Glossary
How we define our terms
Welcome to the site glossary. Here we establish definitions for every site expression we use (e.g. saltiness) as well as state clearly what we mean when we use certain historical terms. While we generally try to stick to historical conventions, occasionally, for the purpose of meeting site needs, we may need to strip terms of the nuance they nominally deserve. We set time periods with fixed dates, divide the timeline into linear eras of human history, group several entities under a single location banner, etc. Since these reflect important curatorial decisions that affect how you should interpret site content, we include our reasoning for our definitions here.
The Book of Definitions
448 terms · 13 concepts · 8 eras · 121 periods · 261 locations · 4 roles · 12 subjects · 8 thread forms · 9 period forms · 12 myth categories
A
- Abbasid CaliphateLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- AberturaPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1974 to 1985. Part of the Cold War.
- Achaemenid EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Iran in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- AgePeriod form
A stretch defined by one or more common historical factors dominating the period.
- Age of DiscoveryPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1415 to 1650. Includes Spanish Colonization of the Americas.
- Age of EnlightenmentPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1685 to 1815.
- Age of JustinianPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 527 to 565.
- Age of RevolutionsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1774 to 1849. Includes the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars and the Spanish-American Wars of Independence.
- AlabamaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- AlexandriaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Algerian WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1954 to 1962. Part of the Cold War.
- Allied-Occupied JapanLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Japan in the statistics.
- AlpsLocation
A region encompassing the Alps mountain range.
- Amarna PeriodPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1353 BCE to 1336 BCE. Part of the Bronze Age.
- American Civil Rights MovementPeriod
The massive, largely non-violent effort to dismantle systems of legalized discrimination and secure civil rights for minorities in the United States during the latter half of the 20th century. Black people in particular had historically been disenfranchised, subject to discriminatory legislation such as the American South's "Jim Crow" laws, and faced immense legal repression. Through legal channels such as the NAACP's challenges to the courts, civil disobedience, and tireless effort, the movement secured its major victory with the passing of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968. Runs from 1954 to 1968.
- American Civil WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1861 to 1865.
- American FrontierPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1783 to 1912. Includes Old West.
- American FrontierLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under United States in the statistics.
- American RevolutionPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1775 to 1783. Part of the Age of Revolutions.
- AnachronismMyth category
Something shown before it existed: an object, a word, a custom or an idea placed in a time that it did not exist yet.
- Ancient GreeceLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Greece in the statistics.
- Ancient WorldEra
One of the eight eras the timeline is divided into, covering 6,000–500 BCE.
- Anglo-Saxon EnglandLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under United Kingdom in the statistics.
- Antebellum SouthPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1812 to 1861.
- ApartheidPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1948 to 1994.
- Arab RevoltPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1916 to 1918. Part of World War I.
- ArgentinaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Argentina in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Argentina (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Argentina. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Arizona TerritoryLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- ArkansasLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- ArtsSubject
Relating to art, architecture, music, or performance: a school, a commission, a work and its making. Of a person: somebody known for making art: painters, architects, composers, musicians, and performers.
- AthleteRole
Somebody known for sport or physical competition.
- Atrocity and PersecutionSubject
Mass violence against civilians or against a people, persecution of minorities, crimes against humanity.
- AugsburgLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- AustraliaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Australia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Australia (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Colony of New South Wales, Australia. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Austria (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Occupied Austria, Habsburg Austria, Austrian Empire, Austria-Hungary, First Austrian Republic, Second Austrian Republic. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Avignon PapacyPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1309 to 1376.
- Ayyubid SultanateLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Egypt in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Azuchi–Momoyama PeriodPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1568 to 1600. Part of Feudal Japan.
B
- BabylonLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- BastogneLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- BeijingLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Khanbaliq (1264–1403).
- BelgiumLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- BerkeleyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- BerlinLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Bonapartist SpainLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Spain in the statistics.
- Bosnian WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1992 to 1995. Part of the Post-Cold War Era.
- BostonLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Bourbon SpainLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Spain in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Brazil (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Sixth Brazilian Republic, Fifth Brazilian Republic, Empire of Brazil, First Brazilian Republic, Second Brazilian Republic, Third Brazilian Republic, Fourth Brazilian Republic. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- British MaltaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- British RajLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under India in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- BrittanyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Bronze AgePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 3300 BCE to 1200 BCE. Includes Indus Valley Civilization, Egyptian Early Dynastic Period, Amarna Period, the Trojan War and Bronze Age Collapse.
- Bronze Age CollapsePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1200 BCE to 1100 BCE. Part of the Bronze Age.
- BurgosLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Byzantine EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Greece in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Age of Justinian happens.
- Byzantine–Ottoman WarsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1265 to 1479.
C
- CaliforniaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Cambodia (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Democratic Kampuchea, Khmer Republic, Kingdom of Cambodia. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- CambridgeLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Canadian ArcticLocation
The area making up the modern Canadian province of Nunavut.
- CaribbeanLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Century of HumiliationPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1839 to 1949.
- ChalcolithicPeriod
A transitionary period between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, the Chalcolithic or Copper Age, represents the time when human societies began to develop early metallurgy, but prior to their full adoption of alloy smelting as in the Bronze Age. Do note that the year boundaries of this period are highly variable depending on location and these specific boundaries are most accurate for Europe and the Near East. Runs from 3500 BCE to 2300 BCE.
- ChicagoLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- China (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Han Dynasty China, Yuan Dynasty China, Zhou Dynasty China, Republic of China, Qin Dynasty China, Ming Dynasty China, Qing Dynasty China, People's Republic of China. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Chola EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under India in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Classical WorldEra
One of the eight eras the timeline is divided into, covering 500 BCE–400 CE.
- Cliff's deltaConcept
A non-parametric effect size: pick one title at random from each group, and delta is how much more often one beats the other. It runs from −1 to +1, with 0 meaning no difference.
- Coalition Provisional AuthorityLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Cold WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1946 to 1991. Also dated 1945–1991 (Dated from the end of World War II and the Yalta and Potsdam conferences, where many histories begin the split between East and West). Includes the French Indochina War, the Korean War, the Algerian War, the Space Race, the Vietnam War, the Years of Lead, Abertura and the Iran-Iraq War.
- Colombia (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Republic of Colombia, Viceroyalty of New Granada. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Colombian Drug WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1970 to 1993.
- Colony of New South WalesLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Australia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Colony of New ZealandLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Commonwealth of the PhilippinesLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Confederate States of AmericaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- ConflationMyth category
When several people or events get merged into one, often to condense down the story for the sake of simplicity or pacing.
- Contemporary EraEra
One of the eight eras the timeline is divided into, covering 1946 – present.
- Counter-ReformationPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1545 to 1648.
- Crime and TerrorSubject
Criminal enterprise, murder, assassination, or terrorism. Of a person: somebody known for criminal conduct within their time: thieves, killers, con men, and the corrupt.
- CrisisPeriod form
A stretch defined by one or more crises dominating the lives of a significant amount of people.
- Crisis of the Roman RepublicPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 133 BCE to 27 BCE. Includes the Gallic Wars.
- Crown of CastileLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Spain in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
D
- Daily LifeMyth category
Errors in how ordinary people are shown to have eaten, dressed, washed, worked, relaxed, and passed their days.
- Democratic KampucheaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Cambodia in the statistics.
- DisasterSubject
A catastrophe, natural or accidental.
- Dominion of IndiaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under India in the statistics.
- Duchy of NormandyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
E
- Early Dynastic Period EgyptLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Egypt in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Early Modern EraEra
One of the eight eras the timeline is divided into, covering 1492–1750.
- Eastern Front (World War II)Period
The war between Nazi Germany and its allies and the Soviet Union, from the invasion of June 1941 to the fall of Berlin in May 1945: the largest and deadliest theater of the Second World War. Runs from 1941 to 1945. Part of World War II.
- EconomicSubject
Relating to trade, industry, or a commercial network: a trade route, an exchange of goods, or a business. Of a person: somebody known for conducting business: entrepreneurs, company founders, merchants, and tradespeople.
- Edwardian EraPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1901 to 1914.
- Egypt (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Ptolemaic Egypt, New Kingdom Egypt, Kingdom of Egypt, Roman Egypt, Early Dynastic Period Egypt, Old Kingdom Egypt, Republic of Egypt, Ayyubid Sultanate. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Egyptian Early Dynastic PeriodPeriod
The period defined by the early unification of the kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt under one crown and the establishment of the Egyptian dynastic state that would eventually become the Egyptian Old Kingdom. The first two Egyptian dynasties (of the traditional Egyptian dynastic record) are included within this period. Runs from 3150 BCE to 2686 BCE. Part of the Bronze Age.
- Empire of JapanLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Japan in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Meiji Era happens.
- EraConcept
One of eight fixed spans covering the whole timeline, from Pre-History to the Contemporary Era. Every year on our timeline belongs to exactly one, and an era's color is used consistently wherever the archive is charted. These eras exist primarily as categorization tools for site content and do not necessarily represent boundaries recognized by historical scholarship.
- Era ErrorMyth category
An error about a specific period in time, whether it be about the prevailing attitudes of a society, the availability of certain materials, or simply a mischaracterization of the era.
- EventThread form
A dated happening, from a single day to a campaign of a few years: a battle, an assassination, a disaster, a treaty, an expedition.
- ExpansionPeriod form
A stretch defined by territory being pushed into, settled or colonized.
- ExplorationSubject
Relating to the discovery of new places or things. Of a person: somebody known for going where their contemporaries had not: endeavoring merchants, navigators, frontier explorers, missionaries, and astronauts.
F
- Feudal JapanPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1185 to 1868. Includes Azuchi–Momoyama Period.
- Fifth Brazilian RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Brazil in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Abertura, Years of Lead happen.
- Filibuster WarsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1803 to 1860.
- FilmographyConcept
On Period Piece, we create filmographies for historical persons. By this, we mean pages where readers can see every title directly or indirectly featuring a portrayal of a historical individual, how many years on the timeline they are represented in, what other figures they often appear with, and other related statistics.
- First Empire of HaitiLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Haiti in the statistics.
- First French EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under France in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- France (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Kingdom of France, French Third Republic, Occupied France, First French Empire, Revolutionary France, French Fifth Republic, Gaul, French Fourth Republic, Bourbon Restoration, July Monarchy, French Second Republic, Second French Empire, Provisional Government of the French Republic. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- French AlgeriaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- French IndochinaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- French Indochina WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1946 to 1954. Part of the Cold War.
- French RevolutionPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1789 to 1799. Part of the Age of Revolutions.
- French Third RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under France in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- French Wars of ReligionPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1562 to 1598.
G
- Galápagos IslandsLocation
A region encompassing the Galápagos Island chain.
- Gallic WarsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 58 BCE to 50 BCE. Part of Crisis of the Roman Republic.
- GaulLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under France in the statistics.
- GenevaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- GeorgiaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- GermanyLocation
A place on the archive’s register that no title names yet, gathered under Germany in the statistics.
- Germany (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Nazi Germany, Holy Roman Empire, Weimar Republic, German Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, German Confederation, Kingdom of Bavaria, Allied-occupied Germany, West Germany, East Germany, Germany. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Gilded AgePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1869 to 1901.
- Gothic WarsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 248 to 554.
- Great DepressionPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1929 to 1939. Part of the Interwar Years.
- Great Puritan MigrationPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1620 to 1640.
- Great Teutonic WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1409 to 1411. Part of the Northern Crusades.
- Greco-Persian WarsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 499 BCE to 449 BCE.
- Greece (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Ancient Greece, Kingdom of Macedonia, Byzantine Empire. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- GuadalcanalLocation
A region encompassing the island of Guadalcanal.
H
- Habsburg AustriaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Austria in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Habsburg NetherlandsLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Netherlands in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Habsburg SpainLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Spain in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Haiti (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Saint-Domingue, First Empire of Haiti. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Haitian RevolutionPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1791 to 1804. Part of the Age of Revolutions.
- Han Dynasty ChinaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under China in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- HawaiiLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Hellenistic PeriodPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 323 BCE to 31 BCE.
- High Middle AgesPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1000 to 1300.
- Ho Chi Minh CityLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Saigon (1698–1975).
- Holy Roman EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Germany in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Human EvolutionPeriod
A time period spanning the development of near-human ancestors such as Homo Heidelbergensis up to the emergence of modern Homo Sapiens, roughly 125,000 years ago. Runs from 3,000,000 BCE to 125,000 BCE.
- Hundred Years’ WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1337 to 1453.
- Hungary (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Austria-Hungary, Hunnic Empire. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Hunnic EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Hungary in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
I
- Icelandic CommonwealthLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Imjin WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1592 to 1598.
- Inca EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Peru in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- India (group)Location
A modern heading gathering British Raj, Dominion of India, Mughal Empire, Mohenjo-daro, Maratha Empire, Maurya Empire, Chola Empire. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Indian IndependencePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1885 to 1948.
- Indian TerritoryLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Indus Valley CivilizationPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. Part of the Bronze Age.
- Industrial RevolutionPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1760 to 1870.
- Information AgePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1947 to the present.
- InstitutionRole
Somebody known for serving within a large institution rather than leading it: government workers, intelligence officers, police, diplomats, advisors, and courtiers.
- InstitutionThread form
An organization that is not a state: military units, courts, government offices, religious groups, companies, etc.
- Interim Government of SomaliaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Interwar YearsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1918 to 1939. Includes Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression.
- InventionMyth category
A convention with no basis in the record at all: pure cinematic invention that has become the way the past is expected to look.
- Iran (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Islamic Republic of Iran, Achaemenid Empire, Sasanian Empire. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Iran-Iraq WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1980 to 1988. Part of the Cold War.
- Iraq WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 2003 to 2011. Part of the War on Terror.
- Ireland (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Kingdom of Ireland, Irish Republic, Ireland (UK). The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Ireland (UK)Location
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Ireland in the statistics.
- Irish Civil WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1922 to 1923.
- Irish RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Ireland in the statistics.
- Irish War of IndependencePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1919 to 1921.
- Iron AgePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1200 BCE to 500 BCE.
- Islamic Golden AgePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 786 to 1258.
- Islamic Republic of IranLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Iran in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- IstanbulLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Constantinople (330–1453).
- Italian RenaissancePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1453 to 1527.
- Italy (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Roman Italy, Kingdom of Italy (HRE), Kingdom of Italy, Ostrogothic Kingdom. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Iwo JimaLocation
A region encompassing the island of Iwo Jima.
J
- JapanLocation
A place on the archive’s register that no title names yet, gathered under Japan in the statistics.
- Japan (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Sengoku Japan, Tokugawa Shogunate, Empire of Japan, Ashikaga Shogunate, Japan, Allied-Occupied Japan. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- JoseonLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under South Korea in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
K
- KansasLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- KentuckyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Kenya ColonyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Khamag MongolLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Khmer RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Cambodia in the statistics.
- Kievan Rus'Location
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Russia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Tatar Yoke happens.
- Kingdom of BavariaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Germany in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of CambodiaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Cambodia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of DahomeyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of EgyptLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Egypt in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of EnglandLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under United Kingdom in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of FranceLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under France in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of Great BritainLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under United Kingdom in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of IrelandLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Ireland in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of ItalyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Italy in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of Italy (HRE)Location
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Italy in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of JerusalemLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of LaosLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of MacedoniaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Greece in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of NorthumbriaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of PrussiaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Germany in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of ScotlandLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under United Kingdom in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Kingdom of SwedenLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Sweden in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Korean WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1950 to 1953. Part of the Cold War.
- KrakówLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- KyotoLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
L
- Late AntiquityPeriod
A period marked by the decline of the Roman Empire and constituting the Mediterranean world's transition toward the Medieval period. Generally starting with the Crisis of the Third Century, Late Antiquity would see a number of political and social evolutions crop up around the Roman world, from the construction of walls around cities that could no longer trust a centralized army to reliably protect them to changes in the concentration of political power. Runs from 284 to 476.
- Late Middle AgesPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1300 to 1500.
- LawThread form
A body of law: regulations as enforced by a state, institutional efforts to mandate behaviors or prosecute offenders.
- LegendaryRole
Somebody whose existence as a historical person is disputed or unsupported.
- LifePeriod form
A stretch that represents the life of one person.
- Life of ChristPeriod
The approximate life of the historical figure of Jesus Christ, from his birth to his ministry as a preacher in the Roman province of Judaea to his crucifixion on the orders of Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Runs from 4 BCE to 33. Part of Pax Romana.
- Life of MuhammadPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 570 to 632.
- Location groupConcept
Location groups are our term for modern overarching terms to collect many different locations from history under one easily searchable banner. They are not mutually exclusive, but are designed to group related entities based on their geographic locations, e.g. the location group "France" containing everything from Roman Gaul to the modern 5th Republic. Location groups are mostly intended to serve as search terms, not fixed geographic categories.
- LondonLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Los AngelesLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- LouisianaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- LourdesLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- LübeckLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
M
- ManchesterLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- MantuaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Maratha EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under India in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Peshwa Era happens.
- Marcomannic WarsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 166 to 180. Part of Pax Romana.
- MarginaliaConcept
Marginalia on Period Piece represent our added editorial commentary on site content. Longer form posts are kept in a dedicated Marginalia section where we may discuss our methods, respond to reader feedback, give updates on site development, or highlight interesting site content. Smaller updates or clarifications we may write as small glosses that will appear on relevant years on the timeline.
- MarylandLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- MassachusettsLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Maurya EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under India in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Maya MesoamericaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- MeccaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Medieval EraEra
One of the eight eras the timeline is divided into, covering 400–1492.
- MedinaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Yathrib (until 621).
- Meiji EraPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1868 to 1912.
- MelbourneLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Methods and TacticsMyth category
Errors in depicting how people actually went about fighting or conducting armed conflict.
- Mexican PorfiriatoLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Mexico in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Mexican RevolutionPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1910 to 1920.
- MexicoLocation
A place on the archive’s register that no title names yet, gathered under Mexico in the statistics.
- Mexico (group)Location
A modern heading gathering New Spain, Mexico, First Mexican Empire, First Mexican Republic, Centralist Republic of Mexico, Second Federal Republic of Mexico, Second Mexican Empire, Restored Republic of Mexico, Mexican Porfiriato, Revolutionary Mexico. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Migration PeriodPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 300 to 600.
- MilitarySubject
A battle, siege, campaign, invasion, or war. Of a person: somebody known for fighting or commanding in war: generals, admirals, officers and ordinary soldiers alike, whether they served a state, a rebellion or themselves.
- MisattributionMyth category
A deed, discovery, invention, or quote credited to the wrong person or words/actions falsely said to be from a real historical person who said/did no such thing.
- MississippiLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Mohenjo-daroLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under India in the statistics.
- Mongol ConquestsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1206 to 1337.
- Mongol EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline, in which Mongol Conquests happens.
- MoscowLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- MotiveMyth category
When cinematic motivations and actions of individuals or groups of people do not line up with the character of either specific historical people or how societies at the time would have acted.
- MovementThread form
People acting together for a cause or a belief: religious acts, civil resistance, social justice reform, unionization, and cross-organizational coordination.
- MovementPeriod form
A stretch defined by people acting together toward a stated aim or in concert with a specific body of ideas.
- Mughal EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under India in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Reign of Akbar happens.
- MunichLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
N
- NanjingLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Napoleonic WarsPeriod
The period of time encompassing the fight between the Great Powers of Europe in the wake of the French Revolution. Do note that we've marked this period to include the Wars of the First and Second Coalitions (1792-1802) which are not always grouped together under the Napoleonic Wars generally. Runs from 1792 to 1815. Part of the Age of Revolutions. Includes the Peninsular War.
- NatalLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Nazi GermanyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Germany in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Netherlands (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Occupied Netherlands, United Kingdom of the Netherlands, Habsburg Netherlands. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- NetworkThread form
A series of connections: commerce channels, the movement of people, or the maintenance of continued pathways for long-term interaction.
- New EnglandLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- New JerseyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- New Kingdom EgyptLocation
The reign of the Egyptian New Kingdom dynasties that emerged out of the disunity of the previous Second Intermediate Period. The New Kingdom period is often considered a high water mark of the ancient Egyptian civilization and includes many of its most famous rulers, such as Ramesses II, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Akhenaten, and Ramesses III. This period is also marked by immense civil construction projects and military expansion efforts from the Egyptian state. Gathered under Egypt in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Amarna Period, Ramesside Period happen.
- New MexicoLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as New Mexico Territory (until 1911).
- New OrleansLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- New YorkLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Province of New York (until 1776).
- New York CityLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as New Amsterdam (1624–1664).
- New Zealand WarsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1845 to 1872.
- NormandyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- North AtlanticLocation
A region encompassing the northern half of the Atlantic Ocean.
- North CarolinaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Northern CrusadesPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1195 to 1410. Part of The Crusades. Includes the Great Teutonic War.
- Novgorod RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Russia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
O
- Occupied AustriaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Austria in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Occupied CzechoslovakiaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Occupied FranceLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under France in the statistics.
- Occupied NetherlandsLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Netherlands in the statistics.
- Occupied PolandLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- OkinawaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Old Kingdom EgyptLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Egypt in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Old WestPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1865 to 1895. Part of the American Frontier.
- Ostrogothic KingdomLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Italy in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Ottoman EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- OxfordLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Oyo EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
P
- Pacific WarPeriod
The war fought across the Pacific Ocean and East and Southeast Asia between Japan and the Allies, from the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 to Japan’s surrender in September 1945. Runs from 1941 to 1945. Part of World War II.
- PaleolithicPeriod
The Paleolithic or Old Stone Age marks the longest span of human history, stretching from the first known use of stone tools by human ancestors until some 12,000 years ago and the dawn of the Neolithic. The emergence of sedentary, agriculturally-based societies is the traditional terminus of the period. Runs from 3,000,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE.
- Paleolithic AfricaLocation
An area covering the African continent until the dawn of the Neolithic period around roughly 10,000 BCE.
- Paleolithic EarthLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Paleolithic EuropeLocation
An area covering the European continent until the dawn of the Neolithic period around roughly 10,000 BCE.
- ParisLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Pax MongolicaPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1250 to 1350.
- Pax RomanaPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 27 BCE to 180. Includes the Life of Christ and the Marcomannic Wars.
- PeleliuLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Peninsular WarPeriod
The campaign by Napoleon's First French Empire and its allies to subjugate Spain and repel foreign interventions by France's enemies in the wake of Napoleon's forced abdication of the Spanish monarch Ferdinand VII in 1808. What started as a relatively brief initial conquest quickly transitioned into a quagmire of guerilla fighting for the French occupying forces. Runs from 1807 to 1814. Part of the Napoleonic Wars.
- PennsylvaniaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- PeriodConcept
A period or time period is a sub-division of the full timeline that captures a particular span of years. Periods can intersect across era boundaries and, for the purposes of being attached to reviews, are often regionally relevant (i.e. It is likely that only titles set in England will be directly tagged with the period "Stuart England"). It is important to note that, while we often align our periods with historical conventions so as to avoid confusion, the chief purpose of periods on the site is to facilitate the grouping of related content (e.g. "World War II" content) and provide interesting comparisons such as through the Compare Time Periods tool. We cannot and do not claim that our definitions of what constitute historical time periods, either in description or span are academically rigorous representations of what is accepted by wider scholarship.
- PeruLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Peru in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Peru (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Peru, Viceroyalty of Peru, Inca Empire. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Peshwa EraPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1713 to 1818.
- PetraLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- PoliticalSubject
A change in who governs or how: a coup, an assassination, a revolution, a partition, or the death of a ruler. Of a person: somebody known for holding or seeking power over a state: monarchs, emperors, presidents, ministers, and revolutionaries.
- PompeiiLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Portrayed Figure / Inspired FigureConcept
On this site, a portrayed figure constitutes a historical figure that was directly featured in a title by historical name and appearance. For example, Napoleon in the film Waterloo (1970) is a direct portrayal of the historical figure, Napoleon Bonaparte. By contrast, an inspired figure is one whose actions, characteristics, or influence are used significantly within a story without being named or given to another character. An example of the latter form would be Tokugawa Ieyasu who is not directly featured in Shōgun (2024), however, his actions and role in historical events are effectively given to the fictional character Yoshii Toranaga instead.
- Post-Cold War EraPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1991 to the present. Includes the Sierra Leone Civil War and the Bosnian War.
- PracticeThread form
A custom, entertainment-form, or way of doing things: specific rituals, activities, or persistent acts within communities.
- Pre-HistoryEra
One of the eight eras the timeline is divided into, covering before 6,000 BCE.
- Presidential Republic of ChileLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Private individualRole
Somebody known for what happened to them specifically rather than for their profession: survivors, bystanders to history.
- ProcessThread form
A long sequence of change with multiple defining moment: the rise of a faith, the fall of a republic, the spread of a technology.
- ProjectThread form
A deliberate undertaking with a specific goal: research programs, civil infrastructure efforts, or experimental efforts.
- Protestant ReformationPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1517 to 1648.
- Provisional Government of the French RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under France in the statistics.
- Ptolemaic EgyptLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Egypt in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- PunjabLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
Q
- Qin StateLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Qing Dynasty ChinaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under China in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Questionable SourcesMyth category
When a title rests serious historical claims off the back of unreliable, mythical/legendary, or sparse historical sources. Note that not every title depicting mythological events is necessarily tagged with perpetuating this myth, only those that claim more historical authority than their sources really allow.
R
- Ramesside PeriodPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1292 BCE to 1077 BCE.
- RecifeLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Regency EraPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1811 to 1820.
- ReignPeriod form
A stretch named for, and bounded by the administration of: a monarch, dynasty, or ruling house.
- Reign of AkbarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1556 to 1605.
- ReligiousSubject
The founding, spread, or suppression of a faith, or violence carried out in its name. Of a person: somebody known for their place in a religion: its founders, prophets, saints, holy people, and clergy.
- Republic of Bosnia and HerzegovinaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Republic of ChinaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under China in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Republic of ColombiaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Colombia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Republic of EgyptLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Egypt in the statistics.
- Republic of Sierra LeoneLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Republic of VenezuelaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as State of Venezuela (1830–1864), United States of Venezuela (1865–1952). A realm on the timeline.
- Revolt and RevolutionPeriod form
A stretch bounded by an uprising against an established order, whether it succeeded or failed.
- Revolutionary EraEra
One of the eight eras the timeline is divided into, covering 1750 – 1914.
- Revolutionary FranceLocation
A descriptor for France as it existed over the course of the French Revolution, including under the control of the National Assembly, the establishment of the French First Republic (1792), through the Directory (1795), and ultimately up to Napoleon's reformation of France into the First French Empire in 1804. Gathered under France in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Revolutionary MexicoLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Mexico in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Roaring TwentiesPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1920 to 1929. Part of the Interwar Years.
- Roman BritainLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under United Kingdom in the statistics.
- Roman EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Western Roman Empire (285–476). A realm on the timeline, in which Pax Romana happens.
- Roman ItalyLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Italy in the statistics.
- Roman JudeaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Roman RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline, in which Crisis of the Roman Republic, Gallic Wars, Servile Wars happen.
- RomeLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Rurikid DynastyPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 862 to 1598.
- Russia (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Russian Empire, Soviet Union, Kievan Rus', Grand Duchy of Moscow, Tsardom of Russia, Russian SFSR, Russian Federation, Novgorod Republic, Volga Bulgaria. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Russian EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Russia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which 1905 Revolution happens.
- Russo-Turkish WarsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1568 to 1918.
S
- Saint PetersburgLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Petrograd (1914–1923), Leningrad (1924–1991).
- Saint-DomingueLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Haiti in the statistics.
- SaltinessConcept
Saltiness is our own metric for determining the historical accuracy of a title. Since we encourage all of our readers to take whatever they watch with at least a grain of salt, our minimum saltiness score, and accordingly, our highest accolade for historical accuracy is 1. On the opposite spectrum are titles that take so many liberties with the historical narrative that they can hardly be relied upon to convey an accurate feeling of the past at all. For these, we award a saltiness ranking of 5.
- San FranciscoLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- ScaleMyth category
When armies, cities, crowds, distances, and fortunes are shown at the wrong size, whether taking ancient overestimations at face value or underestimating actual history.
- Science and TechnologySubject
Relating to scientific discovery or the creation and or spread of new technologies or new ways of doing things. Of a person: somebody known for their work in the sciences, mathematics, or engineering: modern scientists, scholars, and ancient polymaths.
- Second Punic WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 218 BCE to 201 BCE.
- Second Sino-Japanese WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1937 to 1945. Part of World War II.
- Sengoku JapanLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Japan in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Azuchi–Momoyama Period happens.
- Servile WarsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 135 BCE to 71 BCE.
- Seven Years' WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1756 to 1763.
- ShanghaiLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Sierra Leone Civil WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1991 to 2002. Part of the Post-Cold War Era.
- Sixth Brazilian RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Brazil in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- SocialSubject
A movement to change living standards within a society and or a general social evolution of or upheaval in society. Of a person: somebody known for changing a society or speaking for it: reformers, activists, campaigners, and organizers.
- South AfricaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- South CarolinaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Province of South Carolina (until 1776).
- South KoreaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under South Korea in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- South Korea (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Joseon, South Korea. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- South VietnamLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- Soviet UnionLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Russia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Space RacePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1955 to 1975. Part of the Cold War.
- Spain (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Bonapartist Spain, Kingdom of Navarre, Habsburg Spain, Crown of Castile, Bourbon Spain, Crown of Aragon, Taifa of Valencia. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- Spanish Colonization of the AmericasPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1493 to 1697. Part of the Age of Discovery.
- Spanish EmpireLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline, in which Spanish Golden Age happens.
- Spanish Golden AgePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1492 to 1659.
- Spanish-American Wars of IndependencePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1808 to 1830. Part of the Age of Revolutions.
- SpartaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Spring and Autumn PeriodPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 770 BCE to 481 BCE.
- SrebrenicaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- State of the Teutonic OrderLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- StrasbourgLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Stuart EnglandPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1603 to 1714.
- SusaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Sweden (group)Location
A modern heading gathering Kingdom of Sweden, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- SyracuseLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
T
- Taifa of ValenciaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Spain in the statistics. Known as Lordship of Valencia (1094–1102). A realm on the timeline.
- Tatar YokePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1237 to 1480.
- TechnologyPeriod form
A stretch defined by the tools and materials people worked with, from stone and copper to steam and the atom.
- TechnologyMyth category
Errors in depicting how a weapon, tool, craft, machine, or technology actually worked, and what it could and could not do.
- Territory of New GuineaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- TexasLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- ThailandLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- The BreakdownConcept
The Breakdown represents four sub-categories we use to help determine our ultimate saltiness score for a title:
The first two categories, materials and setting, are visual criticisms. By these, we look to see whether a title is historically faithful by what it chooses to show onscreen. Are the costumes right for the time period? Is the environment accurate to how people of the time might have experienced it? Are props made of anachronistic materials? Through these questions, we seek to answer whether what appears onscreen is visually faithful to what a real person might have experienced.
By faithfulness to events, we evaluate how the plot of a title and the events therein line up against what the historical community has written for an event. Were important actions condensed or ignored? Do fictional events supersede real ones? However, historical ambiguity is also a very real concern for any potential story. A title solving this ambiguity by choosing from one of several proposed historical narratives is not inherently inaccurate. A title that instead chooses a plot direction that is not backed up by any historical writing whatsoever would be.
Finally, we assess a title on its historical authenticity. Does the sum of the film's parts accurately capture an impression of a historical moment in time? Even if it uses fictional characters in a historical setting, do they act in line with historians' understanding of that time? Do audiences come away with an accurate feeling of what it might have been like to experience such a time?
- The CrusadesPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1095 to 1291. Includes the Third Crusade and the Northern Crusades.
- Third CrusadePeriod
The effort by the kings Richard I of England (the Lionheart), Philip II of France, and Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire to recapture Jerusalem after its fall to the Ayyubid Sultanate under Saladin in 1187. The overall results of the expedition were mixed, as though Jerusalem did not fall to the crusaders as initially desired, the key cities of Jaffa and Acre did and the remaining Crusader states in the region were able to persist for that much longer. Runs from 1189 to 1192. Part of The Crusades.
- Third Rwandan RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Thirteen ColoniesLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under United States in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- ThreadConcept
A thread is a specific data type on the site that is intended to document very specific events or historical concepts. Every thread is given a detailed explanation of its significance and is attached to at least one review. "Pulling a Thread" narrows the timeline view to just those titles that have been tagged with that specific thread. These threads may transcend eras and or time periods.
- Three KingdomsPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 184 to 280.
- Time CompressionMyth category
When journeys, campaigns and processes are shown as far quicker, or slower, than they really were.
- TitleConcept
A title for our purposes is a complete media entity: either an entire film or an entire TV series. For our statistical counting purposes, TV series' attributes are averaged or summed as needed to constitute a singular title. On the timeline, however, we do record individual episodes of a series separately so as to document their potential historical nuance with increased granularity and more usefully capture a series as it has a greater opportunity to evolve from episode to episode and season to season.
- Tokugawa ShogunateLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Japan in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- TokyoLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Edo (1457–1867).
- TorontoLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- ToursLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Trojan WarPeriod
The semi-mythical conflict of Greek mythology waged between the Achaean Greek states and the city-state of Troy, now thought to be located at Hisarlık in Turkey. The historicity of the Trojan War is highly questionable, and while archaeological excavations at Hisarlık have produced evidence that the city may have been sacked or heavily damaged during the Bronze Age, the involvement or even existence of all the same players or turn of events as described in the Iliad and Odyssey are highly doubtful. This period span is set to represent a time in the 13th to 12th centuries BCE that a Trojan War that could have provided the basis for the stories of Greek mythology might have taken place. Runs from 1250 BCE to 1180 BCE. Part of the Bronze Age.
- Tsardom of RussiaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Russia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Rurikid Dynasty happens.
- Tudor EnglandPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1485 to 1603.
U
- United KingdomLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under United Kingdom in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- United Kingdom (group)Location
A modern heading gathering United Kingdom, Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Great Britain, Roman Britain, Kingdom of Scotland, Anglo-Saxon England. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- United Kingdoms of Sweden and NorwayLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Sweden in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- United StatesLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under United States in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- United States (group)Location
A modern heading gathering United States, American Frontier, Thirteen Colonies. The entries themselves are never rewritten.
- UnsaltedConcept
Unsalted refers to the classification we give a title we have not yet assessed for historical accuracy. For our recording purposes, this renders as a 0 on saltiness, however, any and all unsalted titles are removed from statistical displays so as not to skew the data. A title being unsalted has no bearing on its actual accuracy. The minimum saltiness score / our demarcation for the most historically faithful possible title is always a 1.
- UtahLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
V
- ValenciaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- VeniceLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- VerdictConcept
A verdict is a brief summary explanation of our reasoning for assigning a certain saltiness score to a title. For a full explanation along with citations, we implore readers to always consult the full review of an entry.
- Viceroyalty of New GranadaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Colombia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Viceroyalty of PeruLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Peru in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- VictoriaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Colony of Victoria (until 1900).
- Victorian EraPeriod
The period denoting the rule of Queen Victoria of England, from her accession to the throne to her death. This period is generally marked by the ascendancy of the British Empire and as a time of great technological and social reform. Runs from 1837 to 1901.
- ViennaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Vietnam WarPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1955 to 1975. Part of the Cold War.
- Viking AgePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 793 to 1066.
- VirginiaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Virginia Colony (until 1776).
- Volga BulgariaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Russia in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- VolgogradLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. Known as Tsaritsyn (1589–1924), Stalingrad (1925–1961).
W
- WarPeriod form
A stretch bounded by the outbreak and the end of large scale fighting.
- War of CyprusPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1570 to 1573.
- War of the League of CognacPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1526 to 1530.
- War of the Spanish SuccessionPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1701 to 1714.
- War on TerrorPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 2001 to 2021. Includes the Iraq War.
- Warring States PeriodPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 475 BCE to 221 BCE.
- Wars of AlexanderPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 336 BCE to 323 BCE.
- Wars of German UnificationPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1864 to 1871.
- Wars of Scottish IndependencePeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1296 to 1357.
- Washington D.C.Location
A place named by titles in the archive.
- WaterlooLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- Weimar RepublicLocation
A place named by titles in the archive, gathered under Germany in the statistics. A realm on the timeline.
- Western Front (World War I)Period
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1914 to 1918. Part of World War I.
- Western Front (World War II)Period
The war in Western Europe: the German conquest of the Low Countries and France in 1940, and the Allied return from the Normandy landings of June 1944 to Germany’s surrender in May 1945. Runs from 1939 to 1945. Part of World War II.
- Western XiaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
- World War IPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1914 to 1918. Includes Western Front (World War I) and the Arab Revolt.
- World War I Western FrontLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
- World War IIPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1937 to 1945. Also dated 1931–1945 (China's official dating since 2017, the Fourteen Years' War, from Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931); 1939–1945 (The conventional Western dating, from Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939). Includes the Second Sino-Japanese War, Western Front (World War II), Eastern Front (World War II) and the Pacific War.
- World Wars EraEra
One of the eight eras the timeline is divided into, covering 1914 – 1945.
- Writing and ThoughtSubject
Relating to ideas and the written word: a philosophy, a book, a press, or a school of thought. Of a person: somebody known for what they wrote or taught: philosophers, authors, and journalists.
- Wyoming TerritoryLocation
A place named by titles in the archive.
Y
- Years of LeadPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1968 to 1974. Part of the Cold War.
- YugoslaviaLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
Z
- Zhou Dynasty ChinaLocation
The reign of the longest-ruling dynasty in Chinese history, the Zhou. The Zhou ruled over an expansive territory in what is now modern China and are famous as the cultural progenitors of some of China's most enduring philosophies: Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. Gathered under China in the statistics. A realm on the timeline, in which Spring and Autumn Period, Warring States Period happen.
- Zulu KingdomLocation
A place named by titles in the archive. A realm on the timeline.
#
- 1905 RevolutionPeriod
A named period on the timeline. Runs from 1905 to 1907.
Nothing under that heading.
The Book of Citations
Every claim the archive has answered for, and the source that answers it. A citation is attached to a specific assertion inside a review or a myth page rather than to the page around it, so each row links straight to the claim it answers for.
6 claims answered for, across 2 titles and 1 myth.
The Praetorian Guard did not wear purple cloaks, nor black armor. In fact, within the boundaries of the city of Rome, the guard would often be more likely to just carry their sword and wear a toga than don armor.
Gregory S. Aldrete, Graham Sumner, Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen: Myth Versus Reality (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2023).
GladiatorFilm · 2000
The Roman cavalry are all depicted in the film as using stirrups, a technology that would not have been available at this time in the Roman World.
Gregory S. Aldrete, Graham Sumner, Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen: Myth Versus Reality (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2023).
GladiatorFilm · 2000
Homo Erectus first emerged around 2 million years ago and is known for being the first hominin to migrate out of Africa, with some populations surviving to potentially as recently as 120,000 years ago
Peter Bellwood, The Five Million Year Odyssey: The Human Journey from Ape to Agriculture (Princeton University Press, 2022).
One Million Years B.C.Film · 1966
The ancient Greek custom of Aristeia, or the single-handed achivements done by great warriors on the battlefield, was a feature of epic poetry to distinguish the fearsomeness of champions, not a reflection of actual warfare.
F. E. Adcock, The Greek and Macedonian Art of War (University of California Press, 1957).
The cohesiveness of infantry formations like the phalanx was central to its success. This is why attacks such as missile fire from light troops or shock charges from cavalry were often focused on trying to dissolve this cohesion.
Fernando Echeverría Rey, “Taktikè Technè" — The Neglected Element in Classical 'Hoplite' Battles,” Ancient Society 41 (2011): 45-82.
Viking armies of the 10th and 11th centuries were composite forces from a variety of sources, including men personally loyal to and maintained by the king, hosts loyal to familial or social relations of the king, and lesser chieftains throwing in their forces for a portion of battle loot after the fighting.
Gareth Williams, Viking Warrior Versus Anglo-Saxon Warrior: England 865-1066 (Osprey Publishing, 2017).
The Book of Glosses
Glosses are short commentaries from our editors, each pinned to a year on the timeline. They explain certain site decisions and inclusions, address potentially confusing items, and add further context to site content where it is needed.
2 glosses · a short note pinned to a year on the timeline, earliest year first.
2001: A Space Odyssey is noted here for its famous "Dawn of Man" sequence which takes a rare cinematic look at the start of the Paleolithic period and the evolution of early human ancestors. Any historicity assessments therein are focused entirely on that segment and not on the rest of the film which depicts an entirely fictionalized future.
3,000,000 BCE 2001: A Space Odyssey12 August 2026
Titles portraying the Exodus that are assigned to this year are those that date the historical basis for the Exodus story to the reign of Ramesses II.
1250 BCE21 September 2026
The Book of Mythology
Patterns the archive sees cinema repeat about the past, each written up with what the record shows instead and the sources that say so. Reviews are tagged with the myths they repeat or reject.
1 myth written up · each links to what the record shows instead.
No myth under that heading.