Twelfth Century BCE: Egypt makes war on Libya.
Seventh Century BCE: Phoenicians settle in Tripolitania (western Libya).
331 BCE: Greeks colonize Cyrenaica (eastern Libya) and confer the name "Libya" on the region.
533 CE: Libya is absorbed into the Byzantine Empire.
643: The Arab army of Amr Ibn al-As conquers Libya in the name of Islam.
1551: Libya is absorbed into the Ottoman Empire.
1801: Tripoli (Libya) declares war on the United States.
1911-1912: Italy conquers Libya.
1923: Beginning of Second Italo-Sanusi War (first took place during World War I).
1931: Second Italo-Sanusi War ends with execution of Libyan freedom fighter Umar Mukhtar.
1942: Allies liberate Libya. French and British administer the region.
1952: Libya becomes an independent kingdom under King Idris al-Sanusi.
1956: American oil companies are granted a concession to explore in Libya.
1969: A military coup overthrows the monarchy. Colonel Muamar Qaddafi takes power.
1971: Libya nationalizes British oil interests.
1973: Libya seizes American oil interests.
1974: Libya nationalizes American oil companies.
1975: Qaddafi publishes The Green Book.
1977: Qaddafi declares a "People's Revolution" in Libya.
1979, December 2: Libyan mob overruns U.S. embassy.
1980: Libya courts Billy Carter, U.S. President Carter's brother.
1981, May 6: The United States breaks off diplomatic relations with Libya.
1981, August 19: The U.S. shoots down two Libyan warplanes.
1986, April: The U. S. bombs Tripoli and Benghazi.
1989, January 4: The U.S. jets shoots down two Libyan fighter planes.
2002, April 30: Libya agrees to pay compensation to families of victims of Pan Am 103.
2003, December 19: Libya announces it is abandoning its weapons of mass destruction program.
2006, February: Libya makes overtures to American oil companies.
2006: May 16: Libya and the United States announce they are resuming diplomatic relations.
2007: July: A case involving foreign health workers is resolved.
2007, October: Libya elected to term on UN Security Council.