Convergent History

192 pairs · zero documented contact

Contemporaries who never knew each other existed

Every pair below shares calendar time but has no documented trade, war, or diplomatic record connecting them — at least none that survives. The 79 pairs with the longest overlap (400+ years) each have a dedicated comparison page; the rest are listed here in full.

Featured comparisons

Pair Overlap Years
Elamite Civilization Jomon Culture 2,700 BCE – 539 BCE 2,161 Indus Valley Civilization Jomon Culture 3,300 BCE – 1,300 BCE 2,000 Minoan Civilization Jomon Culture 3,000 BCE – 1,100 BCE 1,900 Indus Valley Civilization Minoan Civilization 3,000 BCE – 1,300 BCE 1,700 Minoan Civilization Elamite Civilization 2,700 BCE – 1,100 BCE 1,600 Indus Valley Civilization Kingdom of Ebla 3,000 BCE – 1,600 BCE 1,400 Indus Valley Civilization Elamite Civilization 2,700 BCE – 1,300 BCE 1,400 Minoan Civilization Kingdom of Ebla 3,000 BCE – 1,600 BCE 1,400 Kingdom of Ebla Jomon Culture 3,000 BCE – 1,600 BCE 1,400 Olmec Civilization Jomon Culture 1,500 BCE – 400 BCE 1,100 Kingdom of Ebla Elamite Civilization 2,700 BCE – 1,600 BCE 1,100 Olmec Civilization Vedic Civilization 1,500 BCE – 500 BCE 1,000 Vedic Civilization Jomon Culture 1,500 BCE – 500 BCE 1,000 Olmec Civilization Elamite Civilization 1,500 BCE – 539 BCE 961 Elamite Civilization Vedic Civilization 1,500 BCE – 539 BCE 961 Kingdom of Kush Etruscan Civilization 900 BCE – 27 BCE 873 Kingdom of Kush Jomon Culture 1,070 BCE – 300 BCE 770 Nazca Culture Kingdom of Aksum 100 CE – 800 CE 700 Olmec Civilization Kingdom of Kush 1,070 BCE – 400 BCE 670 Kingdom of Kush Carthaginian Empire 814 BCE – 146 BCE 668 Carthaginian Empire Etruscan Civilization 814 BCE – 146 BCE 668 Olmec Civilization Phoenician City-States 1,200 BCE – 539 BCE 661 Phoenician City-States Elamite Civilization 1,200 BCE – 539 BCE 661 Phoenician City-States Vedic Civilization 1,200 BCE – 539 BCE 661 Phoenician City-States Jomon Culture 1,200 BCE – 539 BCE 661 Nazca Culture Teotihuacan 100 BCE – 550 CE 650 Classic Maya Civilization Kingdom of Aksum 250 CE – 900 CE 650 Byzantine Empire Khmer Empire 802 CE – 1431 CE 629 Byzantine Empire Kingdom of Aksum 330 CE – 940 CE 610 Etruscan Civilization Jomon Culture 900 BCE – 300 BCE 600 Kingdom of Kush Vedic Civilization 1,070 BCE – 500 BCE 570 Classic Maya Civilization Byzantine Empire 330 CE – 900 CE 570 Postclassic Maya (Chichén Itzá era) Chimú Kingdom 900 CE – 1470 CE 570 Shang Dynasty Elamite Civilization 1,600 BCE – 1,046 BCE 554 Shang Dynasty Jomon Culture 1,600 BCE – 1,046 BCE 554 Byzantine Empire Postclassic Maya (Chichén Itzá era) 900 CE – 1453 CE 553 Byzantine Empire Chimú Kingdom 900 CE – 1453 CE 553 Nazca Culture Classic Maya Civilization 250 CE – 800 CE 550 Kingdom of Kush Elamite Civilization 1,070 BCE – 539 BCE 531 Postclassic Maya (Chichén Itzá era) Khmer Empire 900 CE – 1431 CE 531 Khmer Empire Chimú Kingdom 900 CE – 1431 CE 531 Carthaginian Empire Jomon Culture 814 BCE – 300 BCE 514 Old Kingdom Egypt Indus Valley Civilization 2,686 BCE – 2,181 BCE 505 Old Kingdom Egypt Elamite Civilization 2,686 BCE – 2,181 BCE 505 Old Kingdom Egypt Jomon Culture 2,686 BCE – 2,181 BCE 505 Roman Empire Nazca Culture 27 BCE – 476 CE 503 Roman Empire Teotihuacan 27 BCE – 476 CE 503 Minoan Civilization Shang Dynasty 1,600 BCE – 1,100 BCE 500 Mycenaean Greece Shang Dynasty 1,600 BCE – 1,100 BCE 500 Mycenaean Greece Elamite Civilization 1,600 BCE – 1,100 BCE 500 Mycenaean Greece Jomon Culture 1,600 BCE – 1,100 BCE 500 Olmec Civilization Etruscan Civilization 900 BCE – 400 BCE 500 Kingdom of Kush Roman Republic 509 BCE – 27 BCE 482 Egyptian New Kingdom Shang Dynasty 1,550 BCE – 1,077 BCE 473 Egyptian New Kingdom Elamite Civilization 1,550 BCE – 1,077 BCE 473 Egyptian New Kingdom Jomon Culture 1,550 BCE – 1,077 BCE 473 Kingdom of Kush Parthian Empire 247 BCE – 224 CE 471 Nazca Culture Byzantine Empire 330 CE – 800 CE 470 Shang Dynasty Olmec Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,046 BCE 454 Shang Dynasty Vedic Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,046 BCE 454 Minoan Civilization Egyptian New Kingdom 1,550 BCE – 1,100 BCE 450 Kingdom of Kush Nazca Culture 100 BCE – 350 CE 450 Kingdom of Kush Teotihuacan 100 BCE – 350 CE 450 Teotihuacan Kingdom of Aksum 100 CE – 550 CE 450 Nazca Culture Sassanid Empire 224 CE – 651 CE 427 Kingdom of Kush Han Dynasty 206 BCE – 220 CE 426 Egyptian New Kingdom Olmec Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,077 BCE 423 Egyptian New Kingdom Vedic Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,077 BCE 423 Minoan Civilization Hittite Empire 1,600 BCE – 1,178 BCE 422 Hittite Empire Shang Dynasty 1,600 BCE – 1,178 BCE 422 Hittite Empire Elamite Civilization 1,600 BCE – 1,178 BCE 422 Hittite Empire Jomon Culture 1,600 BCE – 1,178 BCE 422 Olmec Civilization Carthaginian Empire 814 BCE – 400 BCE 414 Classic Maya Civilization Sassanid Empire 250 CE – 651 CE 401 Minoan Civilization Olmec Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,100 BCE 400 Minoan Civilization Vedic Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,100 BCE 400 Mycenaean Greece Olmec Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,100 BCE 400 Mycenaean Greece Vedic Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,100 BCE 400 Vedic Civilization Etruscan Civilization 900 BCE – 500 BCE 400

All other overlapping, uncontacted pairs

Shorter overlaps without a dedicated page — still real, still calculated the same way. Use the comparison tool to cross-reference any of these by trait.

Pair Overlap Years
Kingdom of Kush Roman Empire 27 BCE – 350 CE 377
Roman Empire Kingdom of Aksum 100 CE – 476 CE 376
Phoenician City-States Etruscan Civilization 900 BCE – 539 BCE 361
Elamite Civilization Etruscan Civilization 900 BCE – 539 BCE 361
Teotihuacan Sassanid Empire 224 CE – 550 CE 326
Parthian Empire Nazca Culture 100 BCE – 224 CE 324
Parthian Empire Teotihuacan 100 BCE – 224 CE 324
Hittite Empire Olmec Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,178 BCE 322
Hittite Empire Vedic Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,178 BCE 322
Han Dynasty Nazca Culture 100 BCE – 220 CE 320
Han Dynasty Teotihuacan 100 BCE – 220 CE 320
Carthaginian Empire Vedic Civilization 814 BCE – 500 BCE 314
Olmec Civilization Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 BCE – 609 BCE 302
Neo-Assyrian Empire Vedic Civilization 911 BCE – 609 BCE 302
Neo-Assyrian Empire Jomon Culture 911 BCE – 609 BCE 302
Indus Valley Civilization Mycenaean Greece 1,600 BCE – 1,300 BCE 300
Indus Valley Civilization Hittite Empire 1,600 BCE – 1,300 BCE 300
Indus Valley Civilization Shang Dynasty 1,600 BCE – 1,300 BCE 300
Indus Valley Civilization Old Babylonian Empire 1,894 BCE – 1,595 BCE 299
Minoan Civilization Old Babylonian Empire 1,894 BCE – 1,595 BCE 299
Old Babylonian Empire Jomon Culture 1,894 BCE – 1,595 BCE 299
Old Babylonian Empire Kingdom of Ebla 1,894 BCE – 1,600 BCE 294
Neo-Assyrian Empire Etruscan Civilization 900 BCE – 609 BCE 291
Elamite Civilization Carthaginian Empire 814 BCE – 539 BCE 275
Indus Valley Civilization Egyptian New Kingdom 1,550 BCE – 1,300 BCE 250
Roman Empire Han Dynasty 27 BCE – 220 CE 247
Nazca Culture Gupta Empire 320 CE – 550 CE 230
Teotihuacan Gupta Empire 320 CE – 550 CE 230
Classic Maya Civilization Gupta Empire 320 CE – 550 CE 230
Sassanid Empire Gupta Empire 320 CE – 550 CE 230
Byzantine Empire Kingdom of Zimbabwe 1220 CE – 1450 CE 230
Kingdom of Aksum Gupta Empire 320 CE – 550 CE 230
Postclassic Maya (Chichén Itzá era) Kingdom of Zimbabwe 1220 CE – 1450 CE 230
Chimú Kingdom Kingdom of Zimbabwe 1220 CE – 1450 CE 230
Roman Empire Classic Maya Civilization 250 CE – 476 CE 226
Kingdom of Kush Achaemenid Persian Empire 550 BCE – 330 BCE 220
Achaemenid Persian Empire Carthaginian Empire 550 BCE – 330 BCE 220
Achaemenid Persian Empire Etruscan Civilization 550 BCE – 330 BCE 220
Achaemenid Persian Empire Jomon Culture 550 BCE – 330 BCE 220
Roman Republic Parthian Empire 247 BCE – 27 BCE 220
Parthian Empire Etruscan Civilization 247 BCE – 27 BCE 220
Teotihuacan Byzantine Empire 330 CE – 550 CE 220
Byzantine Empire Gupta Empire 330 CE – 550 CE 220
Khmer Empire Kingdom of Zimbabwe 1220 CE – 1431 CE 211
Roman Republic Jomon Culture 509 BCE – 300 BCE 209
Neo-Assyrian Empire Carthaginian Empire 814 BCE – 609 BCE 205
Indus Valley Civilization Olmec Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,300 BCE 200
Indus Valley Civilization Vedic Civilization 1,500 BCE – 1,300 BCE 200
Kingdom of Kush Classical Athens 508 BCE – 322 BCE 186
Classical Athens Carthaginian Empire 508 BCE – 322 BCE 186
Classical Athens Etruscan Civilization 508 BCE – 322 BCE 186
Classical Athens Jomon Culture 508 BCE – 322 BCE 186
Akkadian Empire Minoan Civilization 2,334 BCE – 2,154 BCE 180
Akkadian Empire Jomon Culture 2,334 BCE – 2,154 BCE 180
Achaemenid Persian Empire Roman Republic 509 BCE – 330 BCE 179
Roman Republic Han Dynasty 206 BCE – 27 BCE 179
Han Dynasty Etruscan Civilization 206 BCE – 27 BCE 179
Roman Empire Gupta Empire 320 CE – 476 CE 156
Shang Dynasty Phoenician City-States 1,200 BCE – 1,046 BCE 154
Olmec Civilization Achaemenid Persian Empire 550 BCE – 400 BCE 150
Roman Empire Byzantine Empire 330 CE – 476 CE 146
Kingdom of Aksum Khmer Empire 802 CE – 940 CE 138
Kingdom of Kush Maurya Empire 322 BCE – 185 BCE 137
Maurya Empire Roman Republic 322 BCE – 185 BCE 137
Maurya Empire Carthaginian Empire 322 BCE – 185 BCE 137
Maurya Empire Etruscan Civilization 322 BCE – 185 BCE 137
Kingdom of Kush Sassanid Empire 224 CE – 350 CE 126
Parthian Empire Kingdom of Aksum 100 CE – 224 CE 124
Egyptian New Kingdom Phoenician City-States 1,200 BCE – 1,077 BCE 123
Han Dynasty Kingdom of Aksum 100 CE – 220 CE 120
Olmec Civilization Roman Republic 509 BCE – 400 BCE 109
Olmec Civilization Classical Athens 508 BCE – 400 BCE 108
Parthian Empire Carthaginian Empire 247 BCE – 146 BCE 101
Minoan Civilization Phoenician City-States 1,200 BCE – 1,100 BCE 100
Mycenaean Greece Phoenician City-States 1,200 BCE – 1,100 BCE 100
Kingdom of Kush Classic Maya Civilization 250 CE – 350 CE 100
Classic Maya Civilization Khmer Empire 802 CE – 900 CE 98
Postclassic Maya (Chichén Itzá era) Aztec (Mexica) Empire 1428 CE – 1521 CE 93
Postclassic Maya (Chichén Itzá era) Inca Empire 1438 CE – 1524 CE 86
Inca Empire Aztec (Mexica) Empire 1438 CE – 1521 CE 83
Roman Republic Nazca Culture 100 BCE – 27 BCE 73
Roman Republic Teotihuacan 100 BCE – 27 BCE 73
Nazca Culture Etruscan Civilization 100 BCE – 27 BCE 73
Teotihuacan Etruscan Civilization 100 BCE – 27 BCE 73
Maurya Empire Parthian Empire 247 BCE – 185 BCE 62
Han Dynasty Carthaginian Empire 206 BCE – 146 BCE 60
Achaemenid Persian Empire Vedic Civilization 550 BCE – 500 BCE 50
Chimú Kingdom Aztec (Mexica) Empire 1428 CE – 1470 CE 42
Kingdom of Aksum Postclassic Maya (Chichén Itzá era) 900 CE – 940 CE 40
Kingdom of Aksum Chimú Kingdom 900 CE – 940 CE 40
Kingdom of Kush Gupta Empire 320 CE – 350 CE 30
Byzantine Empire Aztec (Mexica) Empire 1428 CE – 1453 CE 25
Shang Dynasty Kingdom of Kush 1,070 BCE – 1,046 BCE 24
Hittite Empire Phoenician City-States 1,200 BCE – 1,178 BCE 22
Maurya Empire Jomon Culture 322 BCE – 300 BCE 22
Aztec (Mexica) Empire Kingdom of Zimbabwe 1428 CE – 1450 CE 22
Maurya Empire Han Dynasty 206 BCE – 185 BCE 21
Kingdom of Kush Byzantine Empire 330 CE – 350 CE 20
Kingdom of Kush Qin Dynasty 221 BCE – 206 BCE 15
Qin Dynasty Maurya Empire 221 BCE – 206 BCE 15
Qin Dynasty Roman Republic 221 BCE – 206 BCE 15
Qin Dynasty Parthian Empire 221 BCE – 206 BCE 15
Qin Dynasty Carthaginian Empire 221 BCE – 206 BCE 15
Qin Dynasty Etruscan Civilization 221 BCE – 206 BCE 15
Byzantine Empire Inca Empire 1438 CE – 1453 CE 15
Inca Empire Kingdom of Zimbabwe 1438 CE – 1450 CE 12
Phoenician City-States Achaemenid Persian Empire 550 BCE – 539 BCE 11
Achaemenid Persian Empire Elamite Civilization 550 BCE – 539 BCE 11
Roman Republic Vedic Civilization 509 BCE – 500 BCE 9
Classical Athens Vedic Civilization 508 BCE – 500 BCE 8
Mycenaean Greece Old Babylonian Empire 1,600 BCE – 1,595 BCE 5
Old Babylonian Empire Shang Dynasty 1,600 BCE – 1,595 BCE 5
Khmer Empire Aztec (Mexica) Empire 1428 CE – 1431 CE 3