I thought we were an autonomous collective.

Timeline: 1945 A.D.- Present

We are currently living in the Age of Information, where man has walked on the moon and faster-than-light travel is possible. Well, not quite yet. As can be expected during the Age of Information, information is readily available to people, be it through books, cell phones, the internet, or immeasurable other resources.

Rapid spread of information does not always have good results, though. In retaliation to offensive comics depicting the prophet Mohammad appearing in Danish newspapers, Muslims rioted and burned a Danish Embassy, as well as committing other violent acts and boycotting Danish goods.

Timeline: 1945 A.D.-1991 A.D.

The Cold War was not truly a war in the sense that there was no actual fighting- just hatred an mistrust- between the United States and the Soviet Union. The United States opposed Stalin's main goal, which was to spread communism. There were also arms races between the two countries, and tensions were extremely high. (Ever watch Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb? Yeah. All that jazz.)

Timeline: 1936 A.D.-1945 A.D.

The three major players in the Axis during the Second World War were Germany, Italy, and Japan. One event of WWII was the Japanese invasion of China in 1937. The Japanese justified the attack with "The Chinese Incident," saying the Chinese had attacked them.

Hitler used many and varied techniques to help the Nazi rise to power. Many of his "mannerisms," (for lack of a better word,) were copied from fellow fascist Benito Mussolini, i.e. the Nazi salute, and the goosestepping employed by Nazi marchers to inspire fear.

Timeline: 1914 A.D.-1919 A.D.

After Germany's defeat during World War One, they were made to pay huge amounts of reparations for the war (which severely weakened their economy,) give up territory, and claim responsibility for the entire war (which was humiliating and damaged Germany's pride a great deal.)

It was during World War One that Germany released Stalin into Russia to cause political turmoil. They succeeded, Stalin overthrowing the Russian government and ending absolute monarchy in Russia, also causing Russia's withdrawal from the war.

Timeline: 1750 A.D.-1914 A.D.

The Industrial Revolution not only marks numerous inventions but a large shift from rural dwelling to urban, and the rise of factories. During the Industrial revolution there was also a rise in the middle class, who now included some factory owners. Mass production became the norm for manufactured goods, driving many small shop owners out of business (before the Industrial Revolution, everything was handmade; for example, with the invention of the spinning jenny, thread could be quickly and cheaply woven, and there was no reason to buy more expensive handmade clothing.)

The Industrial Revolution also made it's impact on war. With new, fast, deadly weapons like machine guns, combat had to change, as the "meet in a field, 'allo chap,' shoot, retreat," tactics no longer worked.

Timeline: 1789 A.D.-1815 A.D.

Under the Constitution of 1791 there was no social classes, nobles, peasants, and middle class all had equal rights. The old titles of nobility were abolished, and everyone was addressed as "Citizen," and "Citizeness."

After Napoleon had taken power, he spread his army across Europe, and with it the ideals of the Revolution. These ideas, although generally accepted by the people under Napoleon's rule, they came to resent French rule. And although he built up a mighty Empire, he was eventually defeated and exiled.

Timeline: 1500 A.D.-1800 A.D.

The Age of Reason was a period of time when scientific study flourished and logic (deductive v. inductive reasoning) took hold among the masses. It is during this time that the scientific method (hypothesis, testing, revise hypothesis, etc.) was created and put to use in laboratory settings.

Timeline: 1500 A.D.-1795 A.D.

The Age of Absolute Monarchs was marked by the monarchies across Europe that weilded absolute power over the government. These monarchs were treated as if they were God's earthly representitive, as they were believed to be from the Great Chain of Being.

Timeline: 1450 A.D.-1750 A.D.

The Age of Exploration is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: an age of exploration. It was during this time that European nations "discovered" the Americas. Of course, not all of Europe participated in the Age of Exploration; Germany was not yet unified enough (in addition to being landlocked,) and Russia did not have the technology to participate.

Not everything that came out of the Age of Exploration was good. Explorers traveled all over the world, including Africa, where they took slaves and set up a triangle slave trade.

Timeline: 1517 A.D.-1600 A.D.

The Reformation was the split of the Catholic Church into the Catholic and Protestant Churches, caused by a number of factors. Many people at the time were unhappy with the Catholic Church, and wanted reforms within the Church that were not going to come.

The Reformation was in part caused by the practice of selling of Indulgences, a major source of revenue for the Church, but also a sore point among those wanting reforms in the Church. (Indulgences granted pardons for sins committed without need of a service; basically a "Get out of Hell free card."

Timeline: 1350 A.D.-1600 A.D.

The Renaissance was the rebirth of Classical thinking of the ancient Greeks and Romans. It ushered a new age of reason and logic throughout Europe. Many things were invented during the Renaissance, including plans and early models for much later inventions, and this lust for discovery led to many things.

Timeline: 500 A.D.- 1350 A.D.

Plague ran rampant throughout the Middle Ages, notably the Black Plague which is reputed to have killed as much as a third of all of Europe. However, those who survived the myriad of plagues were henceforth immune to those diseases, and this immunity was transferred to the survivor's children.

The Middle Ages, specifically the Dark Ages were not heavy on the enlightened thinking. There was much intolerance, and pogroms on Jewish communities were not an uncommon thing. "Witches" were also scapegoated, and horribly unfair trials took place (if they took place at all.)

The Crusades, sanctioned by the Pope to regain the Holy Land of Israel from the Muslims, took place during the Middle Ages. There was much pillaged during the Crusades, including books from the Romans, Greeks, and Byzantines.

Timeline: 395 A.D.-1453 A.D.

Byzantium was founded by the Christian Constantine to escape from Rome's pagan past. It was intended to be a heaven on earth, based on entirely Christian principals and law. Constantinople was intended to be the new capitol of Rome, the "Center of the Christian World." The Byzantine government combined the religious ruler with the secular one, making the Emperor supreme in his rule (indeed, as his right to rule was said to be from God.)

Byzantium had a great influence on Russia (thinks largely to the efforts of Prince Vladimir of Kiev.) THe two cultures traded extensively, and basically, Byzantium was the template to which Russia modeled itself.

Timeline: 509 B.C.-476 A.D

The Romans had three major wars with Carthage (a neighboring empire,) the third of which resulted in the burning of the city of Carthage. After the Roman's first victory, Carthage was forced to give up Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia, causing Rome to become a major naval battle. Bitter over their losses, Carthage attacked Rome for a second time, resulting in another Roman victory.

During the Pyrrhic War, in which Rome battled King Pyrrhus of Epirus, King Pyrrhus won two major victories, but not without heavy losses. He was reported to have said, "Another such victory over the Romans and we are undone," and the term Pyrrhic Victory came about, describing a battle which comes at a heavy cost.

When Julius Caesar ruled Rome, he put a great deal of work into stimulating the economy and ending unemployment. One thing he did was create large-scale public works that helped many and generated a great deal of money.

Timeline: 2000 B.C.-133 B.C

Greece was made up of many city-states, exhibiting a wide range of governments. Athens was a republic, a system in which the citizens (or representatives of the citizens) elect rulers (as opposed to them coming to power through war or heredity.)

Timeline: 7000 B.C.-30 B.C

The Hyksos ruled Egypt during the period between 1650 B.C. and 1550 B.C. The Hyksos were nomadic peoples, and comquered Lower Egypt in 1650 B.C. through a combination of military strategy and superior technology, chariots for example. (The Egyptians had never before seen horses and were easily defeated by the chariot riding Hyksos.)

In approximately 3100 B.C., the legendary Egyptian Pharaoh Menes united Upper and Lower Egypt, greatly strengthening Egypt as a whole. It had been the goal of many of a previous Pharaoh to unite Upper and Lower Egypt under their rule.)

During the reign of Amenhotep IV, or Akhenaten, made the god Aten (a sun god,) supreme over all others. During his rule (1379-1361 B.C.) the temples of other gods were destroyed or descecrated. It is believed that Akheaten was the first monotheist (though the Egyptian culture did return to normal after his rule ended.)