Religious Timelines

Chronology and History of the Old Testament and the Bible

Below is chronology of events and people who appear in writing of the Old Testament of the Bible, from about 800 BCE to Year 0. Reliable information is scanty, so dates are necessarily approximate. Generally, the date given is the latest likely. There are four different types of color-coded dates:

• Dates of possible events in the Bible
• Dates in the composition of the Bible
• Dates in the history and development of other religions.
• Other dates in history for comparison

See also the Old Testament: 10,000 BCE - 800 BCE.

Words in red are linked to our glossary - so clicking on them will take you to much more information than can be included in brief chronology like this.

Old Testament 800 BCE - Year 0
800	Increase in trade and the establishment of governmental defense fortifications allowed for the emergence of Greek city-states from tribal communities. These grew up around marketplaces and include Athens, Thebes and Megara on the Greek mainland. The Greek city-states are considered the most famous units of Greek political life to develop in this society.
800 - 500	This period, often referred to as the Archaic period, marked the developments of literature and the arts, politics, philosophy and science. The Peloponnesian city of Corinth, Sparta and cities along the coast of the Aegean Sea flourished. For the most part, the Greek city-states were similar in their political evolution, with the exception of Sparta's elite dictatorship. Most began their political histories as monarchies, evolved to oligarchies, were overthrown during the age of the tyrants (650-500 BCE), and eventually established democracies in the sixth and fifth centuries. Of the Greek city-states, Athens and Sparta were the two most important.
783 - 748	Jeroboam II King of Israel during period of prosperity.
776	First known dated occurrence of the Olympic Games in Greece.
753	Traditional date for the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus on one of seven hills overlooking the Tiber River.
760-750	Probably composition of Amos in Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II.
c. 750	Probably composition of Micah in Judah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
c. 745	Probable composition of Hosea in Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II.
c. 740-700	Probable composition of the prophetic book of Isaiah. Judah ruled by Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
722	Sargon II of Assyria captured Samaria and brought the Kingdom of Israel to an end. Only Judah remained and the ten tribes deported to Assyria became the "Ten Lost Tribes."
c. 722	Sometime after this year the J and E documents were edited together in an attempt to create a single narrative of Hebrew history and culture, forming the core of the Books of Moses.
715 - 687	King Hezekiah ruled Judah.
c. 700	Horseshoes were invented in Europe.
c. 600s	Probable composition of the first Proverbs.
689	Assyrians destroyed Babylon and flooded the site of the entire city.
687	Latest probable date for the composition of the Priestly (P) document, one of the four basic documents of the Books of Moses.
683	Athens ended the rule of hereditary kings and began rule with nine archons, chosen each year from among the nobles.
682	Judah surrendered to Assyria.
c. 650	Colaeus, Greek merchant, discovered the Strait of Gibraltar for Greece.
c. 650 - 600	Composition of the "Deuteronomist" (D) document, one of the four major sources believed to have been the basis of the Pentateuch (Books of Moses): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
625-610	Probable composition of Nahum in Judah under Josiah.
c. 626-585	Probable composition of Jeremiah in Judah.
622	Law of Moses (Deuteronomy - D) was "discovered" in the Temple at Jerusalem by the priest Hilkiah, during the reign of King Josiah, and adopted as law.
621	Probable composition of Zephaniah in Judah under Josiah.
621	Dracon introduced Athens' first written laws. They were noted for their severity and nearly every offense was punishable by death - thus the term Draconian.
615-598	Probable composition of Habakkuk, perhaps in Judah.
608	Necho of Egypt defeated and killed Josiah, King of Judah, at the Battle of Megiddo.
605	Nebuchadrezzar II the Great became the King of Babylon (until 561). He defeated Necho and the Egyptians at Carcemwash in Syria - Judah thus came under Babylonian rule.
c. 605	Persian religious leader Zoroaster (Zarathustra) founded Zoroastrianism - a faith which would dominate the Persian empire for centuries and later had a profound influence upon Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
c. 600	Aesop, Greek writer, may have lived (but is believed to have been legendary).
c. 600	Probable composition of I and II Kings.
c. 600	Indian priests came to believe that repeating a prayer made it more powerful, so they began using knotted strings as rosaries in order to keep track of the number of times a prayer was said. Monks of the eastern Christian church adopted this practice in the third century CE.
c. 600-400	Probable composition of the Book of Job.
594	Solon became the sole archon of Athens and introduced a new, milder legal code. He also created a court of citizens and reformed the election of magistrates.
c. 592-570	Probable composition of the Prophetic Book of Ezekiel.
586	Destruction of Jerusalem by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar (c. 630-532) ends the "Golden Age" of Old Testament literature. Nebuchadrezzar II took the populace into captivity in Babylon. The Temple was also destroyed at this time, leading to the development of synagogues as centers of Jewish religious life.
580	Nebuchadrezzar II began building the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
565	Daoism (Taoism) was created by Chinese philosopher Lao-tse in the Honan province.
563-483	Probable life of Siddhartha Gautama, later called The Buddha (Enlightened One).
559	Cyrus the Great became King of Persia (until 530), creating the Persian Empire.
551-497	Probable life of K'ung Fu-tzu (Confucius).
539	Greeks defeated Carthaginians. Cyrus conquered Babylon and made both Judah and Phoenicia Persian provinces.
538	Edict of Cyrus allowed some Jews to return to Judah after 49 years of exile by the Babylonians.
c. 538	Probable composition of Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-66).
520 - 515	Jews who returned from the exile constructed the Second Temple.
521	Darius I became ruler of Persia (until 486).
520	Restoration work was resumed on the Temple in Jerusalem (completed in 515).
510	Tarquinius Superbus, last king of Rome, was overthrown in a rebellion.
509	Traditional date of the founding of the Roman Republic.
c. 500	Work began on the Grand Canal in China to link major river systems. Eventually extended 1,000 miles. Chinese invented crossbow.
c. 500	First cataract operations performed in India.
490	Athenians defeated the second Persian expedition at Battle of Marathon.
480	Third Persian expedition was launched against Athens, this time under leadership of Xerxes I (King from 486-465). Persian army numbered at least 180,000 and the Greek rearguard (King Leonidas & personal guard of 300 men) was massacred at Pass of Thermopylae, but they buy time. The Greek fleet later defeated Persians at battle of Salamis.
479 - 438	The philosopher Mo-tzu, founder of Mohism, was born. He taught a message of universal love and compassion for the common plight of ordinary people.
460-451	First Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.
460-429	Age of Pericles in Athens.
458	Ezra returned to Jerusalem. Ezra may have been the one who redacted the J, E, D and P documents into a single narrative.
458	Roman farmer, Cincinnatus, resigned as dictator after defending the city from invaders.
447	Athenians began building the Parthenon.
445	Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.
430	Greek philosopher Leucippus argues that all natural events have a natural cause.
429	Acropolis was finished in Athens. Philosopher Plato was born.
c. 400	The Torah, or "Law," was established as canon and included Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
c. 400	Festival of Samhain (October 31) was first observed in Ireland by Celts. This celebration of summer's harvest included bonfires to scare off evil spirits. Eventually it became known as Halloween.
399	Greek philosopher Socrates was condemned to death for his heretical ideas and teachings.
387	Plato created the Academy, the most influential school of the ancient world.
380-343	Last native Egyptian dynasty, the XXXth.
373 - 288	The Confucianist Meng-tzu (Mencius) was born. He departed from Confucius by positing a theory of just rebellion against immoral rulers.
320 - 235	The philosopher Hsun-tzu, founder of Legalism, was born. A heterodox Confucianist, he believed in moral education and repudiated any belief in a spiritual realm; he also believed that human beings were evil by nature.
c. 350	Probable composition of the Book of Jonah.
350	Jewish revolt against Persians failed.
334	Alexander the Great began his campaign in Persia. He defeated Darius at Issus and later died at Babylon in 323.
325	Earliest known book on strategy and war, The Art of War, was written by Sun-tzu.
301	Ptolemy I ruled Jerusalem.
300	Mayan civilization ruled Yucatan and farther south in Central America
264	Gladiator combat became popular in Rome.
250 - 100	Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek, creating the Septuagint.
221 - 207	Qin Dynasty ruled in China.
214	Construction began on the Great Wall of China. It was designed to keep out a destitute and starving people, the nomadic Hsiung Nu.
215	Shih Huang Ti, first emperor of China, attempted to destroy philosophical texts.
212	Chinese emperor Shihuang burned writings of dissidents and some dissidents themselves.
203	Ptolemy V Epiphanes ruled Egypt (until 181) - at this time the Rosetta Stone was carved, recording his accession.
202 BCE - 220 CE	Han Dynasty in China.
c. 200s	Probable composition of I and II Chronicles, Song of Songs, and many psalms and proverbs.
c. 200	The books known as " The Prophets" were established as canonical. They include Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and 12 minor prophets.
165	Hanukkah was first celebrated by Jews in Palestine as memorial to their victory in Maccabean revolt against Syrians.
167	Zeus was worshipped in the Temple of Jerusalem under persecution of Jews by Antiochus IV. The Jews revolted under leadership of Judas Maccabaeus.
c. 165	Probable composition of the Book of Daniel.
c. 150	Ecclesiastes was written and Old Testament was complete.
146	Romans sold 500,000 Cathaginians into slavery.
141	Jews liberated Jerusalem.
c. 100	Date for the earliest surviving Hebrew texts, the Dead Sea Scrolls.
63	Pompey captured Jerusalem & annexed Syria and Judea.

Continue reading about Biblical history with a timeline about the New Testament.

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