istoryworld
Events relating to civilization
San Lorenzo develops as the first centre of America's earliest civilization, that of the Olmecs
Mycenae and other states of the Peloponnese are overwhelmed by invading Dorian Greeks
Athens, not reached by the invading Dorians, becomes a surviving outpost of Mycenaean civilization
Massive stone heads carved by the Olmecs provide a dramatic beginning to the story of American sculpture
The Olmecs raise large clay platforms, probably with temples at the top, beginning the long American tradition of sacred pyramids
Chávin de Huántar becomes the centre of the first civilization of south America
La Venta replaces San Lorenzo as the capital city and cultural centre of the Olmecs
The Etruscans establish Italy's first civilization, in the region between the Arno and the Tiber
An Olmec sculptor creates the piece known today as the Wrestler
The Zapotecs create a great city at Monte Alban, continuing the Olmec culture
The people of Paracas, a coastal region of central Peru, create extremely sophisticated fabrics of woven cotton or vicuña wool
The earth drawings of the Nazca people, known now as the Nazca Lines, are some of the largest works of art ever created
The Mochica develop a civilization, in the north of modern Peru, known for its realistic pottery sculpture
The earliest inscriptions in an American script are those of the Zapotecs, from about this period
The Maya independently develop the concept of place value in numbers, previously pioneered in Babylon
The Maya introduce a calendar which has a cycle of fifty-two years, known as the Calendar Round
Teotihuacan, the dominant city in the northern highlands of central America, introduces the god Quetzalcoatl
The potato is cultivated in the Peruvian Andes
The temple city of Tikal is one of many Mayan city states of the Classic period
Beans are gathered by the Maya from wild cocoa trees and are probably used in a chocolate drink
Mayan priests feature in stone carvings smoking pipes and puffing the smoke towards the sacred sun
The quipu is used in the Wari culture and becomes the standard recording device of the Andean civilizations
Batán Grande, in northern Peru, becomes a great pilgrimage centre in the Sican culture
Chan Chan, today the largest of the ruined Andean cities, dominates the entire length of Peru
Toltecs move into the valley of Mexico from the north and establish a capital city at Tula
