The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Tallinn, Estonia.
Prior to 17th century
5,000 BCE - The sea still reaches the foot of the cliffs of Toompea
3,000 BCE - First signs of a settlement in Tallinn. ca. 750 BCE - fortified settlement first built at Iru near Tallinn, at the Pirita river bend. It is used until the 5th century BCE and then again during the 4th−2nd century BCE. ca. 450 CE - Iru hillfort is built at th of the former fortified settlement. 9th century - Scandinavians (Varangians) start making trade voyages to East Slavs along the Gulf of Finland. The warm-water Tallinn Bay starts developing as a trade harbor. 1032 - the naval battle at the "Iron Gate" possibly occurs near Aegna island, where a Novgorod fleet is defeated by a local fleet. Ca. 1050 - Iru hillfort is abandoned for unknown reasons and Lindanise Fort is built on Toompea hill. It will become the seat of the independent Revala County. Rus' chronicles refer to it as Kolyvan and it may be related to the giant-hero Kalev in Estonian mythology, who is thought to be buried in Toompea, which is a tumulus on his grave. 1206 - 1st Danish attempt to conquer Saaremaa island, but it may have occurred in Lindanise in Revala instead and the opposing German chronicles may have altered the accounts. 1211 - the Livonian Brothers of the Sword raid Lääne County. In response, Revala County enters the Livonian Crusade against the crusaders. 1219 Toompea Castle taken by forces of Valdemar II of Denmark. St Mary's Cathedral built by Danes. 1224 - Danish authorities merge Revala County with Harju County, while Reval remains the seat of the county and of Danish Estonia. 1227 - Town charter granted. 1228 - Toompea Castle taken by the Livonian Knights. 1237 - Toompea Castle returned to the Danes. 1240 – St. Olaf's Church built. 1265 – Town wall constructed. 1275 – St. Nicholas' Church built (approximate date). 1284 – Reval becomes part of Hanseatic League. 1343 April: Reval besieged by Estonian forces. Brotherhood of Blackheads formed. 1347 – Reval ( & Esthonia) sold to Teutonic Order by Valdemar III of Denmark. 1360 - Town "fortified." 1370 – Pikk Hermann tower built. 1372 School built on Pikk Street. Population: 3,250. 1404 – Town Hall construction completed. 1410 – Great Guild Hall built. 1422 – Raeapteek pharmacy in business. 1433 – Fire. 1436 – St. Bridget's Convent built. 1441 – Christmas tree display in Town Hall Square begins. 1464 - Plague. 1475 – The artillery tower Kiek in de Kök built. 1514 - December: Christmas tree displayed in marketplace. 1530 Fat Margaret tower built. Old Thomas weathervane installed atop Town Hall. 1532 – Plague. 1561 Reval becomes a dominion of Sweden. St. Mary's Cathedral, Tallinn changes from Roman Catholic to Lutheran. 1569 – Reval besieged by Danes. 1570 – Reval besieged by Russians. 1577 – Reval again besieged by Russians.
17th century
1630 – Reval Gymnasium (school) established. 1633 - Gymnasiums printing house is founded. 1638 - Beginning of regular post between Tallinn and other Swedish cities. 1675 - First newspaper in Tallinn, Revalsche Post-Zeitung, starts operating. 1684 - Devastating fire in Toompea.
18th century
1710 – Peter the Great's army besieges Reval, Reval surrenders (Siege of Reval (1710)), and Russian rule begins. 1719 – Catherinethal Palace (Kadriorg Palace) built by Peter the Great. 1725 - Toompea orphanage is founded. 1726 - Naval Blockade of Reval (1726) 1758 - City is released for the task to hold up the defence facilities. 1765 - Domeschool is changed to Academic Knightschool. Domechurch loses its control over the school and it is given to Estonian Knighthood. 1769- Mihkli church-monastery is reconstructed as an orthodox church. 1772 Toompea Castle rebuilt. Population: 6,954. Cemeteries are taken outside of city walls. 1774 – Kopli cemetery and Mõigu cemetery established. 1782 - Population: 10,653 1784 - First theatre is founded by August von Kotzebue. 1795 - The Tallinna saksa teater is founded.