History of the Pokémon world

Below is a timeline of events in the **history of the Pokémon world**.

There are many stories and legends surrounding the history of the Pokémon world. It is not entirely clear if these legends are true or not, but there are many hints that suggest that they are.

## Timeline

### Beginning of the Pokémon universe

This information is based primarily on the mythology of both the Hoenn and Sinnoh regions.

* In a vortex of complete chaos and nothingness, a single Egg comes into being, which then hatches into Arceus, the first being in existence. Arceus then creates time, space, and antimatter. Giratina, as punishment for its destructive nature, is sent by Arceus to live in the Distortion World. Dialga and Palkia then succeed in creating the universe and Pokémon world and retreat into their own dimensions afterwards.

* Arceus then creates Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, giving knowledge, emotion and willpower to all living things that come into existence in the Pokémon world. The three dive into caves at the bottom of Lake Verity, Lake Valor and Lake Acuity in Sinnoh, giving them the name "lake guardians".

* Kyogre is formed by the pressure in the deep sea trenches, Groudon is formed deep inside the Earth, likely from hardened magma and earth, and Rayquaza is formed by the minerals of the ozone layer. Rayquaza proceeds to fly around in the ozone layer.

* Kyogre and Groudon then proceed to fill the sea and create land, respectively. A chance meeting turns the two into rivals, and a conflict for dominance over the Pokémon world begins. This battle continues until Rayquaza quells it, causing Kyogre and Groudon to retreat to special caverns, where they rest. At this time, Mew may have been plentiful and lived in large numbers.

* Landmasses such as Mt. Coronet are created, and Regigigas moves the continents, forming the regions, and creates the three titans, Regirock, Regice and Registeel, out of clay, ice and magma, respectively.

* The Sinnoh region is created around Mt. Coronet. During this violent procedure, Heatran is formed in a pool of lava. Arceus creates the Adamant, Lustrous, and Griseous Orbs before falling into a deep slumber.

### Prehistory

This information is based primarily on the study of Fossils and other archaeological remains. Some of this information is also based on scientific research.

**Millions of years ago:**

* The earliest known prehistoric Pokémon existed at this time. It is possible that the Mew population may have decreased at this stage, as they slowly gave way to other Pokémon species. The first humans also appeared around this time.

* Anorith is stated to have existed in primordial seas, with its eight legs at some point developing into its known eight wings.

* 300 million years ago: An ancient version of Genesect was born. Kabuto and Kabutops lived in the sea.
	+ Team Plasma later used Genesect's DNA to create an infinitely stronger version of it with cybernetic technology.

* An unspecified hundreds of millions of years ago: Carbink begins its undisturbed underground sleep after its birth. It was born from deep underground temperatures and pressures.

* 100 million years ago: Species such as Aerodactyl, Lileep, Cranidos, Shieldon, Tirtouga, Archen, Tyrantrum and Amaura were supposedly widespread. They all ultimately went extinct, but not before Archen gave rise to bird Pokémon and Tirtouga gave rise to turtle Pokémon.
	+ A fossil is found millions of years later in Hoenn and revived scientifically by the Devon Corporation.
	+ Shellder is known to be the prey of Omastar.
	+ Carracosta and Archeops preyed on Omanyte. Only Carracosta is known to have eaten Omastar.

* Relicanth is said to have remained unchanged for over 100 million years.

* 20,000 years ago:
	+ The first Claydol was brought to life from a clay doll.

* 10,000 years ago: During the last Ice Age, the Mamoswine population flourished, then decreased when the Ice Age ended.

* At some point in the distant past, the Magikarp population mutates due to unknown reasons and becomes weaker.

* At some point after the Iron Age, Regigigas is sealed away in the Snowpoint Temple, and Regirock, Regice and Registeel are sealed away at various points across the Hoenn region after years of human worship.

**3,000 years ago:**

* The Kalos war occurred, setting a chain of events into motion that leads to the discovery of Mega Evolution.

**2,000 years ago:**

* Conkeldurr is said to have taught humans how to make concrete using centrifugal force.
* The world overflowed with natural energy which Groudon and Kyogre, in their primal forms, fought over. They ravaged the earth and were only calmed by Rayquaza after the Draconid people summoned it using a wish on a meteor at Meteor Falls. The people of Hoenn begin to revere Rayquaza as a savior.

**1,500 years ago:**

* The earliest known system for writing is developed and used at the Ruins of Alph and Solaceon Ruins. Archaeologists are currently unsure whether the nearly identical Unown preceded or succeeded the writing system, but it is assumed they share some sort of connection.
* The Farfetch'd population decreases due to overhunting.

**1,000 years ago:**

* A meteor struck Hoenn, creating Sootopolis City. Groudon and Kyogre reawakened to fight over the wellspring of primal energy which came from it. The people of Hoenn wished on Rayquaza to save them and, using the meteor, Rayquaza performed the world's first Mega Evolution and calmed the two.

**800 years ago:**

* Xerneas released life energy throughout the Kalos region and fled to a forest, where it went to sleep in the form of a tree.
* Yveltal absorbed life energy throughout the Kalos region and fled to the mountains, where it went to sleep in the form of a cocoon.

### Recent history

This information is based on historic records.

**c. 700 years ago:**

* Bell Tower and Brass Tower are constructed in Ecruteak City, and Lugia and Ho-Oh perch at their tops.

**c. 500 years ago:**

* The Cianwood City Pharmacy is built.
* A Spiritomb is bound to a fissure in an Odd Keystone as punishment for misdeeds.
* The guardian deities fought against Solgaleo and Lunala.
* Magearna is created by a scientist who used the life energy of other Pokémon to create its Soul-Heart, and is presented to a king's daughter.

**c. 400 years ago:**

* The Pokémon move Toxic is invented.
* Azalea Town in Johto is struck by a long-term drought.
* Rolycoly is first discovered in a coal mine.

**At most 302 years ago:**

* Poké Balls are invented.

**c. 300 years ago:**

* Parfum Palace is built.

**c. 150 years ago:**

* Brass Tower burns to the ground, killing three Pokémon inside. Lugia flees to the Whirl Islands while Ho-Oh resurrects the three as the Legendary beasts and flies off in search of a pure-hearted Trainer.

**c. 100 years ago:**

* The warehouses of Nacrene City are constructed.
* Klink begin to appear in Chargestone Cave.
* Roggenrola is discovered in an earthquake fissure.

**1925**

* Modern Poké Balls are developed from the research of Professor Westwood of Celadon University.

**1969:**

* Humans land on the Moon for the first time.

**c. 50 years ago:**

* Elgyem is seen for the first time when it appeared from far in the desert.

**c. 40 years ago:**

* Lunatone is seen for the first time in a crater.

**1995**

* The first Pokémon created by scientific engineering, Porygon, is created.

**20 years ago:**

* N is born.

**14-15 years ago:**

* Cheren is born.
* Bianca is born.
* Mina is born.

**11 years ago:**

* Hau is born.
* Lillie is born.

**10 years ago:**

* May is born.
* Ash is born.
* Gary is born.

**Less than 10 years ago:**

* A Rotom inhabits an abandoned mansion in Sinnoh.

### Contemporary history

* A team of scientists led by Mr. Fuji discover a new Pokémon deep in a jungle in Guyana, South America and name it Mew. Mewtwo, a clone of Mew, is born with the purpose to serve Team Rocket's Leader Giovanni.
* Blaine, the Cinnabar Gym Leader, relocates the gym to a nearby island.

**Start of the game:**

* Ash leaves Pallet Town on his Pokémon journey after his rival, Professor Oak's grandson, Gary and two other Pallet trainers. After getting the eight Badges of Kanto, he then participates to the Indigo League. Ash then ventures to other regions in order to take part in their Pokémon Leagues. During his journey, he faces multiple villanous teams and busts their plans.

**During Ash's journey:**

* Brock and Misty leave their Gyms and follow Ash in part of his journey: Brock follows him until Sinnoh, while Misty until Johto. They also reappear later in several special occasions.
* May leaves Littleroot Town on a Pokémon journey with the goal of becoming a Pokémon Coordinator, following Ash's exploration of Hoenn.
* The Elite Four Agatha temporarily takes over former Giovanni's position as the Viridian City Gym Leader.
* The Battle Frontier is built in the Kanto region.
* Dawn leaves Twinleaf Town in order to become a Pokémon Coordinator and follows Ash in his Sinnoh journey.
* Team Plasma creates Genesect in an attempt to create the strongest Pokémon in existence by altering an ancient insect Pokémon with cybernetic upgrades.
* Iris and Cilan join Ash in his Unova journey.
* Serena begins her Pokémon journey in order to join Ash in his own through Kalos and later decides to become a Pokémon Performer.
* Ash attends to Professor Kukui's Pokémon School in the Alola region.