<P> The Iron Age is often called Antiquity or the Classical Era, but these periods more commonly refer to only one region . It begins around 1000 BC with the widespread use of iron in tools . It is often accepted to end at approximately 650 AD, with the fall of the aforementioned major civilizations . </P> <P> Note that BC and BCE refer to the same time period . BCE is an abbreviation for Before Common Era, and BC for Before Christ . AD is Anno Domini, and CE is Common Era . This is done in order to standardize time periods across the world (ISO 8601). </P> <Ul> <Li> Stone Age Ended between 6,000 and 2,000 BC (depending on the area; until 1600s European contact in Australia) </Li> <Li> History of Mesopotamia 6000 BC - 1100 BC </Li> <Li> Indus Valley Civilization 3300 BC - 1300 BC </Li> <Li> Old Kingdom (Egypt, 3000 BC - 2000 BC) </Li> <Li> Middle Kingdom (Egypt, 2000 BC - 1300 BC) </Li> <Li> Vedic period India, (1750 - 500 BC) </Li> <Li> New Kingdom (Egypt, 1300 BC - 700 BC) </Li> <Li> Shang Dynasty (China 1800 BC - 1200 BC) </Li> <Li> Mediterranean Antiquity </Li> <Li> Zhou Dynasty (China, 1200 BC--500 BC) </Li> <Li> Ancient Greece, (circa 1000 BC--323 BC) (see Timeline of Ancient Greece) </Li> <Li> Mahajanapadas, (India 600 - 300 BC) </Li> <Li> Ancient Rome 753 BC - 476 AD) </Li> <Li> Classical India (230 BC - 500 AD) </Li> <Li> Six Dynasties (China, 220 AD--581 AD) <Ul> <Li> Three Kingdoms (China, 220--280) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Late Antiquity (Europe, circa 300 - circa 600) </Li> <Li> Dark Age (Europe, 4th century - 900) </Li> </Ul> <Li> Stone Age Ended between 6,000 and 2,000 BC (depending on the area; until 1600s European contact in Australia) </Li>

When does ancient history end and modern history begin