This is a timeline of geopolitical changes around the world prior to 1500. It includes dates of declarations of independence, changes in country name, changes of capital city or name, and changes in territorial ownership such as the annexation, occupation, cession, concession, or secession of land. Territorial conquests as a result of war are included on the timeline at the conclusion of major military campaigns, but changes in the course of specific battles and day-to-day operations are generally not included.
Before the Common Era (BCE) Fourth Millennium BCE From the 4th Millennium BCE to the 2nd Millennium BCE, hundreds of proto-cities in the Near East, Egypt, and the Indus Valley transition into city-states. Records of those geopolitical changes are complicated by mythologization, historical revisionism, missing information, lack of corroborating primary sources, and lack of archeological evidence. Consequently, the tables in that range are not comprehensive. YearEventBefore 3200 BCEProminent Sumerian city-states Eridu, Bad-tibira, Larak, Sippar, and Shuruppak exercise pre-dynastic kingship.c. 3200 BCEProtodynastic Egyptian Kings unify Upper Egypt's regional power centers of Thinis, Naqada, and Nekhen.The First Dynasty of Kish is established in the Sumerian city of Kish.The First Dynasty of Uruk is established in the Sumerian city of Uruk.c. 3080 BCENarmer (or Menes) unites Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt under the First Dynasty of Egypt. Memphis becomes the capital of all Egypt.
Third Millennium BCE YearEventc. 2879 BCEDương Vương establishes the Hồng Bàng dynasty in Vietnam.c. 2860 BCEHotepsekhemwy establishes the Second Dynasty of Egypt.27th century BCEMesannepada establishes the First Dynasty of Ur. Ur becomes the de facto capital of Sumer.c. 2700 BCEThe Awan Dynasty is established in Elam.c. 2686 BCEDjoser establishes the Third Dynasty of Egypt, marking the beginning of The Old Kingdom of Egypt.Dodson, Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004c. 2655 BCESneferu establishes the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt.25th century BCEThe Elamite Awan Dynasty conquers the Sumerian First Dynasty of Ur.The Second Dynasty of Kish takes control of Sumer from the Elamite Awan Dynasty. The capital is Kish.The Dynasty of Hamazi supersedes the Second Dynasty of Kish in Sumer. The capital is moved from Kish to Hamazi.Userkaf establishes the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt.24th century BCEThe Second Dynasty of Uruk supersedes the Dynasty of Hamazi in Sumer. The capital is moved from Hamazi to Uruk.The Dynasty of Adab supersedes the Second Dynasty of Uruk in Sumer. The capital is moved from Uruk to Adab.The Dynasty of Adab splits after the death of Lugal-Anne-Mundu. Lagash, Akshak, and Umma appear to have regained independence.The Dynasty of Mari consolidates control of Sumer. Mari is its capital.The Third Dynasty of Kish supersedes the Dynasty of Mari in Sumer. The capital is moved from Mari to Kish.The Dynasty of Akshak supersedes the Third Dynasty of Kish in Sumer. The capital is moved from Kish to Akshak.The Fourth Dynasty of Kish supersedes the Dynasty of Akshak in Sumer. The capital is moved from Akshak to Kish.c. 2380 BCEThe First Dynasty of Lagash supersedes the Fourth Dynasty of Kish in Sumer. The capital is moved from Kish to Lagash.c. 2336 BCETeti establishes the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt.Late 24th century BCESargon of Akkad establishes the Akkadian Empire after conquering Sumer. Akkad is the capital.Samuel Noah Kramer, The Sumerians, Chicago University Press, 1971, c. 2333 BCEGojoseon is established on the Korean Peninsula.Yoon, N.-H. (윤내현), The Location and Transfer of Go-Chosun's Capital (고조선의 도읍 위치와 그 이동), 단군학연구, 7, 207–38 (2002)c. 2193 BCE The Akkadian Empire collapses after an invasion by the Gutian people.c. 2181 BCEThe Old Kingdom of Egypt collapses, beginning the First Intermediate Period of Egypt.Kathryn A. Bard, An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 2008), 41.c. 2175 BCENetjerkare Siptah establishes the Seventh Dynasty of Egypt.c. 2165 BCENeferkare Pepiseneb establishes the Eighth Dynasty of Egypt.c. 2160 BCEMeryibre Khety establishes the Ninth Dynasty of Egypt. Henen-nesut becomes the capital of Lower Egypt.c. 2130 BCEMeryhathor establishes the Tenth Dynasty of Egypt in Lower Egypt.Mentuhotep I establishes the Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt. Thebes becomes the capital of Upper Egypt.c. 2112 BCEUtu-hengal defeats the Gutians and establishes the Fifth Dynasty of Uruk."Utu-hengal, king of Uruk" in c. 2070 BCEYu the Great establishes the Xia dynasty in China. Yangcheng and Zhenxun are the capitals.c. 2055 BCEThe Middle Kingdom of Egypt is established.c. 2047 BCEUr-Nammu establishes the Sumerian Third Dynasty of Ur. Ur is the capital.c. 2025 BCEPuzur-Ashur I establishes the Old Assyrian Empire. Assur is the capital.c. 2004 BCEThe Third Dynasty of Ur collapses after an Elamite invasion
Second Millennium BCE YearEventc. 1991 BCEAmenemhat I establishes the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt and builds Amenemhat-itj-tawy to be the new capital.c. 1894 BCESumu-abum establishes the First Babylonian Dynasty. Babylon is the capital.c. 1810 BCESumu-Epuh establishes Yamhad. Halab (Aleppo) is the capital.c. 1803 BCEWegaf Khutawyre establishes the Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt.Early 18th century BCEHammurabi establishes the Babylonian Empire.c. 1705 BCENehesy establishes the Fourteenth Dynasty of Egypt.Darrell D. Baker, The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I - Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300–1069 BC, Stacey International, , 2008, p. 277 Avaris is the capital.c. 1700 BCEThe Middle Kingdom of Egypt collapses, beginning the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt.c. 1650 BCESalitis establishes the Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Avaris is the capital.c. 1620 BCEDjehuti establishes the Sixteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Thebes is the capital.c. 1600 BCETang establishes the Shang dynasty in China. Yin is the capital.c. 1580 BCERahotep Sekhenrewahkhaw establishes the Seventeenth Dynasty of Egypt.c. 1550 BCEThe New Kingdom of Egypt is established.c. 1534 BCEAgum II establishes the rule of the Kassites in Mesopotamia. Babylon becomes the capital.Pharaoh Ahmose I establishes the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt.c. 1390 BCEKurigalzu I a Kassite king in Mesopotamia moves the capital to Dur-Kurigalzu.c. 1363 BCEAshur-uballit I establishes the Middle Assyrian Empire. Assur is the capital.c. 1345 BCEPharaoh Akhenaten of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt moves the capital to Amarna (Akhetaton).c. 1332 BCECollapse of the Indus Valley civilisation.1330s BCEPharaoh Tutankhamun of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt moves the capital to Memphis.c. 1295 BCEMuwatalli II of the Hittite empire moves capital to Tarhuntassa.c. 1292 BCEPharaoh Ramesses I establishes the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt.c. 1272 BCEMursili III of the Hittite empire moves capital back to Hattusa.c. 1243 BCEAshur-nadin-apli of the Middle Assyrian Empire moves capital back to Assur.Tukulti-Ninurta I of the Middle Assyrian Empire moves capital to Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta.c. 1230 BCEPharaoh Ramesses II builds a new capital for the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt at the site of Avaris and names it Pi-Ramesses Aa-nakhtu.c. 1188 BCEPharaoh Setnakhte establishes the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt.c. 1184 BCEGreeks destroy the city-state of Troy.c. 1100 BCEJin is established in China.c. 1077 BCEThe New Kingdom of Egypt collapses, beginning the Third Intermediate Period of Egyptc. 1070 BCEPharaoh Nesbanebdjed I establishes the Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt. Tanis becomes the capital.c. 1047 BCEShaul ben Qysh establishes the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah. Gibeah is the capital.c. 1046 BCEShangfu establishes Qi in China. Yingqiu is the capital.Wu establishes Western Zhou dynasty in China. Fenghao is the capital.c. 1043 BCEBo Qin establishes Lu in China. Qufu is the capital.c. 1004 BCEKing David conquers the city of Jebus and makes the renamed City of David (now Jerusalem) the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah.
First Millennium BCE