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Digital World History Timeline

Digital World History Timeline

Regular price $26.00 USD
Regular price $45.00 USD Sale price $26.00 USD
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WORLD'S BIGGEST EDITABLE TIMELINE: 15,000 entries - 250 topics - 5,000 years 

Whether you know a little or a lot about world history, any part of this timeline can act as a doorway into the past. 

Dive in deeply into the parts of history you love.

Or cast your gaze across the timeline and uncover new connections and relationships across civilisations and time.

Add your own entries and transform your timeline into an absolutely unique, one-of-a-kind historical record.

The World History Timeline started out as a timeline of the Roman Emperors, but it soon became clear to me that it couldn't stop there. 

That's when the fun really began.....

One fact lead to another, and over time the World History Timeline has expanded to include more than 15,000 unique historical entries across 25 main categories and 250 sub-categories, with 3,000+ accompanying comments.  

Links to In-depth Articles

 World History Encyclopedia Wikipedia

And explore in more depth with links to over 650 articles from World History Encyclopedia and Wikipedia.

Digital Download
This product is an instant digital download. No physical product will be received.

WHAT'S IN THE TIMELINE?

There are more than 15,000 unique entries in the World History Timeline.

These entries are divided into 25 main categories:

  • Egypt
  • Mesopotamia and the Levant
  • West Asia
  • Anatolia and Turkey
  • Central and North Asia
  • South Asia
  • Southeast Asia
  • East Asia
  • Ancient Greece
  • Ancient Rome
  • European Monarchies & Renaissance Rulers
  • China
  • UK & Ireland
  • North America
  • Meso America
  • South America
  • Africa
  • Australia
  • Philosophy
  • Art, Literature,Language & Music
  • Maths & Science
  • Wars & Battles
  • Esotericism
  • Religion
  • Other Events & Developments

Details of the 250 sub-categories can be found in the three Table of Contents listings in the Product Images section.

Also included are links to over 600 additional articles from World History Encyclopedia and Wikipedia.

All the entries in our other historical timelines (The Americas, British Isles, Greece & Rome and China) are included in the World History Timeline.

DOWNLOAD CONTENTS

File 1: World History Timeline
File Type: .xlsm (MS Excel spreadsheet)
File Size: 18.3MB

File 2: New Entry Template
File Type: .xlsm (MS Excel spreadsheet)
File Size: 3.5MB

The New Entry Template can be downloaded separately from our Download Information page (link in the footer)

direct link: https://www.worldhistoryandmythology.com/pages/download-information

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS TIMELINE

Software:

The World History Timeline (WHT) has been created using MS Excel.

For the best user experience the timeline should be viewed and edited using Excel.

Due to the size of the timeline and the large number of entries, the viewing experience using the free online version of Microsoft Excel will be limited.

A free alternative to MS Excel is LibreOffice available for both PC and Mac computers.

The WHT contains over 2,500 columns and therefore, cannot be used with the Apple Numbers spreadsheet app which has a limit of 1000 columns.

Devices:

For the best experience, the timeline should be viewed on a laptop or desktop screen.

The timeline can also be opened on Apple and Android tablets.

Please be aware, that on a small screen, such as a phone, the viewing experience will be extremely limited.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I still use the product if I don't have Excel?
To enjoy the full features of the World History Timeline it is recommended you use the Excel desktop app which is part of Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365.

Mac users can use Excel for Mac.

A free alternative to MS Excel is LibreOffice available for both PC and Mac computers.

The WHT contains over 2,500 columns and therefore, cannot be used with the Apple Numbers spreadsheet app which has a limit of 1000 columns.

Do I need to have the most up to date version of Excel?
If you have Microsoft Excel 2007 for PC or later, or Excel 2011 for Mac or later, you can use all the features of the timeline.

Do I need to be an expert in Excel to be able to use the
products properly?

The World History Timeline is very easy to use.

Navigation instructions are included to help you move around the large amount of information, but if you can use a mouse or touchscreen, you’re good to go.

Are any special Excel tools/features used to create the World History Timeline?
Yes, the file contains a macro to address a known issue with Excel where comments are not always displayed correctly.

Comments will sometimes not display all the text or may appear as a thin horizontal line rather than a correctly sized yellow text box.

The macro offers a straight-forward fix by resizing the comment with a keyboard shortcut.

Where do I find the instructions on how to use the World History Timeline?

Instructions are included as part of the timeline as a separate tab in the file.

Can I add my own entries to the World History Timeline?

Yes, the World History Timeline will come to you as an editable file, so you can add as many new entries as you like.

The timeline also comes with detailed instructions for how to so this.

Can I trust the quality of the information in the World History Timeline?

Yes, all entries have been fact checked to the best of the
creator’s ability.

If however, you do find an error of any kind we would really appreciate you pointing it out to us.

View full details

Snapshots of selected areas of the Timeline

United States

700+ entries

Revolution, Independence, the Founding Fathers and the birth of a nation. Civil War, Emancipation, the Great Depression. Towering figures like Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln shape the fate of a nation. From the vast landscapes of the American frontier to the 50 States of the Union, the American story is one of exploration, innovation, and a pursuit of justice and liberty.

China

800+ entries

The history of China is a journey through thousands of years of cultural richness, innovation, the rise and fall of Imperial dynasties and enduring traditions. The Great Wall, the Silk Road, the Forbidden City - wonders of the ancient and modern world. China’s history is deeply rooted in the teachings of Confucius and Laozi, whose ideas continue to influence a civilization that has endured for millennia.

Ancient Greece

600+ entries

The history of ancient Greece is a journey into the roots of Western civilization, where democracy, philosophy, and art flourished. Imagine walking through the Agora, where Socrates engaged in deep discussions, or standing before the Parthenon, a monument to both the gods and human achievement. Greece's history is one of remarkable contributions to the world, from the epic poetry of Homer to the philosophical writings of Plato and Aristotle.

Ancient Rome

1,300+ entries

The legacy of Ancient Rome endures, inviting exploration of its rich history. Picture the streets of the Eternal City, where emperors, philosophers, merchants and ordinary citizens once walked. The Colosseum and Senate, still standing, echo with stories of power and debate, while Rome's legacy lives on in its language, law, architecture and government.

UK and Ireland

900+ entries

A story of kings and queens, great battles, and ideas that shaped the world. From the Magna Carta to the British Empire, the UK has influenced political thought, cultural development, and scientific discovery. And across the Irish Sea, from the ancient stones of Newgrange to the green fields of Tara, the story of Ireland reveals a nation that has produced a vibrant culture known for its literature, music, and community.

Philosophy

400+ entries

Journey through the corridors of human thought, where the greatest minds have pondered the mysteries of existence, morality, and the nature of reality itself. From Plato's Academy to Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Kant, exploring the history of philosophy is to walk alongside the greatest thinkers, discovering how their ideas have shaped our understanding of reality, morality, and the human condition.

Science and Mathematics

900+ entries

From the ancient discoveries of Pythagoras and Euclid to the medieval contributions of scholars like Al-Khwarizmi, and the ground-breaking work of Galileo and Newton during the Renaissance and Enlightenment. This story reveals how human curiosity has driven progress, shaping our knowledge of the universe and laying the foundations for our modern world.

The Arts

1,000+ entries

Take a journey through the heart of human expression, where painting, sculpture, music, and language come together to reflect our deepest emotions. From the first cave paintings to the masterpieces of the Renaissance, and from ancient chants to symphonies that stir the soul, exploring the history of the arts reveals the beauty and complexity of the human spirit, showing how creativity has shaped our world across time.

Customer Reviews

Based on 22 reviews
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(19)
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D
Doly R
An Actual Masterpiece

I'm no historian. But I do love reading analyses of major historical events and figures and thinking about the connections and turning points that cross time and geographies. This massive (and I mean MASSIVE) timeline is a history visualization tool that makes it significantly more efficient to see those connections. And this tool is fun to play around with even when I'm just watching "ROME" or "Spartacus Blood and Sand." The added context makes the experience of watching these shows that much more fun. "No, I'm not wasting time by watching these shows for a fourth time. It's educational."

Imagine reading Voltaire, wondering why he seemed to be so focused on freedom of thought and speech, and then checking to see who the rulers in France/England were and then researching their policies and then a bit later you see Newton and Locke and are reminded that they played a role in developing Voltaire's arguments so you research them a bit too. After many bottom-less rabbit holes, you start to get a picture of what Voltaire was up against and from where and who he got his ammunition. The connection between these three great thinkers is no secret, but their proximity on the timeline does help make that connection tangible. The point is this is a tool that builds and rewards curiosity.

I like to think that I would have eventually started to build my own version of this if this didn't exist, but I don't think a novice historian could have covered the breadth of this masterpiece. It's not just a matter of knowledge or passion. You do not have the time to build this from scratch.

Every history classroom needs a license to this tool.

That the files are open and editable so I can add whatever additional events and details is the cherry on top.

S
Steve Larsen
Absolutely brilliant

What an awesome and incredible achievement. Being able to see and compare various timelines and the events that occurred around the world in unbelievably revealing. It’s difficult to stop scrolling through and getting new insights. Perhaps best of all is its open architecture which allows you to put your own families timeline and important events into the spreadsheet. So much fun to see which US Presidents were running the country when my great, great grandfather was alive. I absolutely LOVE this program. It’s worth 10X what it costs.

J
Joel Callahan
A fantastic compilation of a massive amount of data in a logical, easy-to-read format!

The World History Timeline is an incredible amount of information that is thoughtfully organised in a manner that makes accessing specific pieces of information easy to find. Or if you just want to browse and compare the state of China as compared to ancient Rome, that's easy, too.
I now keep the WHT open and in the background while I read a history text, so I can have a bit of context. A real-life example: I was reading "The Annals of Imperial Rome" (whose chapters are grouped by years) and I needed a refresher in the order of Roman Emperors. Within a matter of seconds, I had all the info I needed and then more if I wanted to delve deeper.
This much be a work of love that has grown into a professional, slick package.
Thank you for putting this together!!

A
Arun Patel
India section weak

Great concept. I really wish the India section was treated with the same detail as China. Both great ancient civilizations, but need more detail for the Indian subcontinent please.

Thank you for your review Arun. We periodically update the World History Timeline and we're currently working on some new sections and additions to existing sections. We'll be releasing a new version of the Timeline soon and this will include an expanded India section with 100s of new entries. This will be made available free of charge to all existing customers. Regards, Adam

A
Anthony Antes
Overwhelming

I have just started, but, BOY, is this amazing! I can barely start one article but I'm off to another. DEFINITELY worth the price if you are a history buff!!

Image Attribution: All images sourced from Wikimedia Commons

While we have no formal association or financial arrangement with either World History Encyclopedia or Wikipedia, we are very pleased to be able to link to articles on these websites given the quality of the research and writing that their articles offer.