Timeline of geopolitical changes (before 1500)

This is a timeline of geopolitical changes around the world prior to 1500. It includes dates of declarations of independence, changes in country name, changes of capital city or name, and changes in territorial ownership such as the annexation, occupation, cession, concession, or secession of land. Territorial conquests as a result of war are included on the timeline at the conclusion of major military campaigns, but changes in the course of specific battles and day-to-day operations are generally not included.

Before the Common Era (BCE)

From the 4th Millennium BCE to the 2nd Millennium BCE, hundreds of proto-cities in the Near East, Egypt, and the Indus Valley transition into city-states. Records of those geopolitical changes are complicated by mythologization, historical revisionism, missing information, lack of corroborating primary sources, and lack of archeological evidence. Consequently, the tables in that range are not comprehensive.

Year	Event
Before 3200 BCE	Prominent Sumerian city-states Eridu, Bad-tibira, Larak, Sippar, and Shuruppak exercise pre-dynastic kingship.
c. 3200 BCE	Protodynastic Egyptian Kings unify Upper Egypt's regional power centers of Thinis, Naqada, and Nekhen.
c. 3200 BCE	The First Dynasty of Kish is established in the Sumerian city of Kish.
c. 3200 BCE	The First Dynasty of Uruk is established in the Sumerian city of Uruk.
c. 3080 BCE	Narmer unites Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt under the First Dynasty of Egypt. Memphis becomes the capital of all Egypt.