises in the East.
|
|
753 |
|
Traditional
date for founding of Rome.
|
|
722 |
|
Israel
is conquered and exiled by the Assyrians.
|
|
722-586 |
|
Judah
continues as the only part of Palestine not under foreign control.
|
|
640-609 |
|
In
Judah, religious reform of King Josiah takes place; additional Mosaic
laws (Deuteronomy?) "discovered" in the temple. |
|
598 |
|
First
invasion of Judah by the Babylonians.
|
|
587 |
|
Babylonian
king Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem and destroys temple. Aristocratic
Jews are exiled throughout the Babylonian empire; a "remnant"
of poor Jews remains behind. |
|
587-539 |
|
For
nearly fifty years, many Jews live in exile throughout the "diaspora"
(dispersion). These Jews develop a distinctive, more literate, and more
philosophical form of Judaism from those who remain in Palestine.
|
|
539 |
|
Cyrus
the Great, king of Persian Empire, conquers Babylon and allows the Jews
to return home and rebuild their temple. |
|
539-334 |
|
Post-exilic
or Persian Period. Reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah. |
|
516 |
|
Completion
of Second Temple on the grounds where Solomon's temple originally stood.
|
|
510 |
|
End
of Roman monarchy and founding of Roman Republic. |
|
500
BC |
|
|
|
427 |
|
Birth
of the Greek philosopher Plato.
|
|
404 |
|
End
of the Peloponnesian War and rule of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens,
Greece.
|
|
399 |
|
Trial
and execution of Socrates.
|
|
385 |
|
Plato's
Academy is founded in Athens. It remains open until 529 AD.
|
|
375 |
|
Probable
date for the writing of Plato's Republic.
|
|
348 |
|
Death
of Plato.
|
|
334 |
|
Persia
is conquered by Alexander the Great. Beginning of Hellenistic Period.
|
|
332-175 |
|
Palestine
becomes part of Alexander's empire.
|
|
301 |
|
Judea
is conquered by Ptolemies (Egyptian Greeks- a division of Alexander's
broken empire)
|
|
264-241 |
|
First
Punic War, Rome battles with Carthage for control of Mediterranean.
|
|
218-202 |
|
Second
Punic War.
|
|
200 |
|
The
Ptolemies are forced to flee the region and Judea falls under the
control of the Syrian Greeks, or Seleucids.
|
|
168-63 |
|
The
Maccabean Period. Initially, the Maccabees sought to eliminate the
Hellenistic influence of the Seleucids. Over time, however, the
Maccabees themselves became Hellenized, eventually seeking an alliance
with Rome.
|
|
168 |
|
Antiochus
Epiphanes IV, a Seleucid king, invades Jerusalem and profanes the temple
by erecting the "horrible abomination," possibly an image of
Zeus placed on the altar of holocausts in the temple. He also persecutes
the Jews and discourages adherence to the covenant by persecuting those
who are circumcised. |
|
167 |
|
Maccabean
Revolt |
|
164 |
|
The
Maccabees reconquer and purify the temple, an event remembered to this
day with the feast of Hanukkah.
|
|
149-146 |
|
Third
Punic War
|
|
63 |
|
Roman
occupation of Palestine begins. Pompey peacefully seizes control of
Jerusalem.
|
|
44 |
|
Julius
Caesar, the Roman emperor, is assassinated. A civil war for control of
the empire breaks out among his generals. Octavian emerges as the
victor.
|
|
37-4 |
|
Reign
of Herod the Great
|
|
30 BC-14 AD |
|
Caesar
Augustus rules as emperor of Rome.
|
|
27 |
|
The
Roman senate bestows the title of "Augustus" on Octavian,
proclaiming him emperor. He begins a propaganda campaign throughout the
empire labeling himself as a peacemaker. Inscriptions found from this
time describe him as the "savior of the world."
|
|
7-3 |
|
Birth
of Christ
|
|
4 |
|
Death
of Herod the Great
|
|
4 BC-6 AD |
|
Herod
Archelaus rules as Ethnarch of Judea.
|
|
4 BC-34 AD |
|
Herod
Philip rules as Tetrarch of Iturea.
|
|
4 BC-39 AD |
|
Herod
Antipas rules as tetrarch of Galilee.
|
|
1
AD |
|
|
|
6 |
|
In
response to Jews who protested his brutality, Augustus deposes Archelaus
as Ethnarch of Judea.
|
|
6-9 |
|
Coponius
serves as Roman procurator of Judea.
|
|
9-12 |
|
Marcus
Ambibulus serves as Roman procurator of Judea.
|
|
12-15 |
|
Annius
Rufus serves as Roman procurator of Judea.
|
|
14-37 |
|
Tiberius
Caesar is Roman emperor.
|
|
15-26 |
|
Valerius
Gratus serves as Roman procurator of Judea.
|
|
26-36 |
|
Pontius
Pilate serves as Roman procurator of Judea.
|
|
27-33 |
|
Jesus
of Nazareth preaches in favor of a more compassionate interpretation of
Mosaic Law; his description of "kingdom of God" places it in
opposition to the kingdom of Caesar (Rome), leading to his execution by
crucifixion, likely on grounds of sedition.
|
|
30-130 |
|
Probable
period for composition of all New Testament documents.
|
|
36-37 |
|
Marcellus
serves as Roman procurator of Judea.
|
|
37-41 |
|
Marullus
serves as Roman procurator of Judea.
|
|
49 |
|
Council
of Jerusalem.
|
|
50-64 |
|
Composition
of the undisputed letters of Paul. |
|
50 |
|
Probable
date for the writing of Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians,
considered to be the earliest known Christian writing.
|
|
54-68 |
|
Nero
is Roman emperor.
|
|
54-55 |
|
Probable
date for the writing of
Paul's Letter to the Galatians.
|
|
54-57 |
|
Probable
date for the writing of Paul's First and Second Letters to the
Corinthians.
|
|
56 |
|
Probable
date for the writing of Paul's Letter to the Philippians.
|
|
62 |
|
Martyrdom
of James, "the brother of the Lord."
|
|
64 |
|
Fire
in the city of Rome during the reign of Nero for which Christians are
blamed and persecuted; likely death of apostles Peter and Paul.
|
|
65-75 |
|
Probable
date for composition of Gospel of Mark.
|
|
66-72 |
|
First
Jewish Revolt against Rome. |
|
73 |
|
Last
of the Jewish rebels die at Masada (possibly by mass suicide)
|
|
70 |
|
Siege
of Jerusalem, destruction of
Herod's temple. Jews fled to Yavneh.
|
|
68-69 |
|
The
"Year of Four Emperors."
|
|
69-79 |
|
Vespasian
is emperor of Rome.
|
|
79-81 |
|
Titus
is emperor of Rome.
|
|
80-90 |
|
Probable
date for composition of Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and Acts of the
Apostles.
|
|
81-96 |
|
Domitian
is emperor of Rome. Unsystematic instances of Christian persecution,
primarily in Asia.
|
|
90 |
|
Jewish
academy established at Yavneh. Jews begin to systematically expel Jewish
Christians from the synagogue. Jewish scripture is canonized, with
Writings added.
|
|
90-100 |
|
Probable
date for composition of Gospel of John.
|
|
90-200 |
|
Probable
date for the composition of the writings of the Apostolic Fathers.
|
|
95 |
|
Probable
date for composition of Revelation.
|
|
96-98 |
|
Nerva
is emperor of Rome.
|
|
98-117 |
|
Trajan
is emperor of Rome. Widespread Christian persecutions.
|
|
100
AD
|
|
|
|
100-110 |
|
Probable
date for composition of Letters of 1,2,& 3 John.
|
|
112-113 |
|
Pliny
the Younger serves as Governor of Bithynia. |
|
115-117 |
|
Jewish
War against Rome breaks out throughout Diaspora
|
|
117-138 |
|
Hadrian
is emperor of Rome. |
|
132-135 |
|
Second
Jewish Revolt in Jerusalem. After Roman victory, city is renamed Jupiter
Capitolina and Jews are banned from coming within eyesight of the city.
|
|
133-160 |
|
Gnostics
Basilides (Jewish) and Valentinus (Christian) teach in Alexandria,
Egypt. |
|
144 |
|
Marcion
is expelled from Christian community in Rome. |
|
150 |
|
Valentinus
begins a Gnostic school in Rome.
|
|
150-200 |
|
Probable
date for the composition of the Gospels of Thomas and Peter. |
|
154-155 |
|
Polycarp
is Bishop of Rome. Dispute over date of Easter. |
|
165 |
|
Execution
of Justin Martyr in Rome.
|
|
172 |
|
Apocalyptic
Montanist movement in Phrygia.
|
|
178 |
|
Irenaeus
becomes bishop of Lyons.
|
|
185 |
|
Against
the Heresies written by Irenaeus.
|
|
186 |
|
Birth
of Origen. |
|
190-200 |
|
Clement
serves as
bishop of
Alexandria. |
|
197 |
|
Apology
written by Tertullian.
|
|
200
AD
|
|
|
|
200 |
|
Compilation
and editing of Mishnah.
|
|
200-210 |
|
Monarchian
controversy in Rome. |
|
202-203 |
|
Martyrdom
of Perpetua and Felicitas at Carthage.
|
|
207 |
|
Tertullian
converts to Montanism.
|
|
242 |
|
Mani
begins preaching in Persia.
|
|
245 |
|
Cyprian
of Carthage converts to Christianity.
|
|
248 |
|
Anti-Christian
riot breaks out in Alexandria.
|
|
249 |
|
Decius
becomes emperor of Rome.
|
|
249-250 |
|
Systematic
persecution of Christians.
|
|
253 |
|
Death
of Origen.
|
|
257 |
|
Execution
of Cyprian of Carthage.
|
|
270-300 |
|
Christianity
spreads through Egypt, Syria, and North Africa.
|
|
284 |
|
Diocletian
becomes Augustus.
|
|
286 |
|
Maximian
becomes co-Augustus with Diocletian.
|
|
300
AD
|
|
|
|
303 |
|
"Great
Persecution" begins.
|
|
312 |
|
Battle
of Milvian Bridge. Constantine, bearing Rho-Chi standard, is victorious.
Persecutions of Christians end. |
|
313 |
|
Edict
of Milan is issued. Christianity becomes a legal religion in the Roman
Empire.
|
|
318 |
|
Arian
controversy begins.
|
|
325 |
|
Council
of Nicaea
|
|
339 |
|
Death
of Eusebius of Caesaria.
|
|
373 |
|
Ambrose
becomes bishop of Milan.
|
|
379 |
|
Theodosius
becomes emperor of Eastern Roman Empire.
|
|
380 |
|
Theodosius
issues edict condemning Arianism.
|
|
386-387 |
|
Augustine
converts to Christianity and is baptized.
|
|
395 |
|
Augustine
becomes bishop of Hippo.
|
|
396-397 |
|
Confessions
written by Augustine.
|
|
397 |
|
Death
of Ambrose.
|
|
398 |
|
John
Chrysostom becomes bishop of Constantinople.
|
|
400
AD
|
|
|
|
410 |
|
The
sack of Rome.
|
|
411 |
|
City
of God written by Augustine, a book significantly influenced by Plato's
vision of a just city in the Republic.
|
|
430 |
|
Death
of Augustine.
|
