Our Ancient History section covers the time period from 10,000 BC to 500 AD. From the beginning of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent to the rise and decline of the ancient Egyptian empire to the civilizations in China, this era of human history provided the foundation of the many advancements and conflicts found today in the modern world. A brief timelime of Historic Ages and Eras Age or Era Time Period Stone Age c. 70,000 - 3,000 BC      Palaeolithic era (Early Stone Age) c. 70,000 - 20,000 BC      Mesolithic era (Middle Stone Age) c. 20,000 - 7000 BC      Neolithic era (New Stone Age) c. 7000 - 3000 BC Bronze Age c. 3000 - 1200 BC Iron Age c. 1200 - 600 BC     Egyptian Period c. 3100 - 30 BC Greek Era c. 510 - 146 BC      Greek Dark Ages c. 1200 - 900 BC      Archaic Period c. 900 - 510 BC      Classical Period 510 - 404 BC      Hellenistic Period 404 - 146 BC Roman Empire c. 500 BC - 476