The warp drive was invented by mankind c.M18. Prior to this, interstellar travel was limited to sub-light speeds. Travel between star systems was painfully slow, taking many generations of travel. The warp drive was one of the most revolutionary inventions in human history - what took many generations now took days. Consequently Mankind's colonisation of The Galaxy was vastly accelerated.
Known History of Humanity
The Overall history of Humanity. based on the Old Imperial Calendar.
Dark Age of Technology
14000 24000
The Dark Age of Technology was the zenith of mankind's scientific knowledge and technological power. Even millennia later mankind has not been able to equal or regain their former height of achievement. This age was long before the Age of the Imperium and knowledge of this time period is now incredibly sparse, and many "facts" about it are mere legend. It was the highest point of scientific achievement accomplished by humanity. Although a "golden age" in terms of scientific achievement, because of the catastrophic effects of the following Age of Strife, mankind has since come to regard scientific knowledge as abhorrent and dangerous. The Age of Technology is thus considered "dark" in the Imperium's current age. It is also considered a dark age because mankind in the Age of Technology had come to worship science as God. This period of history occurred at an older age that was thousands of years ago. Depending on sources, the Dark Age of Technology started between M15 and M21 and ended between M23 and M25. https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Dark_Age_of_Technology
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17000 DAoT
Creation of the Warp Drive
Technological achievement -
22000 DAoT
24000 DAoT
Cybernetic Revolt
Military: War
Age of Strife
24000 29798
The Age of Strife, also known as Old Night, was a destructive, anarchic and regressive time period prior to the forming of the Imperium. It followed the Dark Age of Technology, which by all accounts was an age of great prosperity. The Age of Strife began in M25 and ended in M30. https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Age_of_Strife
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25000 AoS
The Sol System is Cut off From the Galaxy
Era beginning/endCa. M25 the Sol System is cut off by Warpstorms.
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26500 AoS
26500 AoS
The Last Earth Martian War
Disaster / DestructionFollowing the final Earth Mars WMD exchange, both planets destroyed the vast majority of there infrastructure and manufacturing power isolating them to their individual worlds. The devastation on Earth leads to mob violence and fragmentation of what little world government was left.
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26500 AoS
Last Earth Mars War
Disaster / Destruction -
26500 AoS
27000 AoS
The Rise of the Mechanicum
Era beginning/endThe fall of Old Mars was a blow that disabled all that lived and all that worked upon its surface. But it did not last for long. Despite the fact that many abominable mutants and disgusting techno-barbarians were now warring with one another just as much as they fought against the unquestionably treacherous men of iron that still walked, there were rumors growing and spreading all over the now blasted Red Planet. And they spoke of an intensely devoted and highly religious group coming out of the shelters and the bunkers that saved so many who were fortunate enough. They who call themselves.... the followers of the Cult Mechanicus.
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26600 AoS
Emergence of the Unspeakable king
Life, IdentityThe Unspeakable King was a terrifying warlord of Terra during the Age of Strife, possibly in M27. The horror of his rule became the subject of legend for generations to come. He was served by the Hollow Ones, an order of pariahs analogous to the Silent Sisterhood, and was according to some legends a powerful psychic null himself. He ruled Albia and defeated the Panpacific Empire, assuming the titles "Magna Albia" and "Archtyrant of Panpacifica". Perhaps the Unspeakable King conquered much of the northern hemisphere, perhaps 75 percent of the earth as a reference to the British Empire of old. One of the most powerful Warlord in terra, rules a loose empire over most of the world. This isn’t a direct dictatorship but rather a feudal one.
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26600 AoS
29000 AoS
Mars Expands
"As lulls between the waves of Warp Storms allow, the fleets of Mars travel outwards, raiding for lost technology and establishing new colonies of Tech-adepts. With a few exceptions, such travels remain limited in scope and stay within the confines of what will later become known as the Segmentum Solar.”
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27000 AoS
29710 AoS
The Warring Techno-Barbarian Era
Era beginning/end -
27600 AoS
Founding of the Jovian Conspiracy
The Heavily populated Jovian Moon develop into a multitude of warring faction. Minority Alien groups take advantage of this and carve up ever growing enclaves of power. Although never formally established these factions work towards the same path of dominating the local human populace in and around Jupiter.
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27800 AoS
28100 AoS
Mechanicus Invasions of Terra
Era beginning/endThe Cult Mechanicus of Mars invades of Terra on multiple occasions. Successful taking rare relics of the dark age of technology back to Mars.
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28400 AoS
28600 AoS
Disappearance of the Unspeakable King
Cultural eventAt some point the Unspeakable King disappears, his empire fractures into dozens of small polities as a succession crises erupts. Perhaps mid 28M.
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29400 AoS
The Unification Wars Begins
Military: War“The Unification Wars, also known as the Wars of Unification, the Unity Wars, The Unification or just The Unity, were a series of conflicts fought on Terra beginning in the 29th Millennium at the end of the Age of Strife and lasting into the middle-to-late centuries of the 30th Millennium.” Warhammer40k.fandom.com
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29550 AoS
Prototype Legionaries
Technological achievement“The Primordial Strain, The Emperor of Man begins his Space Marine project beneath the mountains of the Himalayas, creating the Primordial Strain of prototype Legionaries. These warriors are unstable and imperfect, but form the foundation for his future work building the Space Marine legions.” -
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29669 AoS
29669 AoS
Battle of Gaduare
Criminal Activity"The Battle of Gaduare was one of the last battles of the Unification Wars that took place in Europa on Terra. It was also known as the Massacre of Gaduare, for it was less a battle than it was a brutal slaughter." - wh40k.lexicanum.com_Battle_of_Gaduare
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29699 AoS
29699 AoS
Battle of Mount Ararat
Military action -
29699 AoS
29700 AoS
Imperial Palace Coup
Diplomatic action"The Palace Coup was an attempted coup by dissatisfied members of the Imperium towards the end of the Unification Wars." - wh40k.lexicanum.com_Palace_Coup
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29703 AoS
29703 AoS
The First Pacification of Luna
Military action"The First Pacification of Luna saw the complete subjugation of Terra's moon, Luna, by the early Legiones Astartes. The first true battle of the Great Crusade, the subjugation of Luna allowed the Emperor to use its advanced genetics facilities to mass-produce His Space Marines." wh40k.lexicanum.com_First_Pacification_of_Luna
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29712 AoS
End of the Unifications Wars
Life, Achievement/ WinThe Emperor Declares Victory in his wars of Unification of Terra.
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29739 AoS
The Treaty of Olympus
Political event"The Treaty of Olympus was a diplomatic agreement between the Imperium of Man and the Martian Mechanicum binding the former to the latter."