0220 - 0280
Three Kingdoms period in China. The Wei in the north, the Shu in the Southwest and the Wu in the Southeast.
0250
Chocolate is consumed by the Mayan elite and cacao beans are widely used as currency in Mesoamerica.
0275
The Hierapolis Sawmill in Turkey is the earliest known sawmill.
0300
Black pepper becomes popular in Chinese cuisine.
0320 - 0570
The Gupta Dynasty rules in India.
0347
First known drilling of an oil well takes place in China.
0350
Water-powered sawmills spread throughout central Europe.
0354 - 0430
St Augustine.
0395
The Roman Empire is divided, creating the western Roman Empire and the eastern Byzantine Empire based on Constantinople.
0400 - 0600
Tea is often prescribed as a medical drink in China
0400
Apicius, the first cookbook known, mentions the use of mustard and other spices.
0408
Alaric I, King of the Visigoths, spares Rome on payment of '5,000 pounds of gold, 30,000 pounds of silver, 4,000 silken tunics, 3,000 hides dyed scarlet, and 3,000 pounds of pepper'.
0410
Alaric I, King of the Visigoths, sacks Rome.
0470
The Mayans spread tobacco smoking through the Americas.
0500
The fur trade is already well established in Russia.
0500 - 1000
The Tiwanaku people rise to prominence, building temples and trading in gold, pottery and textiles, but the civilisation collapses after a drought.
0500
The decimal number place system invented by Indian mathematicians is in use.
0529
Saint Benedict founds a monastery in Monte Cassino and they produce wine and other forms of alcohol. As Benedictine monasteries spread across Europe, so does knowledge of wine and spirit making.
0570 - 0632
Muhammad.
583
Tch’in period in China sees imperial patronage of porcelain manufacture resulting in an expanding trade.
0589 - 0618
The Sui Dynasty in China.
0600
Cotton spreads from India to the Middle East.
0600
Indian mathematicians introduce the number zero.
600
Persian cooks mix eggs, flour, butter, cream and honey to make biscuits.
0610
The art of paper making reaches Japan via Buddhist monks.
0618 - 0907
Tea, as an infused drink, becomes popular during the Tang Dynasty.
0618 - 0907
The Tang Dynasty in China. Emperor Taizong restores prosperity to China.
0627
The Battle of Nineveh. Byzantine forces defeat the Persians, ending the Byzantine-Sassanid War, but leaves both Empires weak.
0632 - 0750
The Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates expand Muslim influence.
0636
Muslim forces capture Jerusalem.
0637
Muslim forces capture Syria.
0639
Muslim forces capture Egypt.
0642
Muslim forces conquer Persia and learn about sugar cane.
0645
Muslim planters introduce sugar cane to Egypt.
0650
The decimal number place system is adopted in Persia and spreads throughout the Middle East. Because Europe receives it from the Arabs they are known as Arabic Numerals.
0652
Muslim forces conquer much of North Africa.
0654
Muslim forces capture Cyprus.
0657
Emperor Taizong defeats Turkish armies in Krygystan.
0674 - 0678
Muslim forces lay siege to Constantinople but fail to take it.
678 - 1279
Beginnings of the export of porcelain from China under the Tang dynasty, particularly to the Middle East.
0700
The earliest surviving picture of chocolate being poured is drawn on a Mayan vase.
0700 - 0800
Arab traders probably introduce opium to both India and China.
0700
The Anasazi, Hohokam and Mogollon cultures are established in what is now Arizona and New Mexico, building pueblo towns and villages.
Baku people use oil for heating.
0701 - 0762
Li Bai, Chinese poet.
0712 - 0770
Du Fu, Chinese poet.
0712
Sake is mentioned in the Kojiki chronicle of Japan.
0712
Muslim forces capture much of what is now Pakistan and India.
0717 - 0718
Muslim forces lay siege to Constantinople for a second time unsuccessfully.
0718
Muslim forces conquer much of what is now Portugal and Spain.
0720
Muslim planters introduce sugar cane to Spain.
0720
Spanish gold and silver production decreases following the Muslim invasion.
0721
Muslim forces are defeated at the Battle of Toulouse.
0724
Liang Ling-Can invents the first fully mechanical clock.
0725
Tea is now known as 'cha' in China and has its own character.
0730 - 0804
Alcuin.
0732
Muslim forces are defeated at the Battle of Tours, halting their advance into Europe.
0750 - 1200
Silver mines are developed in Central Europe.
0750 - 1517
The Abbasid Caliphate.
0750 - 1258
The Islamic Golden Age sees the building of great Mosques, important developments in science, medicine, mathematics and philosophy and the spread of paper from China to the Middle East and into Europe.
0751
The art of paper making spreads to the Middle East.
0751
Muslim forces capture much of Central Asia from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
0756
Caliph Al-Mansur sends troops to help the Chinese Tang Dynasty repress the An Shi Rebellion.
0762
Baghdad is established as the capital of the Caliphate.
0767 - 0822
Saicho, a Buddhist monk, helps to plant and popularise tea in Japan.
0768 - 0814
Reign of Charlemagne, King of the Franks.
0770
Lu Yu writes the Cha Jing or 'Classic of Tea' - a guide to tea origins, preparation and etiquette.