A timeline is a sort of chronological list and so it is fitting that Make Lists, Not War should include some timelines. I’ve already published a timetable of scientific discovery, so now I’ve created a much larger set of timetables covering human history, beginning with our hominid ancestors 6.5 million years ago and concluding (for now) with 2014 in the Common Era (CE). I’ve included scads of photos and maps, and tried to reduce the text to a minimum. Where there are multiple items with the same date, I have followed a rough hierarchy, as follows:
Climate/Natural Disasters
World Population
Political Events
Religious Events
Cultural Events (incl. sports)
Scientific Discoveries
Exploration
Inventions
Architecture
Sculpture
Painting & Other Visual Arts
Literature: (1) Non-fiction, (2) Fiction/Poetry
Music: (1) Classical; (2) Jazz; (3) Other
Film
Photography
Deaths
Births
I realize that some (perhaps most) historians would find these timelines anathema to the true study of history, and I would have to agree, to some extent. Anyone familiar with the study of history will tell you that the days of memorizing names and dates are long gone. This is the time of understanding causes and movements, even going so far as to analyze the various ways in which scholars have studied particular historical events or trends over time. Concepts, ideas, meaning and purpose are the substance of today’s history, not who invented this and which general won what battle.
But I suspect even the most up-to-date historian or history teacher would admit that a few facts now and then can anchor those theories and movements to real people at real times. A concept or an idea, after all, must be thought of by a mind of a specific person who must communicate it or act it out. It is true that a list of events without a deeper context lacks the threads of the narratives that carry them from person to event to person, etc. (e.g., there is no timeline event labeled “nationalism”, “humanism”, or even “Industrial Revolution”). Should I hit the delete button, then? Is publishing these timelines going to do more harm than good? I somehow doubt it. To me, they constitute a treasure chest of interesting, sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing facts about human history, with the political events of the day set alongside scientific and technological achievements, the great works of art and literature and various aspects of culture (from sports to gay rights to the labor movement). The timelines have rekindled a passion for history; instead of sending me back to the “just the facts” mode of studying history, these lists have made me want to read more about the deeper narratives that weave these disparate facts together. I hope they do the same for you.
cool really good info
Thanks for the feedback, Allen!
Dear beckchris,
I really appreciate your website and spend many hours on it. Truly amazing. I have a question about the list of the ‘Most Important Events in Human History.’
At number 23, it states, “The First University Is Established, at Bologna.” Shouldn’t this be the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez? While the University of Bologna is the first medieval European university and arguably the oldest continuously operating university, it is highly likely that the University of al-Qarawiyyin influenced the development of European universities. This influence could have come through the transmission of knowledge via Islamic Spain, legal and educational structures, its impact on legal studies (for which Bologna is well known), and intellectual exchange, such as Avicenna’s influence on European thinkers, etcetera.
Perhaps you could look into this or consider adding an additional entry. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
Best,
Sven
Sven: Thanks so much for your comment. I did some research and discovered that there is a lot of debate among scholars about whether al-Qarawiyyin was a university or a madrasa during those early years. Most scholars believe that Bologna was the first university in the modern Western sense of the term and that the vast majority of universities existing today follow this Western-style form. It is true that some scholars believe al-Qarawiyyin was the first university, but that is a minority opinion. Of those that believe that it was the first university, some take the position that it was not the same format as the Western-style universities that followed and that those Western universities (such as Bologna) developed independently. Because of this unresolved scholarly debate, I have revised my entry to state that Bologna was the first Western-style university. I believe this amendment avoids taking sides in this scholarly controversy. I truly appreciate your bringing this to my attention.
– John B.
Dear John,
Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful response. I appreciate the clarification regarding the debate around the status of al-Qarawiyyin. You make a strong point that Bologna is the first Western-style university in the modern sense, and I understand how important that distinction is in the context of the debate.
That being said, I do think it might be valuable to include a mention of al-Qarawiyyin’s influence on European education, especially within the broader context of, for instance, the Islamic Golden Age. The resulting intellectual exchanges played a key role in shaping the development of educational systems in Europe, and it’s likely that al-Qarawiyyin had an impact on universities such as Bologna.
One important area of influence was in the realm of legal studies, where Bologna is especially renowned. Scholars in Islamic Spain and North Africa, including those at al-Qarawiyyin, developed legal frameworks that incorporated Roman law, which was later rediscovered and further developed in medieval Europe. The Islamic legal tradition, with its sophisticated system of jurisprudence (fiqh), had a significant impact on European legal thought, particularly in Italy.
Regardless of whether we classify al-Qarawiyyin as a madrasa or a university, what matters most is the extent of its influence. The structured nature of education at institutions like al-Qarawiyyin, which relied on rigorous scholarly traditions and oral transmission of knowledge, may have influenced the organizational models of early European universities.
Even if al-Qarawiyyin doesn’t exactly fit the modern definition of a Western-style university, adding a brief note about its influence could offer a broader historical perspective for readers interested in how these institutions evolved, as well as on how different intellectual traditions contributed to the development of higher education in the West.
In my opinion, this qualifies as a highly influential event in world history — not only for the Islamic world but also for the European intellectual tradition that developed in the centuries that followed. The transmission of knowledge, methodologies, and even philosophical perspectives from institutions like al-Qarawiyyin played a role in shaping the foundations of European higher education.
It is indeed possible that these traditions developed separately, which makes this discussion all the more fascinating. I appreciate the opportunity to exchange insights on this topic. Thanks again, and I would love to hear from you!
Best,
Sven
Sven: Thanks for your thoughtful response. I may revise this entry in the near future to include other early examples of higher education.
– John
Thank you for your response. I’m curious to hear your thoughts and final verdict. I appreciate the discussion once again!