Find out the latest news about World Ancestry here. Please check here regularly, for an answer to a question concerning the site may already be present.

From the first anatomical Homo sapiens to the formation of the world's first major civilizations. Prehistory encompasses human history before written documents, and even those first documents tell us little. During this period we see the fall of Neandertals followed by the rise of humans and their civilizations (200,000 years ago to c3700 BCE).

The first form of writing is introduced; polities in Egypt and Mesopotamia rise and fall as various ethnic groups move throughout the ancient world, carving a path and leading the way for classical ideas; and the seeds of the earliest empires are planted (3700-600 BCE).

The road to modern thought was conceptualized and began construction during this period. We also see the rise and fall of the world's great empires (600 BCE-500 CE).

The Medieval Era encompasses three distinct ages: the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, and the early Modern Age. During this era Europe was shroud in darkness after the fall of western Rome. Innovations left by the ancients were all but lost and civilization had to reboot, in some cases starting from scratch (c500-1450 CE).

The expansion of European countries across the Atlantic and around the cape of Africa set the stage for today's modern Western cultures and economies. We see here the Reformation and Enlightenment periods, the colonization of North and South America, the forming of the U.S., the rise and fall of the British Empire, and the first world wars (c1500-Present).

Recommend ideas for the website and community and tell tell us your thoughts on the current layout. We appreciate all feedback and ideas.

Let us know of any bugs you find and read our growing list of frequently asked questions.