Explore through place and time
Biblical & Christian History Timeline
Travel through thousands of years of biblical and Christian history. Explore places connected to the Old Testament, the life of Jesus, the early Church, medieval Christianity and pilgrimage traditions that continue today.
Each stop connects history with a real place you can explore today. Follow the story in time order, open a destination to learn more, or use the map to see where these events and traditions took place.
From ancient times to today
Explore by time and place
Follow the timeline from the ancient biblical world to the present day. Select a destination to read its full guide, or use the map above to explore sacred places by location. Dates are approximate where biblical accounts, tradition or historical sources do not give an exact year.
Ancient Biblical World
c. 9000 BC–today
Jericho
Jericho, Palestine
One of the world’s oldest settled cities, Jericho appears in the Old Testament story of Israel entering Canaan.
Read the articlec. 2100 BC
Ur of the Chaldees
Nasiriyah, Iraq
The Bible names Ur as Abraham’s home before his journey to Canaan. Its exact location remains debated.
Read the articleTraditional biblical period; date debated
Sodom and Gomorrah
Dead Sea Plain, Jordan
The Book of Genesis places these cities near the Dead Sea. Their exact location and historical identification remain debated.
Read the articlec. 1900 BC
Beersheba
Beer Sheva, Israel
Beersheba is linked in Genesis with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who lived, worshipped and made agreements in this region.
Read the articlec. 1900 BC–today
Cave of the Patriarchs
Hebron, Palestine
According to biblical tradition, Abraham bought this burial place for Sarah. Jews, Christians and Muslims still honour the site.
Read the articleAncient biblical period
Mount Ararat
Doğubayazıt, Turkey
Genesis says Noah’s ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. The exact mountain and historical location are uncertain.
Read the articleTraditional biblical period; date debated
Mount Sinai
Saint Catherine, Egypt
Traditionally identified as the mountain where Moses received the Law. Several possible locations have been proposed.
Read the articleTraditional biblical period; date debated
Mount Nebo
Madaba, Jordan
According to Deuteronomy, Moses saw the Promised Land from Mount Nebo before his death.
Read the articlec. 1200–1050 BC
Shiloh
Shiloh, Palestine
Shiloh was an early centre of Israelite worship and the home of the tabernacle before the Temple in Jerusalem.
Read the articlec. 1000 BC–today
Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem became the city of David and the site of the First Temple, making it central to biblical and Jewish history.
Read the articlec. 1000–600 BC
Megiddo
Megiddo, Israel
An important ancient city on a major trade route. The Book of Revelation later used its Hebrew name in the image of Armageddon.
Read the articlec. 850 BC
Mount Carmel
Haifa, Israel
The Old Testament connects Mount Carmel with the prophet Elijah and his challenge to the prophets of Baal.
Read the articlec. 701 BC
Hezekiah's Tunnel
Jerusalem, Israel
Built to carry water into Jerusalem, the tunnel is linked with King Hezekiah’s preparations for an Assyrian attack.
Read the articlec. 700–612 BC
Nineveh
Mosul, Iraq
Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire and is best known in the Bible as the city visited by the prophet Jonah.
Read the article586–539 BC
Babylon
Hillah, Iraq
Babylon conquered Jerusalem and became the place of exile for many people from Judah in the sixth century BC.
Read the articlec. 150 BC–AD 68
Qumran
Qumran, Israel
The Dead Sea Scrolls found near Qumran preserve some of the oldest known copies of biblical texts.
Read the article
Life of Jesus
c. 5 BC
Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Palestine
The Gospels identify Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus, linking the town with the beginning of his earthly life.
Read the articlec. 5 BC; church from AD 327
Church of the Nativity
Bethlehem, Palestine
Built over the place traditionally identified as Jesus’ birthplace, this church has welcomed pilgrims since Late Antiquity.
Read the articlec. 4 BC; basilica from 1969
Basilica of the Annunciation
Nazareth, Israel
The basilica marks the traditional location of the Annunciation, where Christians remember Mary receiving Gabriel’s message.
Read the articlec. 4 BC–AD 30
Nazareth
Nazareth, Israel
The Gospels describe Nazareth as the town where Jesus grew up before beginning his public ministry.
Read the articlec. AD 27
Bethany Beyond the Jordan
Al-Maghtas, Jordan
Christian tradition connects this part of the Jordan River with the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.
Read the articlec. AD 27–30
Capernaum
Capernaum, Israel
Capernaum became a centre of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and the setting for many teachings and healings in the Gospels.
Read the articlec. AD 27–30
Sea of Galilee
Tiberias, Israel
Many Gospel stories take place around this lake, where Jesus taught, called disciples and travelled between villages.
Read the articlec. AD 28
Pool of Bethesda
Jerusalem, Israel
The Gospel of John connects this pool in Jerusalem with Jesus healing a man who had been ill for many years.
Read the articlec. AD 29
Pool of Siloam
Jerusalem, Israel
The Gospel of John names this pool in the story of Jesus healing a man born blind.
Read the articlec. AD 30; church from 335
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Jerusalem, Israel
The church stands over places traditionally identified as Golgotha and Jesus’ tomb, and has drawn pilgrims since the fourth century.
Read the articlec. AD 30
Garden of Gethsemane
Jerusalem, Israel
The Gospels say Jesus prayed in this olive garden on the night before his arrest and crucifixion.
Read the articlec. AD 30
Mount of Olives
Jerusalem, Israel
The Gospels connect the Mount of Olives with Jesus’ teaching, prayer before his arrest and ascension.
Read the articlec. AD 30; route formed later
Via Dolorosa
Jerusalem, Israel
This later Christian pilgrimage route remembers Jesus’ journey to the crucifixion. The exact first-century route is uncertain.
Read the article
Early Christianity
c. AD 34
Straight Street, Damascus
Damascus, Syria
Acts connects Straight Street with Paul’s first days in Damascus after his encounter with Jesus on the road.
Read the articlec. AD 40–50
Antioch (Antakya)
Antakya, Turkey
Antioch was a major centre of the early Church. Acts says followers of Jesus were first called Christians here.
Read the articlec. AD 52–55
Ephesus
Selçuk, Turkey
Paul spent several years teaching in Ephesus, which became an important centre for the early Christian communities of Asia Minor.
Read the articlec. AD 58–60
Caesarea Maritima
Caesarea, Israel
Acts connects this Roman port with Peter, Cornelius and Paul’s imprisonment before his journey to Rome.
Read the articlec. AD 60–67
Rome
Rome, Italy
Rome became a centre of early Christianity and is traditionally linked with the martyrdom of Peter and Paul.
Read the articleAD 80–early Christian era
The Colosseum
Rome, Italy
The Colosseum reflects the Roman world in which early Christians lived. Its direct link with Christian martyrdom is traditional and debated.
Read the articlec. AD 95
Patmos
Chora, Greece
The Book of Revelation says John received his visions on Patmos, making the island important in early Christian memory.
Read the articlec. AD 150–400
Catacombs of San Callisto
Rome, Italy
Early Christians used these underground cemeteries for burial and remembrance during the Roman period.
Read the article
Late Antiquity & the Early Christian World
AD 330s–today
Wadi El Natrun
Wadi El Natrun, Egypt
Monastic communities formed in this Egyptian desert in the fourth century and helped shape Christian monastic life.
Read the articlec. AD 350
Codex Sinaiticus, British Library
London, United Kingdom
Early biblical manuscripts preserve ancient Christian copies of Scripture and show how the text was passed between communities.
Read the articleAD 483–today
Mar Saba
Bethlehem Governorate, Palestine
Founded in the fifth century, Mar Saba became an important centre of Eastern Christian monastic life near Jerusalem.
Read the articleAD 537–today
Hagia Sophia
Istanbul, Turkey
Built as the great church of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia reflects the power, worship and art of the Eastern Roman Christian world.
Read the articleBuilt c. AD 548–565; active today
Saint Catherine's Monastery
Saint Catherine, Egypt
Built at the traditional site of Mount Sinai, the monastery has preserved Christian worship and manuscripts for centuries.
Read the articleAD 563–today
Iona Abbey
Isle of Iona, United Kingdom
The monastery founded by Columba made Iona an important centre for Christian mission and learning in Britain and Ireland.
Read the articleAD 635–today
Lindisfarne
Holy Island, United Kingdom
Lindisfarne became a centre of prayer, learning and missionary work in early medieval Northumbria.
Read the article
Medieval Christianity & Pilgrimage
c. AD 800–today
Mount Athos
Karyes, Greece
For more than a thousand years, Mount Athos has been a major centre of Eastern Orthodox monastic life.
Read the articleAD 990–today
Via Francigena
Rome, Italy
This historic road carried pilgrims from northern Europe toward Rome and the tombs of Peter and Paul.
Read the articleAD 1030–today
St Olav's Way
Trondheim, Norway
Pilgrims began travelling to Nidaros after the death of King Olaf II, later honoured as Saint Olaf.
Read the articleAD 1070–today
Nidaros Cathedral
Trondheim, Norway
Built over the traditional burial place of Saint Olaf, the cathedral became northern Europe’s leading pilgrimage destination.
Read the articleAD 1075–today
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The cathedral marks the traditional tomb of the apostle James and became the goal of the Camino de Santiago.
Read the articlec. AD 1100–today
Camino de Santiago
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
A network of medieval routes grew around pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and is still walked today.
Read the articleAD 1170–today
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury, United Kingdom
Canterbury became a major pilgrimage destination after the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in the cathedral.
Read the articleAD 1194–today
Chartres Cathedral
Chartres, France
Chartres became a centre of medieval pilgrimage, worship and learning, known for its architecture and stained glass.
Read the articleAD 1228–today
Basilica of St Francis
Assisi, Italy
Assisi is closely linked with Saint Francis and Saint Clare and became a lasting centre of Franciscan pilgrimage.
Read the articleAD 1248–1880
Cologne Cathedral
Cologne, Germany
The cathedral was built to house relics traditionally identified with the Magi and became a major medieval pilgrimage church.
Read the articlec. AD 1350–today
Meteora
Kalambaka, Greece
Monastic communities built on Meteora’s rock pillars created an important centre of Orthodox prayer and refuge.
Read the article
Reformation, Renewal & Global Christianity
AD 1506–1626
St Peter's Basilica
Vatican City, Vatican City
The present basilica was built over the place traditionally identified as the tomb of the apostle Peter.
Read the articleAD 1517
Wittenberg Castle Church
Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany
Martin Luther’s challenge to church practices in Wittenberg became a key moment in the Protestant Reformation.
Read the articleAD 1531–today
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mexico City, Mexico
According to Catholic tradition, Mary appeared to Juan Diego near Mexico City in 1531. The shrine became a major pilgrimage destination.
Read the articleAD 1536–1564
St Pierre Cathedral
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva and St Pierre Cathedral became closely linked with John Calvin and the Reformed tradition.
Read the articleIn Turin since AD 1578
Turin Cathedral and the Shroud
Turin, Italy
The cloth has been kept in Turin since 1578 and is honoured by many as Jesus’ burial shroud, although its origin remains debated.
Read the articleAD 1597
Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument
Nagasaki, Japan
Twenty-six Christians were executed in Nagasaki in 1597, becoming symbols of faith during persecution in Japan.
Read the article
Christian Pilgrimage Today
AD 1858–today
Sanctuary of Lourdes
Lourdes, France
Catholic tradition remembers reported appearances of Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Lourdes remains a major place of prayer.
Read the articleAD 1882–today
Sagrada Família
Barcelona, Spain
Construction began in 1882, creating a modern basilica that tells the Christian story through architecture and sculpture.
Read the articleAD 1917–today
Sanctuary of Fátima
Fátima, Portugal
Three children reported appearances of Mary at Fátima in 1917. The site later became a major Catholic pilgrimage destination.
Read the articleAD 1940–today
Taizé Community
Taizé, France
Founded during the Second World War, Taizé grew into an international Christian community known for prayer, reconciliation and youth pilgrimage.
Read the article
History you can visit
From Biblical Places to Pilgrimage Routes
ChristTrails connects biblical accounts, archaeological history and Christian tradition with places travellers can still visit. The collection begins with Old Testament places and continues through the life and ministry of Jesus and the growth of the early Church.
It also follows monasteries, medieval Christianity and the pilgrimage routes that linked sacred places across Europe and the wider world. Some locations are supported by archaeology, while others are known through Jewish or Christian tradition. Each guide explains that difference and offers practical help for a future sacred journey.