Turning points in world history:

Agricultural revolution (ca. 8000-5000 B.C.)Time period when humans first domesticated plants and animalsAllowed people to switch from hunting and gathering to farming and herding

Origin of civilizations (ca. 3500 B.C.)Establishment of farming and herding societies in river valleys encouraged the development of civilizationsMain characteristics include cities, commercial activity, written language, and complex forms of government and religion

Classical period (ca. 1000 B.C.—A.D. 500)Development and expansion of very large civilizations Includes ancient China, ancient Greece, and the Roman EmpireMain characteristics include extensive trade networks, expansion through military conquest, and emergence of many of the world’s major religions

Development of complex societies in the Americas (ca. A.D. 300-1535)Maya and Aztec in parts of Mexico and Central AmericaInca in South AmericaSystems of writing, highly accurate calendars, far-reaching trade networks, densely populated cities, and massive stone buildings

Middle Ages (ca. A.D. 450-1450)Main political and economic systems was feudalismMonarchs and landowning nobles depended on each other for political, economic, and military supportRoman Catholic Church played a major role in European politics and societyReligion of Islam emerged and spread rapidly through Southwest Asia, North Africa, and parts of EuropeEuropean Christians engaged in the Crusades, a series of wars to recapture Jerusalem from Islamic control.Approximately one-third of Europe’s population died of the bubonic plague in the mid-1300s

Renaissance (ca. A.D. 1300-1600)A period of “rebirth”Renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman knowledge sparked many advances in the arts and sciencesPolitical power in many parts of Europe shifted from nobles to centralized governments, headed by national monarchs.Growth of international trade encouraged the exchange of goods and ideas among different parts of the world

Protestant Reformation(ca. 1500-1650)A movement of reform the Roman Catholic Church in Europe.A new form of Christianity known as Protestantism was formed.

Was related to the scientific revolutionCompetition between Catholics and Protestants encouraged colonization of the Americas

Scientific revolution(ca. 1500-1700)A surge of scientific discoveries occurred in EuropeThe printing press was inventedDiscoveries were made in astronomy, physics, and biologyThis led to other major turning points in world history, such as the Industrial Revolution

Age of exploration and colonization(ca. 1450-1900)Europeans explored the world and conquered major portions of itAt first the goal was to find a trade route to Asia. Later they explored and set up colonies in North and South America to gain wealth and convert native peoples to Christianity.Established European-style governments and economies around the world.Colonization caused major disruptions to many existing societies and led to war and oppression.One result was the Atlantic slave trade in which millions of Africans were enslaved and transported across the Atlantic Ocean

Industrial Revolution(ca. 1750-1900)Shift from agricultural production to industrial production that started in Great BritainCaused by the development of steam-powered machinery and the factory systemLasting effects included the rapid growth of cities and increased global trade

Age of democratic revolution(ca. 1750-present)Rise of democracy, a political system based on the ideal of government by the people.Began with the American and French Revolutions and then spread through much of Europe and the Americas

The era of world wars(1914-1945)Led to the end of several European monarchies as well as the Russian RevolutionThe communist-led Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or Soviet Union, was establishedSettlements following the Great War helped promote the principle of self-determination.A war between the totalitarian countries (Germany, Japan, and Italy) and an alliance led by the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union.Spurred many technological breakthroughs, including radar, jet aircraft, antibiotics, guided rockets, and nuclear weapons.

The Cold War(1945-1991)The U.S. and Soviet Union emerged as the world’s strongest nations, the superpowers.Throughout, the superpowers avoided open warfare because each side feared the terrible effects of nuclear weapons.Ended when the people of Eastern Europe overthrew their communist governments and the Soviet Union broke apart into 15 independent countries.