Making a timelineMaking a timeline

A timeline shows a graphic representation, or picture, of chronology.

Making a timeline lets you understand and remember a sequence of events in a graphic way. This also can help you see possible relationships between events.

Hold your paper in landscape position (so you have the widest area to work on).

Near the top of the paper, draw a line almost the length of your eleven-inch paper; your line should be ten inches long. Be sure to make an arrow at each end, leaving nine and a half inches of line in the middle. Between the arrow points, lightly mark each one-half inch with a vertical line. You should have eighteen of these equal segments to represent equal periods of time.Sample:

One segment = 200 years

Label the dates on the appropriate segments, left to right.

Remember: The oldest dates on your timeline will be those to the furthest left. For BC dates, that means the larger numbers will be furthest left.

Time to add some events! Because you have drawn the timeline near the top of the page, you will have plenty of room to label all of your events and to illustrate the five most interesting ones.

Upper and Lower Egypt united!c. 3100 BCE