Doctor Who Chronology: Prehistory

A young Sun shines on the debris that will eventually form the Earth.

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Before the creation of the universe

In a "time" before time as we understand it begins, the Disciples of Light rise up against a massive, horned Beast and, in his own words, "chain him to the Pit for all eternity". While it is unclear exactly what this means, after the universe comes into existence the Beast is trapped at the core of a planet named Krop Tor in close orbit around a black hole, a prison that he cannot escape without be pulled into the black hole. Also after the crossover, the Beast is able to spread some influence across the universe, causing many civilizations to develop horned demons and devils as part of their religions, including Satan and Lucifer on Earth.

A similar being by the name of Abaddon appears to suffer the same fate as the Beast, eventually finding itself held prisoner beneath the Cardiff Rift on Earth.

"The Impossible Planet" (DW2), "The Satan Pit" (DW2) and "End of Days" (TW). (Assuming, of course, that the Beast is telling the truth.)

c. 13 798 000 000 BC

The universe is created when the time-travel-capable Terminus space-station visits the beginning of time and is forced to eject some of its unstable fuel, causing the massive explosion later known as the Big Bang or Event One. Terminus is thrown forward through time billions of years and comes to rest in the center of the universe. It is possible that the Doctor witnessed the Big Bang.

An anti-matter universe is also created, which will co-exist with the original for all time. Also formed in the explosion are two ultimate forces of Good and Evil; the Evil force will become the being dubbed Fenric by the Vikings.

The Ancient Lights, energy beings from the previous universe (where the laws of physics are different enough to allow astrology to work), survive the end of their universe and the Big Bang, passing through to our reality. They will wait nearly 14 billions years for the correct universal conjunction of stars to allow them to fully manifest and take control of the universe.

During the first three seconds of the explosion, called the lepton epoch, helium-2, which is not able to exist after these few seconds, is produced. Some time after the Event, electrons and protons combine into hydrogen, one of the basic building blocks of the Universe. The TARDIS, thrown back in time by the Master and crewed by the newly-regenerated 5th Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa, almost materializes at this point in history, which would vaporise it. The crew manage to avoid this fate.

Moments after the universe's creation, the Shadow is placed at the beginning of time by the Black Guardian to await the existence of the Key to Time.

The date for the creation of the universe is from current scientific estimates. Terminus and the cause of the Big Bang is from "Terminus" (DW1). The Doctor implies he was present at the Big Bang in "Destiny of the Daleks" (DW1). The existence of the anti-matter universe is established in "The Planet of Evil" (DW1). Fenric is from "The Curse of Fenric" (DW1). The Ancient Lights are from "Secrets of the Stars" (SJA). The lepton epoch timing is from current scientific theory, and is mentioned in "Time and the Rani" (DW1), where it is called the "leptonic era". Helium-2, however, seems to be an invention of that story. The TARDIS' near destruction was featured in "Castrovalva" (DW1). The creation of hydrogen, also referred to that serial, is also from current scientific theory. In "The Armageddon Factor" (DW1), the Shadow says he has been waiting for the Key to Time "since eternity began".

After billions of years, the first planet is formed, a world later dubbed Planet One. On Planet One is a cliff made of pure diamond and carved on it are the first words in the history of the universe. Although the words remain untranslated by everyone else, the Doctor and Amy later discover that the message reads, "HELLO SWEETIE ΘΣ Φ ΓΥΔϟ", a message and temporal co-ordinates left by River Song.

"The Pandorica Opens" (DW2).

Sometime between the Big Bang and the formation of the Earth marks the beginning of "the Dark Times", a chaotic period in the universe's history which sees the rise of many powerful races including the Racnoss, the Carrionites (banished from reality by the Eternals using "the right words"), the Weeping Angels and the ancestors of the Gallifreyans. Some species become part of the group known as "the Fledgling Empires".

The Doctor first refers to "the Dark Times" in "The Runaway Bride" (DW2). Several races are described throughout the series as hailing from especially far back in history and this is only a selection. The Racnoss are from "The Runaway Bride" (DW2), the Carrionites from "The Shakespeare Code" (DW2), the Eternals originally from "Enlightenment" (DW1) and the Weeping Angels from "Blink" (DW2). The Fledgling Empires and the idea that the Time Lords' ancestors were active at this time all come from "The Runaway Bride" (DW2).

c. 4 600 000 000 BC

Towards the end of the Dark Times, the invisible, bird-like reptilian species called the Krafayis evolve and begin to swarm across the Universe.

"Vincent and the Doctor" (DW2).

The Dark Times come to an end as the Fledgling Empires fight and win a war against the half-humanoid, half-arachnoid Racnoss. The Racnoss are almost completely wiped out. Their Empress survives, as does a single other ship. The Fledgling Empires also destroys all remaining Huon particles, used by the Racnoss to power their technology, due to the particles' deadly nature.

Prior to "The Runaway Bride" (DW2).

The Runaway Bride (DW2): The 10th Doctor and Donna, investigating the Empress of Racnoss' desire to reach the Earth's core in 2007, witness the formation of the Earth and discover that a Racnoss ship, containing the last survivors of that race, is the point around which the Earth shapes itself.

The Doctor gives the date visited, which is in line with current scientific estimates.

Hide (DW2): Some time after its formation, the 11th Doctor and Clara visit primordial Earth, and the Doctor takes a photograph of the supposed ghost of Caliburn House, which is spread across the history of Earth.

The Doctor says that it is "6 billion BC", but that's way before the actual creation of Earth. It's possible he was pulling a number of the air to quickly answer Clara's question.

c. 4 000 000 000 BC

The vicious, callous, warlike race called the Jagaroth almost completely wipe themselves out in a war. The last survivors of the conflict land their spacecraft on primeval Earth, which is currently devoid of all life.

Prior to "City of Death" (DW1).

City of Death (DW1) 1, 4: A spaceship containing the last few Jagaroth attempts a premature lift-off from Earth. The ship explodes, destroying the last of the Jagaroth, save for the ship's pilot, Scaroth, who is "splintered" across time, leaving copies of himself spread throughout Earth's history. The explosion also releases a blast of radiation which activates some nearby "primordial soup", creating life on Earth.

Count Scarlioni, the Scaroth splinter from 1979, arrives from the 20th century to stop the lift-off attempt and save his species. The 4th Doctor, the 2nd Romana and Duggan arrive and stop the future Scaroth, ensuring that the disaster takes place on schedule.

A date of 400 000 000 BC is given several times throughout the story. However, this date is incorrect, life having developed on Earth somewhere between 4.4 and 2.7 billion years ago, by scientific estimates (both now and when the story was first broadcast). Previously, I had been content to simply call this a difference between the "Doctor Who" universe and our own. However, with the revival series giving correct dating for the creation of Earth, I feel it is better to consider the date given in "CoD" to be a sort of "blooper" and place these events in a more accurate period.

c. 1 000 000 000 BC

The non-corporeal race called the Nestene begins moving from planet to planet, "colonising" those worlds, destroying all other life. They will eventually reach the Earth in the 20th century.

"A thousand million years" before "Spearhead from Space" (DW1).

Also around this time, the last seas on Androzani Minor dry up.

"A billion years" before "The Caves of Androzani" (DW1).

In a solar system known as the Scarlet System, the Pallushi race develops a mighty civilization that will last for a billion years, at which point it will be destroyed when the System is pulled into black hole K37Gem5.

"A billion years" before "The Impossible Planet" (DW2).

c. 451 000 000 BC

Hide (DW2): Earth's Paleozoic Era begins around this time. Some time during the Paleozoic, the 11th Doctor and Clara visit, and the Doctor takes a photograph of the supposed ghost of Caliburn House, which is spread across the history of Earth.

Placement is conjectural. The world that the Doctor and Clara visit is a thick rainforest and this was a common feature of the Palezoic Era.

c. 250 000 000 BC

At this time, all of Earth's land masses are part of one supercontinent later dubbed Pangaea.

Dating is from current scientific estimates. The Doctor discovers a globe showing the Earth in this state in "Doctor Who and the Silurians" (DW1).

c. 150 000 000 BC

On the planet Kastria, scientist Eldrad has constructed spatial barriers to keep out solar winds which would otherwise lay the planet to waste. He has also devised a more durable, renewable silicon-based form for the Kastrians, as well as much machinery to help replenish the planet and its atmosphere. Eldrad then attempts to take control of the planet from King Rokon, but is unsuccessful. In retaliation for his defeat, Eldrad destroys the spatial barriers, returning Kastria to a cold, inhospitable state. Rokon order Eldrad destroyed and the Kastrians launch the would-be tyrant into space in an "obliteration module".

Some time before "The Hand of Fear" (DW1).

The Hand of Fear (DW1) 1: Due to a problem in the computer systems on Kastria, Eldrad's module is exploded prematurely.

These events are described several times by the Doctor as having happened "150 million years" before the rest of the present-day story setting.

The Kastrians realize that all life on their planet is doomed because of Eldrad's actions. They choose to allow themselves to die off, rather than live a miserable existence underground. They also destroy their race banks, fearing that Eldrad may return and use his people as an army. King Rokon leaves a recorded message for Eldrad should he return. Meanwhile, the only remaining fragment of Eldrad, his hand, lands on Earth and becomes buried.

Some time after "The Hand of Fear" (DW1).

c. 140 000 000 BC

Their world devastated in the cross-fire of the Vardon-Kosnak war, what is left of the Xeraphin leave their ruined homeworld to relocate on Jurassic Era Earth. Once there, they discover that they are suffering from radiation poisoning, so combine themselves into one gestalt entity to recover. While in this state, they are contacted by a stranded Master, who persuades the evil portion of the Xeraphin to work with him to fix his damaged TARDIS. As part of his efforts to escape this time, the Master creates a time contour which pulls a Concorde flight back in time from 1982. The Master decides to use those on board as labour.

Some time before "Time-Flight" (DW1).

Time-Flight (DW1) 1-4: The 5th Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan arrive in Jurassic era Heathrow in a Concorde from 1982, attempting to find the previous missing Concorde. They find the crew and passengers of that flight and try to foil the Master's plot to incorporate the Xeraphin into his malfunctioning TARDIS. Although the Doctor successfully frees the crew and passengers, the Master does make the Xeraphin a part of his TARDIS. The Doctor then follows the Master back to 1982.

The Doctor says they have travelled "140 million years" in the past; he also correctly identifies the era as the Jurassic.

Around this time, several dinosaurs, including a Stegosaurus and an Apatosaurus (also known as Brontosaurus), are pulled ahead through time to 1975 as part of Operation: Golden Age, and are returned some time afterwards.

"Invasion of the Dinosaurs" (DW1). Both these dinosaurs lived during the late Jurassic period (195 million BC-140 million BC).

c. 130 000 000 BC

A Plesiosaurus is abducted by Vorg's Mini-Scope and brought forward to the year 3073. It is returned some time after, due to the 3rd Doctor's actions.

"Carnival of Monsters" (DW1). The Doctor notes that the Plesiosaurus has been extinct since around this time (the early Cretaceous).

c. 65 500 000 BC

Around this time, several dinosaurs, including a Pterodactylus (or Pterodactyl), a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Triceratops, are pulled ahead through time to the 1970s as part of "Operation: Golden Age" and returned some time later. The Rani also takes several T. Rex embryos from this period for experimentation. A Pteranodon from this period ends up in the early 21st century after travelling through the Cardiff Rift; it becomes a "pet" of sorts for the Torchwood 3 team.

Operation: Golden Age is from "Invasion of the Dinosaurs" (DW1) and the Rani from "The Mark of the Rani" (DW1). The Torchwood Pteranodon is first seen in "Everything Changes" (TW) and appears in many other TW episodes. All these dinosaurs lived during the late Cretaceous (140 million BC-65 million BC).

Earthshock (DW1) 4: While the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and a Cyber-Leader look on from the TARDIS, a freighter from the year 2526 with Adric on board crashes into the Earth. The Doctor is unable to save Adric from the crash, but uses Adric's gold-plated Mathematics Achievement badge to destroy the Cyberman. The freighter's anti-matter engines explode in the crash, causing catastrophic changes to Earth's environment. These changes will eventually cause the extinction of the majority of dinosaur species.

The Doctor says that they have travelled "65 million years" in the past, nearly reflecting the real date of the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event.

The Doctor retrieves the surviving freighter crew from an escape pod to return them to their native time.

Shortly after "Earthshock" (DW1).

c. 60 000 000 BC

A ship of Xylok, a crystalline life-form, crashes on Earth and is buried beneath the Earth's crust.

"60 million years" before "The Lost Boy" (SJA).

c. 40 000 000 BC

The Earth at this time is inhabited by a race of intelligent bipedal reptiles (who will become misnamed "Silurians" by 20th century humans) and their amphibian cousins (later nicknamed "Sea Devils"). The Silurians are Earth's first sentient species and are very scientifically advanced; they are even able to clone long-extinct dinosaurs to use as guard animals. Silurian scientists detect a small planet headed for the Earth, which they believe will cause enormous geological upheaval, and draw the Earth's atmosphere. The Silurians and Sea Devils, along with a selection of their dinosaur "guards", enter suspended animation underground to avoid the effects of the disaster. However, the planetoid goes into orbit around the Earth, becoming its only moon. As a result, the Silurians and Sea Devils automated systems do not re-awaken the sleepers until the latter half of the 20th century.

Most of the Silurians' history is revealed in their first appearance, "Doctor Who and the Silurians" (DW1). Placement here is based on the evolution of primate-type mammals around this time. As many Doctor Who reference materials take joy in pointing out, the Silurians are misnamed, and actually belong in the Eocene period, as corrected by the Doctor in "The Sea Devils" (DW1), where we also learn of the existence of the Silurians' amphibious cousins. The cloning of dinosaurs is speculative; however, dinosaurs have been long extinct by this time, leading to this speculation.

c. 25 000 000 BC

The volcanic rock that Atlantis will be built on dates from this time.

"The Underwater Menace" (DW1). The Doctor (slightly) incorrectly calls this time the Miocene epoch, which didn't begin for a few more million years, about 23 million years ago. 25 million years ago should be properly called the Oligocene epoch.

c. 12 000 000 BC

Between Mars and Jupiter, on the Fifth Planet of Earth's solar system, a creature called the Fendahl comes into being. It feeds on all life indiscriminately. Considered too great a threat by the Time Lords, they destroy the planet, then place it in a time loop to hide their involvement. The Fendahl, however, has already escaped, and lands on Earth, leaving nothing behind but a humanoid skull. The skull begins to affect evolution on Earth, heavily influencing human development over the next 12 million years. It feeds into the RNA of certain humans instincts and abilities to guide humanity to a point that will eventually allow the Fendahl to revive itself.

"Image of the Fendahl" (DW1). The Fendahl skull found is "12 million years old".

c. 500 000 BC

Around this time, the earliest known Thal records are written on the planet Skaro.

"The Daleks" (DW1). The Doctor says that the Thals' records are "nearly half a million years old".

c. 100 000 BC

The early Time Lords, having just recently started their explorations of time and space, come across the planet Minyos in this time period. The Time Lords decide to do all they can to help Minyan civilization develop, offering them highly advanced technology. As a result, the Minyans come to see the Time Lords as gods. However, the Minyans eventually turn against their "gods", forcing them to leave Minyos. A series of wars break out among the Minyans, destroying all life on the planet. Before the end, however, a ship, the P7E, is launched, containing the race banks of the Minyan people. It is hoped that these can be used to populate another planet on the other side of the universe. When contact is lost, another ship, the R1C, is sent to find it. This "Quest" will take 100 000 years. Because of these events, the Time Lords adopt a non-intervention policy, deciding to be merely observers of time and space.

"100 000 years" before "Underworld" (DW1).

After the rest of his tribe dies out from the cold, Kal crosses the nearby mountains, where he finds and joins Za's tribe.

Some time not long before "100 000 BC" (DW1).

100 000 BC (DW1) 1-4: The 1st Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara encounter a tribe of cavemen who have lost the secret of making fire. The time-travellers, believed to have the secret, find themselves in the middle of the tribe's power struggle over fire, before managing to escape.

The date of this adventure is never given on screen. However, given the production name for the story, this seems a reasonable dating.

Around this time, the immensely powerful Dæmons from the planet Dæmos visit Earth for the first time. They will influence human development for the next 100 000 years (beginning by guiding Homo sapiens into dominance over the Neanderthals), and their horned images will appear in many mythologies and religions around the world.

"About 100 000 years" before "The Dæmons" (DW1). Presumably, this is in addition to the influence of the Beast described in "The Satan Pit" (DW2).

55 518 BC

Monarch, ruler of the planet Urbanka in Galaxy RE 1489, leaves his homeworld and heads for the planet Earth, as part of an attempt to discover the secret of faster-than-light travel, which Monarch believes will send him to the beginning of the universe, to meet and become God.

"Four to Doomsday" (DW1). The ship's initial journey takes 20 000 years before reaching Earth in 35 518 BC.

c. 48 000 BC

The millennia-long war between the Sontarans and the Rutans begins around this time.

In "The Poison Sky" (DW2) (2009), the Doctor says the war has been going on for "50 000 years".

35 518 BC

Monarch's ship reaches Earth for the first time. Monarch and his crew abduct the Australian Aboriginal Kurkurtji and a number of his contemporaries. Their memories are recorded and they are given android bodies.

"Four to Doomsday" (DW1). The trip back to Urbanka takes half the time as it previously did, placing this event 10 000 years before Monarch's return to Urbanka in 25 518 BC.

c. 30 000 BC

After spending centuries attempting to catalogue the life forms of Earth, an extremely powerful alien simply called "Light", grows frustrated at needing to constantly update his work, as evolution runs wild across the globe. Light takes one of the last surviving Neanderthals as a "final specimen" of that species and enters hibernation in his stone spaceship, along with his specimens and his cataloguing crew, the Control subject and the Survey agent.

"Ghost Light" (DW1). This is the period from which the youngest Neanderthal skeletons have been found, implying that this is when they became extinct.

25 518 BC

Monarch's ship arrives back at Urbanka. Some time later, Monarch begins another journey to Earth.

"Four to Doomsday" (DW1). Followed by a 10 000 year trip back to Earth, arriving in 15 518 BC.

15 518 BC

Monarch visits Earth for a second time. While there, he abducts Mayan Princess Villagra and some of her subjects. They are given android bodies.

"Four to Doomsday" (DW1). This happens 5000 years before Monarch's return to Urbanka in 10 518 BC, the trip once again being cut in half.

Mayans, contrary to the story, did not flourish at this time, but from c. 300 AD to c. 900 AD. Villagra may really come from some pre-Mayan civilization, or perhaps in the "Doctor Who" universe, the Mayans thrived on a different time scale, likely from all the alien interference in humanity's affairs.

10 518 BC

Monarch reaches and leaves Urbanka, once again heading for Earth.

"Four to Doomsday" (DW1). 5000 years before Monarch's next visit to Earth in 5518 BC.

c. 10 000 BC

A ship of Ice Warriors from the planet Mars crash-lands on Earth during the Ice Age. The ship is caught in an avalanche, freezing the Ice Warriors into a state of suspended animation. They will not be revived until the year 3000.

"The Ice Warriors" (DW1). The ship is said to have crashed during the "First Ice Age", implying that there had previously only been a single ice age on Earth. There have been several major ice ages. In fact, we are currently in an "interglacial" period of the Quaternary ice age. What most people refer to when they say "the ice age" in the glacial period that ended between 13 000BC and 8000 BC. I am arbitrarily placing this event roughly half way through that period.

Late in the Pleistocene Period, two Krynoid pods land in the Antarctic. They become embedded in the ice and will remain dormant until the late 20th century.

"The Seeds of Doom" (DW1). "20 000 years ago" is mentioned as a possible age, so is "the late Pleisocene". This is roughly when the Pleistocene epoch ended.

5518 BC

Monarch visits Earth again, this time kidnapping mandarin Lin Futu of the Futu dynasty in China, as well as a number of his contemporaries. Their identities are transferred to android bodies.

"Four to Doomsday" (DW1). 2500 years (the trip being cut in half yet again) before Monarch's next visit to Urbanka in 3018 BC.

c. 5440 BC

On the planet Uxarieus, the inhabitants of that world develop a Doomsday Weapon capable of causing a star to go super-nova. This device is tested on a nearby star, resulting in the supernova that will leave behind the Crab Nebula. The radiation from the explosion will eventually poison the soil of Uxarieus and the once advanced race will begin to fall into savagery.

"Colony in Space" (DW1). SN 1054, the supernova cause by the Doomsday Weapon, was seen on Earth in 1054. At a distance of approximately 6500 light years away, that places the explosion around this time.

5088 BC

After destroying his home planet of Phaester Osiris and leaving a trail of destruction across the galaxy, Sutekh the Destroyer is cornered by his fellow Osirans on Earth in Egypt. It takes the power of 740 Osirans led by Sutekh's brother Horus to defeat Sutekh. Horus has his brother imprisoned by a force field in a pyramid, and sets up the field's power source on Mars. The Osirans are mistaken as gods and become the basis for ancient Egyptian religion and culture.

"7000 years" before "Pyramids of Mars" (DW1) (1911).

c. 5000 BC

On the planet Skaro, a war breaks out between the Thals and the Kaleds. This war will last a thousand years, depleting the planet's resources, forcing the armies on both sides to use more and more primitive weapons over the centuries. During the first century of the conflict, chemical weapons are used extensively. These weapons lead to mutations, named "mutos" and banished to the no-man's land between the cities of the two peoples. Some time into the war, in the Kaled city, a group of scientists is placed in charge of finding a way to help bring the conflict to an end. This group will slowly grow in power until they effectively control the Kaled dome.

"Genesis of the Daleks" (DW1). The war is repeatedly referred to as starting "a thousand years" before that story (set in c. 4000 BC).

c. 4000 BC

On the planet Skaro, the Kaled dome is reinforced with a substance developed by Kaled chief scientists Davros, making the dome virtually impervious to Thal rocket attacks.

"Months" before "Genesis of the Daleks" (DW1).

Genesis of the Daleks (DW1) 1-6: The 4th Doctor, Sarah and Harry are sent to the planet Skaro by the Time Lords, so that the Doctor can attempt to prevent the creation of the Daleks. The thousand-year war between the Kaleds and the Thals is still raging. In the middle of this conflict, the time-travellers meet Davros, a scientist who is responsible for the experiments which will mutate the Kaleds into the Daleks. The Doctor is unsuccessful in preventing the Daleks' creation, but is able to set back their development enough that they will not dominate the entire universe as foreseen by the Time Lords. The Daleks turn against their creator Davros, apparently killing him.

I am (largely arbitrarily) placing this story several thousand years before "The Daleks" (DW1). This conflict is unlikely to be the war mentioned in "The Daleks" (the one taking place 500 years before that story), as that war is described as being specifically between the Thals and the Daleks, not the Kaleds. There is also reference to a single "neutron bomb" which irradiates large portions of the planet, rather than the extended hostilities seen here.

Davros survives the attack on him by the Daleks. There is damage to his primary life-support systems, but the secondary systems keep him alive in a state of suspended animation.

Davros' survival is revealed in "Destiny of the Daleks" (DW1).

3018 BC

Monarch returns to Urbanka; he leaves for Earth again soon after.

"Four to Doomsday" (DW1). The trip back to Earth takes 2500 years, ending in 518 BC.

c. 3016 BC

Around this time, Ice Warrior Grand Marshall Skaldak becomes frozen in ice in the Earth's Arctic. He will remain frozen until the 1980s.

"Five thousand" years before "Cold War" (DW2) (1983).

c. 2560 BC

The Daleks' Master Plan (DW1) 9-10: The 1st Doctor, Steven and Sara Kingdom, fleeing the Daleks and Mavic Chen through time and space, land near the Great Pyramid in Egypt. They are followed there by the Daleks, Chen and the Monk. After the Monk, Steven and Sara are taken prisoner by the Daleks, the Doctor is forced to hand over the taranium core he has stolen from the Daleks. The prisoners are freed and the Doctor uses the directional controller from the Monk's TARDIS to follow the Daleks and Chen back to the future in his own ship.

The Monk discovers that his TARDIS, now lacking its directional controller, has taken him to a planet of ice and realises that he is doomed to wander time and space.

The Great Pyramid of Giza (sometimes called the Pyramid of Khufu) was built around this time. There is no way of knowing where and when the Monk lands, so I am placing it here for convenience sake.

c. 2200 BC

The meddling Monk uses anti-grav lifts to help in the construction of Stonehenge.

"The Time Meddler" (DW1). Exact date is conjecture; Stonehenge was built over a substantial period of time, more than a thousand years.

2063 BC

In the city of Atlantis, the Atlanteans attempt to gain control of the Chronovore Kronos through the use of the Kronos Crystal. The attempts are unsuccessful, turning one man (a friend of the future-King Dalios) into a Minotaur. After somehow returning Kronos to the Crystal, the Atlanteans then try to destroy the Crystal, but this only causes it to split in two, with the new, smaller fragment being lost in time. The original Crystal is then hidden away, with the Minotaur as guard.

King Dalios says these events took place "537 years" prior to the 1526 BC segments of "The Time Monster" (DW1).

2021 BC

The Cessair of Diplos, a criminal accused of murder, theft of the Great Seal of Diplos, and the removal of several Ogri, a silicon-based life-form, from their homeworld, is being transported in a ship through hyperspace to her trial. Something goes wrong, and she is able to escape to Earth, leaving the ship stranded in hyperspace. She takes on the identity of the Cailleach, a local Druidic goddess, and over the next 4000 years will pose as a number of rather infamous women, including the Lady Morgana Montcalm, Mrs. Trefusis and Señora Camara. The Cessair also sets the Orgi up as a stone circle.

"4000 years" before "The Stones of Blood" (DW1) (1978).

1700 BC

The earliest records of astrology on Earth date to this period, specifically in Babylon.

In "Secrets of the Stars" (SJA), Mr. Smith says that records exist in "the 16th century BC"; actual records of Babylonian astrology do really date to around 1700 BC.

1526 BC

The Time Monster (DW1) 2-3,5-6: In Atlantis, High Priest Krasis is pulled forward in time through the Kronos Crystal by the Master, an event which worries King Dalios. Some time after, the Master, with Krasis in tow, appears before the Atlantean people. He claims to be have been sent by the gods to release Kronos and usher in a new golden age for Atlantis. The 3rd Doctor and Jo arrive to prevent the Master from taking possession of the Crystal but are unsuccessful. An out-of-control Kronos destroys Atlantis as the time-travellers flee. With few options left, in the Time Vortex the Doctor attempts a fatal "time ram" between his and the Master's TARDISes. Kronos, now in control of itself, saves the Doctor, Jo and the Master from destruction. Kronos sends the travellers on their way; the Master escapes.

The Doctor estimated that these events happened "3500 years" before the 1973 portion of the story.

At least one section of Atlantis survives the city's destruction. Although completely underwater, inhabitants are able to survive thanks to air pockets created by a natural air shaft provided by an extinct volcano.

"The Underwater Menace" (DW1).

1334 BC

Dinosaurs on a Spaceship (DW2): After saving Egypt from an attack by "weapons-bearing giant alien locust", the 11th Doctor leaves with Queen Nefertiti insisting that she join him on his journey to the future.

Nefertiti never returns to this time, instead relocating to the year 1902.

A caption gives the year.

1209 BC

In ancient Troy, Troilus is born.

Troilus is "17 next birthday", making him 16 at the time of "The Myth Makers" (DW1) (1193 BC).

1203 BC

In ancient Greece, Helen, wife of Menelaus, allows herself to be "abducted" by the Trojan Paris. Menelaus challenges Paris to personal combat but the Trojan refuses (secretly to Menelaus' relief). Instead, Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and Menelaus' brother, leads an expedition of troops to Troy and besieges the city. This marks the beginning of the Trojan War.

At some point during the ten year conflict, the Rani spends some time harvesting chemicals from the brains of soldiers involved.

The war has been going on for "10 years" by the time of "The Myth Makers" (DW1) (1193 BC). The Rani's presence is established in "The Mark of the Rani" (DW1).

1992 BC

The Kalazian Lights are visible from Earth, for the last time until 2008.

"4000 years" before "The Lost Boy" (SJA) (2008).

1193 BC

The Myth Makers (DW1) 1-4: The 1st Doctor, Vicki and Steven become caught up in the events of the final days of the Trojan War. The Doctor is forced to invent the Trojan Horse; Vicki, who has taken on the identity of Cressida, falls in love with the Trojan Troilus, and stays behind with him; and, after being injured in battle, Steven is saved by Katarina, a handmaiden of the prophetess Cassandra, who joins the TARDIS crew.

Several dates have been given for the fall of Troy over the millennia. 1193 BC is one of the many.

1183 BC

After ten long years trying to return home after the Trojan War, Odysseus finally reaches the kingdom of Ithica.

In "The Myth Makers" (DW1) (1193BC), Cassandra prophesies that it will take Odysseus "ten long years [...] before you see your home again", referring to the events of "The Odyssey". If the Trojan War plays out like the myth in the "Doctor Who" universe, it's possible that the Odyssey does as well.

1016 BC

Alien scientist Mawdryn and seven allies steal a metamorphic symbiosis generator from the Time Lords in an effort to achieve immortality. Instead, they mutate horribly and become unable to die, constantly and painfully regenerating. They are exiled from their homeworld for their actions. Their ship is caught in a warp ellipse and reaches a new planet every seventy years, when one of the mutants can transmat down to the planet, seeking help.

By the time of "Mawdryn Undead" (DW1) (1983), the ship has been travelling for "3000 years".

c. 1000 BC

At approximately this time, the Exxilons visit Peru on Earth, where they help the inhabitants build their massive temples.

"Death to the Daleks" (DW1). The Doctor theorizes that the Exxilons were responsible for the construction of the temples in Peru. Placement here is speculative. The Peruvian temples in question were built over several millennia.

Also arriving on Earth around this period are three alien parasites with the ability to turn people to stone with their gaze; they become the source of Gorgon myths. Having lost their talisman, which opens a portal back to their homeworld, these "Gorgons" are stranded on Earth. One of the three is also killed during this period by a Greek hero, inspiring the Greek myth of Perseus killing Medusa.

Approximately "3000 years" before "Eye of the Gorgon" (SJA) (2008).

990 BC

Horath, the powerful tyrant of the Dark Empire is overthrown around this time. Being unkillable, his consciousness and body are seperated. His body is place in a pocket dimension, accessible through a Neolithic burial site on Earth, and his consciousness in a Kaldean crystal that will eventually end up sealed in the Tungaska Scroll, also on Earth.

"3000 years" before "Enemy of the Bane" (SJA) (2009).

800 BC

A great Bronze Age warrior chieftain is buried in the barrow which will eventually come to be known as the Devil's Hump.

According to Professor Horner in "The Dæmons" (DW1).

573 BC

In ancient Greece, future philosopher Bigon is born.

"Four to Doomsday" (DW1). Bigon says he has memories of "2555 years", suggesting he was 55 years old when abducted by Monarch in 518 BC.

518 BC

Monarch's ship returns to Earth yet again. A number of Greek citizens, among them the philosopher Bigon, are taken by Monarch and placed in android bodies.

"Four to Doomsday" (DW1). This happens 1250 years before Monarch's return to Urbanka in AD 731; the trip is again cut in half.

508 BC

The Roman Cult of Demnos is formed. The Cult will be active in Italy until well into the 15th century.

"The Masque of Mandragora" (DW1). One of the Cult members mentions a "dream of 2000 years come true", placing the Cult's origins at this time.

c. 440 BC

Around this time, a group of Greek sailors are abducted by the Eternals to compete in their 1983 space yacht race.

"Enlightenment" (DW1). Exact date is conjecture; the Greeks come from the time of Pericles (490 BC-429 BC).

221 BC

The Angels Take Manhattan (DW2): The 11th Doctor and Amy briefly visit China to place the word "Yowzah" on a Chin Dynasty vase, in hopes of attracting River Song's attention in 1938 New York.

A caption gives the date.

218 BC

During the Second Punic War, Carthaginian military commander Hannibal crosses the Alps with an army to invade Italy. When boulders block the army's path, Hannibal's engineers heat the boulders with wood fires, then pour vinegar over them. The rocks, weakened by the heat, are broken up into smaller, more easily moved pieces by the vinegar, allowing Hannibal's forces access.

Actual historical event described in "World War Three" (DW2).

c. 210 BC

About this time, the Eternals kidnap a group of Chinese sailors for their 1983 space race.

"Enlightenment" (DW1). Exact date is conjecture; sometime during the Ch'in Dynasty (221BC-206 BC).

c. 130 BC

The famed Greek statue Aphrodite of Milos, better known as the Venus de Milo, is sculpted around this time. At one point, the Doctor uses a copy of it as decoration for his TARDIS' ancillary power station.

"The Invasion of Time" (DW1). The Venus de Milo was sculpted sometime between 130 BC and 100 BC.

114 BC

A series of interconnected trade routes linking East and West Asia and the Mediterranean Sea, eventually known as the "Silk Road", is initiated by the Hun Dynasty in Cathay (China).

Marco Polo is off by a few centuries when he describes the Silk Road being used for "a thousand years" in 1289 in "Marco Polo" (DW1).

83 BC

Roman soldiers are taken from this time by the War Lords to battle in their War Games. They are returned to their native time by the Time Lords.

In "The War Games" (DW1), the Roman Zone is described as dating "2000 years" before the 1917. This fits in nicely with a number of conflicts taking place in this year, including the first Roman civil war and the Second Mithridatic War.

49 BC

January 10: Julius Caesar leads his army across the Rubicon River, invading Ancient Rome.

The Doctor mentions this event as a possible destination in "Tooth and Claw" (DW2).

36 BC

On the planet Marinus, technology reaches its peak, leading to the construction of the Conscience of Marinus. Marinus prosper for the next seven centuries.

2000 years before "The Keys of Marinus" (DW1) (1964).

6 BC

The Doctor may be present at the birth of Christ in Bethlehem.

The Doctor strongly implies this in "Voyage of the Damned" (DW2). Precise placement is conjecture. Scholars estimate the birth of Christ as anywhere from 7 BC to 1 AD.

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