Era 01
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A river civilisation famous for pharaohs, pyramids and a writing system called hieroglyphs.
Free history timeline
World History Timeline for Kids, KS2 & Homeschool
A bright, kid-friendly history timeline for kids covering every era from prehistoric cave painters to the Space Age. Designed for parents, KS2 teachers and homeschool families, this world history timeline brings the timeline of civilizations to life with key events, dates and notable figures aligned to the UK history curriculum.
- KS2-aligned content
- 13 eras, 50+ key events
- Free to share with classes
Chronological adventure
The history timeline, era by era
Scroll from the pyramids of Ancient Egypt to the rockets that took humans into space. Each stop on the timeline includes the date range, key events, notable figures and a kid-friendly summary written for KS2 and homeschool readers.
- Era 02
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Powerful dynasties built the Great Wall, invented paper, silk and gunpowder, and traded along the Silk Road.
- Era 03
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The birthplace of democracy, the Olympic Games, philosophy and dramatic myths about gods and heroes.
- Era 04
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A mighty empire of soldiers, roads, aqueducts and gladiators that stretched across three continents.
- Era 05
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Norse seafarers from Scandinavia who explored, traded and raided across Europe in their longships.
- Era 06
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A Mesoamerican civilisation centred on the lake-city of Tenochtitlán in modern-day Mexico.
- Era 07
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A golden age of theatre, exploration and sea-faring under Queen Elizabeth I of England.
- Era 08
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A century of kings, civil war, plague and the Great Fire of London.
- Era 09
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The age of steam trains, factories, the British Empire and astonishing inventions.
- Era 10
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America’s frontier era of cowboys, gold rushes, railroads and famous outlaws.
- Era 11
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A global war that changed the world, with brave soldiers, evacuated children and code-breakers.
- Era 12
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Humanity reached for the stars, sending satellites, astronauts and rovers beyond Earth.
Side-by-side
Timeline of Civilizations: What was happening at the same time?
One of the trickiest things about world history for kids is realising that very different civilizations existed at the same time. Use this comparison to see who was building, inventing and exploring across the globe in each major period.
Bronze & Classical Age
3000 BCE – 500 CE- North AfricaPharaohs build pyramids in Ancient Egypt
- East AsiaShang and Han dynasties rule Ancient China
- MediterraneanAncient Greece invents democracy and the Olympics
- EuropeAncient Rome grows from village to vast empire
Medieval Age
500 – 1500 CE- ScandinaviaVikings raid, trade and settle across Europe
- MesoamericaAztecs build Tenochtitlán on a lake
- East AsiaTang and Song dynasties advance science and art
- BritainNorman conquest and rise of medieval kingdoms
Early Modern Age
1500 – 1800 CE- EnglandElizabethans defeat the Spanish Armada
- BritainStuart kings face Civil War and the Great Fire
- AmericasEuropean explorers and settlers arrive
- AsiaMughal Empire flourishes in India
Modern Age
1800 – today- BritainVictorians lead the Industrial Revolution
- North AmericaThe Wild West frontier era unfolds
- WorldWorld War 2 reshapes nations and borders
- SpaceThe Space Age launches satellites and astronauts
Bring history to life
Turn this timeline into a monthly adventure
Every month, Mysteries in Time delivers a beautifully designed history magazine, hands-on activities and collectible souvenirs to your door — perfect for KS2 pupils, homeschool families and curious kids who loved this world history timeline.
- A new historical era explored in depth every month
- Aligned with the UK KS2 history curriculum
- Cancel, pause or skip any time — no contracts
FAQs
History timeline questions, answered
Quick answers for parents, KS2 teachers and homeschoolers using this timeline of civilizations with their children.
Keep exploring
Dive deeper into any era with our free guides, classroom resources and homeschool curriculum pages.
- Read more
World history for kids hub
Browse all of our era guides, activities and printables in one place.
- Read more
UK primary history curriculum
See how Mysteries in Time aligns with the KS1 and KS2 history curriculum.
- Read more
Homeschool history curriculum
A complete homeschool history plan built around our monthly boxes.
- Read more
Elementary history curriculum
A US-friendly elementary history programme for grades 2–6.
- Read more
History magazine for kids
A look inside our award-winning monthly history magazine.
- Read more
History blog & free resources
Free articles, lesson ideas and history activities for the classroom.