| Invention | When | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contraceptives | 1850 BC | Egypt | |
| Positional Notation | 1800 BC | Babylonia | based on 60s improved the writing of numbers |
| Use of Iron | 1800 BC | Hittite | in modern Turkey |
| Corset | 1800 BC | Crete | dated from a statue |
| Dyes | 1800 BC | Crete | permanent purple dye for cloth from a marine snail |
| Formal Medicine | 1750 BC | Babylonia | formalisation of its study and practice |
| The Alphabet | 1700 BC | Phoenicia | in Ugarit (present day Syria) simplified learning to write |
| Chocolate | 1600 BC | Central America | in modern Honduras |
| Rubber | 1600 BC | Central America | from a tree sap - balls used in modern Mexico |
| The Oar | 1500 BC | Phoenicia | may have been used in China c2700BC |
| Kiln Fired Bricks | 1500 BC | Mesopotamia | for stronger buildings |
| Glazed Pottery | 1500 BC | China | waterproof containers |
| Shoes | 1500 BC | Egypt | left and right feet different |
| Water Tap | 1500 BC | Egypt | |
| Chariot | 1400 BC | Egypt | introduced by the invading Hyksos (Asian nomads) |
| Steel | 1400 BC | Hittite | adding carbon to iron (modern Turkey) |
| Brush | 1400 BC | Egypt | using hogs hair, later horse hair |
| Fertility Tests | 1300 BC | Egypt | |
| Metal Swords | 1200 BC | Egypt | |
| Ships With Keels | 1200 BC | Phoenicia | |
| Stellar Navigation | 1200 BC | Phoenicia | using the pole star |
| Topographic Maps | 1150 BC | Egypt | |
| Dictionary | 1000 BC | China | re-invented by Samual Johnson (England, 1604) |
| Kite | 1000 BC | China |
Two other Indo-European speaking peoples make their appearance around 1600 BC. The Greeks, reached the Mediterranean area from the north. The Sanskrit speaking Ayrians invaded the the Indus Valley, destroying the existing civilisation; they would become the ancestors of the north Indians. Around 1000 BC, another Indo-European people, the Tocharians, reached western China; they are unknown apart from a few written tablets.
The invention of the alphabet allowed writing to become accessible to all. Far fewer symbols were required to express complex ideas. It could also be easilly adapted to other languages.
The original consonant-only alphabet of the Semitic-speaking Phoenicians spread West to Cyprus where vowels were added to adapt it to the Greek language. The Greek alphabet was adapted by the Etruscans and finally ended up in the Roman Empire as the Latin alphabet, used by many languages in the modern era (including on this web page).
The alphabet also spread East to give the modern Arabic and Hebrew alphabets as well as the many scripts of India and East Asia. Apart from China, all writing now uses alphabetic based writing.
The Babylonians developed positional notation based on the number 60 for writing numbers. This is the origin of 60 seconds in a minute (both for time and angles), 60 minutes in an hour, and 360 degrees in a complete turn. They also worked out the concept of squares and square roots. Hammurabi, king of Babylon, was born 1792 BC. He set up one of earliest law codes. His 282 laws included "an eye for an eye" and "let the buyer beware".
The Hindu calendar dates from c1000 BC.
Civilisation arrived in Palestine c1800 BC. The Canaanites founded Urusalim (the modern Jerusalem) around 1400 BC. Judaism began around 1200 BC. The nomadic Hebrews defeated the Canaanites 1125 BC. According to the Jewish and Christian Bible, the prophet Moses was active around 1250 BC while David ruled a large Jewish empire around 1000 BC. Most historians consider both characters to be mythical.
Ahmose was an Egyptian scribe who compiled a book on Egyptian mathematics around 1650 BC. Around 1490 BC Egypt had a female Pharoah: Hatshepsut. The Egyptian boy king, Tutankhamun (19) died in 1325 BC and was buried at Thebes; it would remain undisturbed for over 3200 years. Ramases II built the great temple at Abu Simbel in 1270 BC. After being hidden by sand, it was re-descovered in 1813 AD. In 1964 the whole structure was moved to save it from flooding caused by the Aswan High Dam. During his reign, the world's oldest peace treaty was signed with the Hittites.
Stonehenge was completed in England c1500 BC.
Kabul was founded (in modern Afghanistan) around 2000BC. Athens was founded in 1235 BC. Troy (in modern Turkey) fell in 1184 BC. Bishkek (modern Kyrgyzstan) dates from 1000 BC.
Civilisation began in Central America with the Olmecs (Mexico, Guatemala in 1250 BC) and in South America with the Chavin culture (Peru, 1200 BC) and the Paracas (also in Peru, 1100 BC). Irrigation canals were being used in North America (modern Arizona) c1000 BC.
In 1645 BC the Mediterranean island of Thera exploded destroying the Minoan civilisation on Crete. This was the origin of the legend of Atlantis.
