Timeline

3500-3000 BCE – emergence of civilization in Mesopotamia

around 3000 BCE – emergence of civilization in Egypt 

around 2500 BCE – emergence of civilization in Canaan 

around 1500 BCE – invention of alphabet 

1210 BCE – first mention of Israel (Merneptah’s stele) 

around 1000 BCE – Israel becomes a monarchy

around 960 BCE – construction of the Jerusalem Temple

around 930 BCE – the monarchy splits into Northern Kingdom (Israel) and Southern Kingdom (Judah)

around 840 BCE – first mention of the “dynasty of David” (Tel-Dan inscription)

721 BCE – destruction of the Northern Kingdom; Assyrian exile

640-609 BCE – reign of King Josiah in Judah

around 622 BCE – Josiah’s religious reform

609 BCE – Josiah killed by Pharaoh Necho 

609-597 BCE – reign of King Jehoiakim 

605 BCE – Jehoiakim becomes Babylonian vassal

597 BCE (three months) – reign of King Jehoaichin 

597 BCE – Babylonian invasion; Jehoiachin surrenders and is deported to Babylon with his court, officials, and other elites (“exile deluxe”)  

597-586 BCE – reign of King Zedekiah 

586 BCE – destruction of Judah, Jerusalem, and the Temple; most of population deported to Babylon (Babylonian exile) 

561 BCE, March – release of King Jehoiachin from detention in Babylon

539 BCE – King Cyrus of Persia takes over Babylon; end of exile

515 BCE – Jerusalem temple rebuilt

332 BCE – conquest by Alexander the Great

160s – 150s BCE – persecution of Jews by King Antiochus Epiphanes; Judah (Judaea) becomes independent under the Hasmonean dynasty

63 BCE – Judaea conquered by Rome

67-70 CE – unsuccessful Jewish revolt against Rome; Second Temple destroyed, most of population deported 

(BCE = BC; CE = AD)