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Time Periods

The date ranges of these named time periods are encoded at the tail end of their descriptions like [[start, end]]. Please bear with us while we work on getting these sorted temporally and spatially.

Early Geometric (Greek; 900-850 BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 12:54 PM

The Early Geometric period in ancient Greece, from 900-850 before the birth of Christ. [[-900, -850]]

Middle Geometric (Greek; 850-750 BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:00 PM

The Middle Geometric period in ancient Greece, from 850-750 before the birth of Christ. [[-850, -750]]

Archaic (Greco-Roman; 750-550 BCE/BC) — by admin — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:01 PM

The Archaic period in Greek and Roman history. For the purposes of Pleiades, this period is seen to begin in the year 750 and end in the year 550 before the birth of Christ. [[-750, -550]]

Classical (Greco-Roman; 550 BC-330 BC) — by admin — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:01 PM

The Classical period in Greek and Roman history. For the purposes of Pleiades, this period is said to begin in the year 550 and end in the year 330 before the birth of Christ. [[-550, -330]]

Hellenistic Greek, Roman Republic (330 BC-30 BC) — by admin — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:02 PM

The Hellenistic period in Greek history and the middle-to-late Republican period in Roman history. For the purposes of Pleiades, this period is said to begin in the year 330 and end in the year 30 before the birth of Christ. [[-330, -30]]

Roman, early Empire (30 BC-AD 300) — by admin — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:03 PM

The Roman period (i.e., the early Roman Empire) in Greek and Roman history. For the purposes of Pleiades, this period is said to begin in the year 30 before the birth of Christ and to end in the year 300 after the birth of Christ. [[-30, 300]]

Late Antique (AD 300-AD 640) — by admin — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:03 PM

The Late Antique period in Greek and Roman history. For the purposes of Pleiades, this period is said to begin in the year 300 and to end in the year 640 after the birth of Christ. [[300, 640]]

Mediaeval/Byzantine (AD 641-AD 1453) — by Gabriel Bodard — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:04 PM

The Mediaeval period in the West, or the period from the end of Late Antiquity (640) to the fall of Constantinople in the East (1453). [[640, 1453]]

Early Byzantine (AD 650-850) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:06 PM

Early Byzantine Period in areas where such designations are appropriate. [[650, 850]]

Modern (AD 1700-Present) — by Sean Gillies — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:05 PM

Our present, modern era. [[1700, 2100]]

Middle Byzantine (AD 850-1200) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:06 PM

Middle Byzantine period in areas where such designations are appropriate. [[850, 1200]]

Late Byzantine Period (AD 1200-1450) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:08 PM

Late Byzantine Period in contexts where such designations are appropriate. [[1200, 1450]]

Neolithic Egypt (6000-4500 BCE/BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:08 PM

The Neolithic period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-6000, -4500]]

Predynastic Egypt (4500-2950 BCE/BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:09 PM

The predynastic period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-4500, -2950]]

Early Dynastic Egypt (2950-2670 BCE/BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:10 PM

The Early Dynastic period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-2950, -2670]]

Old Kingdom Egypt (2670-2168 BCE/BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:11 PM

The Old Kingdom period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-2670, -2168]]

First Intermediate Period Egypt (2168-2010 BCE/BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:11 PM

The First Intermediate Period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-2168, -2010]]

Middle Kingdom Egypt (2010-1640 BCE/BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:12 PM

The Middle Kingdom period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-2010, -1640]]

Second Intermediate Period Egypt (1640-1548) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:14 PM

The Second Intermediate period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-1640, -1548]]

New Kingdom Egypt (1548-1086) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:14 PM

The New Kingdom period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-1548, -1086]]

Third Intermediate Period Egypt (1086-664) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:15 PM

The Third Intermediate period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-1086, -664]]

Late Period Egypt (664-332) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:16 PM

The Late Period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-664, -332]]

Macedonian Egypt (332-304 BCE/BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:17 PM

The Macedonian period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-332, -304]]

Ptolemaic Egypt (304-30 BCE/BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Sep 01, 2011 01:18 PM

The Ptolemaic period in Egypt, following the chronology of the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (compiled by Thomas Schneider): http://www.uee.ucla.edu/contributors/chronology.htm. [[-304, -30]]

Bronze Age Britain (ca. 2500 - ca. 800 BC/BCE) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Mar 13, 2012 12:22 PM

A long time period associated with Bronze Age Britain. [[-2500, -800]]

Anglo-Saxon Period (550-1066 AD/CE) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Jul 18, 2012 07:20 PM

[[550, 1066]]

Ubaid period in Mesopotamia (ca. 6500 to 3800 BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Aug 03, 2012 06:44 AM

The prehistoric Ubaid period of Mesopotamia, as defined by Wikipedia following Carter, Robert A. and Philip, Graham Beyond the Ubaid: Transformation and Integration in the Late Prehistoric Societies of the Middle East (Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization, Number 63) The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (2010) ISBN 978-1-885923-66-0 p.2, at http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/pubs/catalog/saoc/saoc63.html [[-6500, -3800]]

4th millenium BCE — by Tom Elliott — last modified Nov 13, 2012 07:11 AM

The fourth millenium BCE as defined at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_millennium_BC [[-4000, -3000]]

Neolithic Period in the Eastern Mediterranean (ca. 10,000-3,300 BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Nov 14, 2012 04:34 AM

The so-called "Neolithic" or "New Stone Age" period as defined in the Eastern portion of the Mediterranean basin, lasting roughly from 10,000 - 3,300 BC. See further: http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/artarchaeologyarchitect/g/neolithic.htm [[-10000, -3300]]

Neolithic Period on Malta (ca. 5,000-2,500BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Nov 14, 2012 04:39 AM

The neolithic or so-called "New Stone Age" as expressed in remains of physical culture on the island of Malta, where it appears to have lasted from around 5,000 to 2,500 BC [[-5000, -2500]]

Bronze Age Malta (ca. 2,500-700 BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Nov 14, 2012 05:12 AM

The Bronze age as represented in the remains of physical culture from the island of Malta. [[-2500, -700]]

2nd Millenium BCE — by Tom Elliott — last modified Nov 16, 2012 09:04 PM

The second millenium BCE as defined at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_millennium_BC [[-2000, -1000]]

Ummayad Period (661-750CE) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Dec 04, 2012 12:27 PM

The period of the Umayyad Caliphate as defined by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_Caliphate [[661, 750]]

Early Helladic (Mainland Greece; 3000-2000 BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Jan 28, 2013 03:01 PM

The Early Helladic period in the Greek mainland, after Preziosi and Hitchcock, Aegean Art and Architecture, Oxford History of Art, 1998. [[-3000,-2000]]

Middle Helladic (Mainland Greece; 2000-1600 BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Jan 28, 2013 03:03 PM

The Middle Helladic period in the Greek mainland, after Preziosi and Hitchcock, Aegean Art and Architecture, Oxford History of Art, 1998. [[-2000, -1600]]

Late Helladic (Mainland Greece; 1600-1200 BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Jan 28, 2013 03:05 PM

The Late Helladic period in the Greek mainland, after Preziosi and Hitchcock, Aegean Art and Architecture, Oxford History of Art, 1998. [[-1600, -1200]]

Neolithic Period (British Isles; 4,000-2,500 BC) — by Tom Elliott — last modified Jan 28, 2013 04:03 PM

The Neolithic period in the British Isles, after Wikipedia, Neolithic British Isles, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_British_Isles. [[-4000, -2500]]

Iron Age Britain (ca. 800 BC/BCE - ca. 100 AD/CE) — by Scott Vanderbilt — last modified Mar 12, 2013 10:39 AM

A long time period associated with Iron Age Britain. [[-800, 100]]

3rd millennium BC — by Jeffrey Becker — last modified Mar 12, 2013 10:38 AM

The 3rd millennium BC spans the Early to Middle Bronze Age. As described at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_millennium_BC. [[-3000, -2000]]

Paleolithic Middle East (2600000–18000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

ME [[-2600000,-18000]]

Stone Age Oman (125000–3200 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

Persian Gulf [[-125000,-3200]]

Mesolithic Levant (18000–9500 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

Epipaleolithic-Protoneolithic Levant, Kebaran-Natufian [[-18000,-9500]]

Mesolithic Middle East (18000–9000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

Epipaleolithic-Protoneolithic ME [[-18000,-9000]]

Natufian Levant (12500–9500 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

Levant [[-12500,-9500]]

Pre-Pottery Neolithic Middle East (9000–6000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

Aceramic Neolithic ME [[-9000,-6000]]

Neolithic Middle East (9000–4500 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

ME [[-9000,-4500]]

Chalcolithic Mesopotamia (6200–3750 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

Copper Age Mesopotamia, Halaf-Ubaid-Early Uruk Mesopotamia [[-6200,-3750]]

Pottery Neolithic Middle East (6000–4500 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

ME [[-6000,-4500]]

Ubaid-Early Dynastic II Mesopotamia (5500–2600 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:21 PM

Late Chalcolithic-ED II Mesopotamia, Ubaid-Uruk-Jemdet Nasr-ED Mesopotamia [[-5500,-2600]]

Chalcolithic Iran (5000–2500 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Iran [[-5000,-2500]]

Uruk Mesopotamia (4000–2950 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Protoliterate Mesopotamia [[-4000,-2950]]

Old Nubian (3800–2300 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

A-Group/Old Nubian—Middle Nubian—OK [[-3800,-2300]]

Early Bronze Age Southern Levant (3300–2000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

southern Levant [[-3300,-2000]]

Elamite Western Iran (3200–540 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Proto—Old—Middle—Neo-Elamite [[-3200,-540]]

Early Dynastic Mesopotamia (2950–2350 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Mesopotamia [[-2950,-2350]]

Bronze Age Oman (2600–1900 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Persian Gulf [[-2600,-1900]]

Early Bronze Age Iran (2500–2000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Jiroft [[-2500,-2000]]

Early-Middle Bronze Age Iran (2500–1500 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Iran [[-2500,-1500]]

Akkadian-Ur III Mesopotamia (2335–2000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Akkadian—Neo-Sumerian Mesopotamia [[-2335,-2000]]

Middle Nubian (2300–1600 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

C-Group—Kerma—Middle Nubian—Pan-Grave—MK [[-2300,-1600]]

Transition Early-Middle Bronze Age Southern Levant (2100–1900 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

southern Levant [[-2100,-1900]]

Early Bronze Age Anatolia (2000–1750 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Karum Anatolia [[-2000,-1750]]

Old Babylonian/Assyrian Mesopotamia (2000–1600 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Mesopotamia [[-2000,-1600]]

Middle Bronze Age Iran (2000–1500 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Iran [[-2000,-1500]]

Middle Bronze Age Southern Levant (2000–1400 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

southern Levant [[-2000,-1400]]

2nd Millennium BC Egypt (2000–1000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Egypt [[-2000,-1000]]

2nd Millennium BC Levant (2000–1000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

MBA Levant-LBA Levant-Iron Age I Levant [not sure as these are all taken from southern Levant periodisation] [[-2000,-1000]]

Middle Bronze-Early Iron Age Iran (2000–650 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Iran [[-2000,-650]]

Middle Bronze Age Anatolia (1750–1450 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Anatolia [[-1750,-1450]]

Old Hittite Anatolia (1650–1450 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Old-Middle Kingdom Hittite [[-1650,-1450]]

Later 2nd Millennium BC Mesopotamia (1600–1000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Middle Assyrian/Middle Babylonian/Kassite Mesopotamia, LBA-Early Iron Age Mesopotamia, incl. Sea Peoples [[-1600,-1000]]

Late Nubian (1600–350 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

NK-Kushite-Meroitic [[-1600,-350]]

Late Bronze Age Iran (1500–1000 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Iran [[-1500,-1000]]

Middle Hittite Anatolia (1450–1200 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

New Kingdom Hittite [[-1450,-1200]]

Late Bronze Age Southern Levant (1400–1200 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

southern Levant [[-1400,-1200]]

Egyptian/Hittite Levant (1344–1212 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Levant [[-1344,-1212]]

Early Iron Age Anatolia (1200–700 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

incl. Mitanni [[-1200,-700]]

Neo-Hittite Northern Levant (1200–700 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Syro-Hittite Northern Levant [[-1200,-700]]

Early Iron Age Iran (1000–650 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Pre-Classical Antiquity [[-1000,-650]]

Urartian Eastern Anatolia (900–600 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

eastern Anatolia [[-900,-600]]

Neo-Assyrian/Babylonian Middle East (720–540 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

ME [[-720,-540]]

Middle-Late Iron Age Anatolia (700–500 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Anatolia [[-700,-500]]

Neo-Babylonian—Achaemenid Southern Levant (587–330 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

southern Levant [[-587,-330]]

Achaemenid Middle East (540–330 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

ME [[-540,-330]]

Achaemenid-Roman Republic Middle East (540–30 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

ME [[-540,-30]]

Achaemenid-Roman Levant (540 BC – AD 324) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Persian-Hellenistic-Roman Levant [[-540,324]]

Hellenistic Middle East (330–140 BC) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Macedonian—Seleucid/Ptolemaic/Attalid/Greco-Bactrian [[-330,-140]]

Hellenistic-Parthian Middle East (330 BC – AD 226) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Seleucid-Early Roman-Arsacid Middle East [[-330,226]]

Hellenistic-Roman Early Empire (330 BC – AD 300) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Mediterranean [[-330,300]]

Parthian Middle East (140 BC – AD 226) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Arsacid ME [[-140,226]]

Roman Middle East (140 BC – AD 640) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

ME [[-140,640]]

Roman-Early Byzantine Middle East (140 BC – AD 850) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

ME [[-140,850]]

Roman-Umayyad Levant (37 BC – AD 1099) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Roman-Byzantine-Caliphate-Umayyad Levant [[-37,1099]]

Roman Early Empire/Parthian Middle East (30 BC – AD 226) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Early Roman/Parthian [[-30,226]]

Roman Early Empire-Late Antique (30 BC – AD 640) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Mediterranean [[-30,640]]

Sassanian Middle East (AD 262–700) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Sassanid [[262,700]]

Transition Roman Early Empire-Late Antique (AD 284–337) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Mediterranean [[284,337]]

Late Antique/Sasanian Middle East (AD 300–640) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

ME [[300,640]]

Late Antique-Late Byzantine (AD 300–1450) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

ME [[300,1450]]

Proto-Byzantine (AD 500–650) — by admin — last modified Feb 22, 2013 01:22 PM

Early Byzantine; includes Justinian I [[500,650]]