In the fifth millennium Khufu built the Great Pyramids; in the fourth a Semitic migration, spreading westward from Asia, peopled Babylonia, Assyria, Canaan, and Phœnicia afresh, establishing new nations and kingdoms. 3000 The third millennium saw the Aryan invasion of India; the beginning of Chinese history; and Aryan and Semitic waves of migration towards Europe. 2000 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Egypt was conquered by the Hyksos, a Semitic nomadic race. 1500 Hittite Empire established in Syria. During the next three hundred years, of which the history is obscure, the dynasty of the Ramesides was established in Egypt, which waged wars with the Hittite Empire. Rameses 1400 II. is popularly identified with the Pharaoh of the Exodus, an event which is also identified with the expulsion of the Hyksos. The supremacy in the Mesopotamian regions alternates 1300 between Assyrian and Babylonian dynasties. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1200 Rise of a Hebrew nation. Age of Phœnician prosperity; commercial importance of Sidon and Tyre. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1100 Ionic and Doric migrations. Predominance of Phrygia among kingdoms of Asia Minor. 1048 B.C. David captures Jerusalem and becomes King over all Israel. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1000 ] [Illustration: JAPAN CHINESE EMPIRE INDIA PARTHIAN EMPIRE ARABIA ROMAN EMPIRE BRITAIN ] ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1000 975 B.C. Division of the Hebrew kingdom into Judah and Israel after the death of Solomon. Growth of the Hellenic States. The age of Homer. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 900 850 B.C. Foundation of Carthage. Beginnings of the Latin and Etruscan peoples. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 800 Assyrian conquest of Babylon, Syria, and Israel. 753 B.C. The foundation of Rome. Rapid spread of the Greek Colonies. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 700 Beginnings of the Macedonian kingdom. Rise of Media. Beginnings of Japanese history. Decline of Assyria, fall of Nineveh, and establishment of new Babylonian Empire. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 600 Cyrus, King of Persia, conquers Media, establishes his empire over Lydia, Assyria, and Babylonia (538 B.C.). His son Cambyses conquers Egypt, 525 B.C. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 500 The Greek States revolt against Persia and are triumphant. Egypt regains independence. Steady growth of Roman ascendancy in Italy.