The eras of history on a timeline
From the pharaohs to World War II: in HistoryBytes, every era is its own season, with short episodes about the people, places, events, ideas and objects of its time. And new eras are added all the time.
Antiquity
c. 3000 BC – AD 500The first civilizations, gods and empires: pharaohs, Greek heroes and the emperors of Rome.
Season 4 · 3100 BC - 30 BCPharaohs of Egypt
Three thousand years on the Nile: pyramids, hieroglyphs and rulers like Hatshepsut and Ramesses II. Learn how a civilisation built monuments for eternity and what lay behind its dream of immortality. Your legacy in the sand.
5 episodes free205 episodesExplore the season
Season 1 · 753 BC - 476 ADEmperors of Rome
From the Republic to the fall of the West: Caesar at the Rubicon, intrigue in the Senate, gladiators in the Colosseum and emperors who shaped a world empire. Witness the rise and fall of antiquity's mightiest city. Ave, Caesar!
Completely free204 episodesExplore the season
Season 3 · Mythic Age - 146 BCEchoes of Olympus
Gods, heroes and philosophers: from Mount Olympus to the Acropolis, from Troy to the first Olympic Games. Discover the myths and thinkers who laid the foundations of our world. The legends are calling.
5 episodes free205 episodesExplore the season
Season 8 · 4 BC – 33 ADThe Son of Man
Judaea under Roman rule: legions, rebels and temple priests struggle for power. In the middle of it all, a man appears whose message will change the world. The history behind one of humanity's most influential stories.
From November 25, 2026
Season 11 · 375 – 453 ADAttila
The Scourge of God: the Huns sweep in from the steppe as the Western Roman Empire crumbles. From Attila and the general Aëtius to the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. Only the arrow decides.
From February 25, 2027
Middle Ages
c. 500 – 1500Vikings at sea, knights in their castles and samurai in faraway Japan.
Season 9 · 750 – 1258 AD1001 Nights
Where myth and history merge: the Baghdad of the caliphs, scholars in the House of Wisdom, caravans across the desert and the silent Assassins. A world of knowledge, power and secrets.
From December 25, 2026
Season 2 · 793 AD - 1066 ADViking Sagas
Longships on the open sea: follow the Norsemen from the fjords of Scandinavia to England, Iceland and Vinland. Meet kings like Harald Fairhair, the world of the Norse gods and the battles that changed Europe. Skål!
5 episodes free203 episodesExplore the season
Season 6 · 1050 - 1485 ADTales of Chivalry
Knights, castles and tournaments: from Joan of Arc to the Magna Carta. Discover the Middle Ages behind the legends, with crusades, feudal lords and ideas that still shape Europe today. For honour and steel.
5 episodes free204 episodesExplore the season
Season 5 · 1185 AD - 1868 ADWhispers of the Samurai
The way of honour: Japan's warrior class between katana and calligraphy. From legendary duels like Ganryujima to shoguns, daimyō and the code of bushidō. One cut decides.
5 episodes free205 episodesExplore the season
Early modern & modern era
c. 1500 – 1900Revolutions, discoveries and the dream of flight.
Season 14 · 1796 - 1815 ADNapoleon
From Corsican to Emperor: revolution, Austerlitz, the Napoleonic Code and the retreat from Russia to Waterloo. Witness the rise and fall of the man who redrew Europe. Vive l'Empereur!
From May 25, 2027
Season 10 · 1865 - 1895 ADGunslinger
The Wild West beyond the legend: gold rush, railroads and outlaws like Billy the Kid. Explore the line between law and anarchy, and the peoples whose land the frontier swallowed. High noon awaits.
From January 25, 2027
Season 12 · 1891 – 1937 ADDream of Flight
The dream of flight: from Lilienthal's gliders and the Wright brothers to Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. Inventors, daredevils and records in the young sky. Only the sky decides.
From March 25, 2027
20th century
from 1900The wars and upheavals that shaped the world we live in.
Season 13 · 1920 - 1933 ADCosa Nostra
From the villages of Sicily to the streets of Chicago: how the Mafia was born, grew rich during Prohibition and who stood up to it, from Al Capone to Falcone and Borsellino.
From April 25, 2027
Season 7 · 1939 - 1945 ADWW2
The greatest conflict in history, told up close: from Normandy and Stalingrad to El Alamein and the Pacific. The people, places and decisions that still shape our world today.
From October 25, 2026Explore the season
History goes on
We are constantly working on new seasons. The next eras are already in the works, and Premium gives you every new season automatically as soon as it is released.
The eras of world history at a glance
History makes sense when you see how the eras follow and overlap each other. The timeline above places every HistoryBytes season where it belongs in world history.
What are the main eras of history?
Western historians usually divide the past into prehistory, antiquity, the Middle Ages and the modern era. The most recent period, especially the 20th century, is often called contemporary history. Other parts of the world have their own divisions, Japan for example speaks of the Kamakura, Sengoku or Edo periods.
When was antiquity?
In the broad sense, the ancient world begins with the first civilizations and the invention of writing around 3000 BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Classical antiquity, the world of the Greeks and Romans, runs roughly from the 8th century BC to the end of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476.
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What defines the Middle Ages?
The Middle Ages cover roughly the years 500 to 1500. It is the age of kings and lords, castles, monasteries and knights, but also of the Vikings, the Crusades and great trading cities. The printing press around 1450, the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and Columbus's voyage in 1492 are seen as turning points at its end.
What is the modern era?
From around 1500, the modern era brings voyages of discovery, the Reformation and the Enlightenment. The French Revolution of 1789, Napoleon and industrialization transform Europe. In the 20th century, the world wars shape history.
Do historical eras overlap?
Yes, and that is what makes history so exciting. Cleopatra ruled Egypt while Caesar rose to power in Rome. Samurai were still fighting in Japan long after the modern era had begun in Europe. And while knights built their castles in Europe, Vikings sailed as far as America.
What is the best way to learn the eras of history?
Instead of memorizing dates, it helps to understand connections: who lived when, what happened where and which ideas changed the world. That is exactly how HistoryBytes works. Each season tells the story of an era in short episodes, with collectible cards, quizzes and a world map.
Frequently asked questions
Which season is free?
Season 1, Emperors of Rome, is completely free, forever. Every other season comes with its first five episodes free, and Premium unlocks the rest.
Do I have to play the seasons in order?
No. Each season is its own path. You can go chronologically or simply start with the era that interests you most.
How many seasons are there?
6 seasons are already playable, and more are in the works. New seasons are added regularly, and Premium gives you every one of them automatically.
Which devices does HistoryBytes run on?
iPhone, iPad and Android. Your progress is tied to your account and syncs across all your devices.
Start with Rome, for free
Season 1 is completely free, forever, with no ads and no credit card. Every other season comes with five free episodes to try.