Understanding the past
How dates work, then the people and ideas that shaped the world.
Core subjects
History: timelines, civilisations and inventions
History resources that focus on chronology and big ideas that are useful anywhere in the world. Where a topic follows one country's curriculum, the page says so.
- 1Learn it
- 2See it worked
- 3Try it online
- 4Print it
- 5Check your answer
Start here: learning journeys
All history lessons with practice and answers
Timelines, BC and ADLearn how timelines work, what BC/AD and BCE/CE mean, how to count years across year 1 and which century a year belongs to — worked examples, quiz and printable sheet.. Online + PrintAncient civilisationsA clear overview of major ancient civilisations — Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, Ancient China, Greece and Rome — with a timeline, key ideas, quiz and printable answers.. Online + PrintInventions that changed the worldExplore key inventions from writing and the printing press to electricity, vaccines and the internet — when they appeared, why they mattered, with a quiz and printable timeline.. Online + Print
Guidance
How to get the most from these
- Use timelines constantly — sequence is the backbone of history.
- Ask ‘how do we know?’ to introduce sources and evidence.
- Local museums and family stories make periods real.
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026