Timeline Builder

Timeline Builder — Structured Chronology with Causal Links

This is an action skill that produces annotated timelines designed for visual learners. Unlike a simple list of dates, a timeline-builder output includes causal connections (why one event led to another), turning points (moments that changed the trajectory), significance assessments (why this event matters), and cross-references to relevant wings of the library.

When This Applies

• User asks "give me a timeline of [topic]"
• User asks "what's the chronology of [event/period]?"
• User wants to understand the sequence and causation of a complex historical process
• User needs a structured overview before diving into analytical detail

The Build Process

Step 1 — Scope the Timeline

• Topic: What is the timeline about? (A single event, a process, a period, a theme?)
• Start/End: When does it begin and end? (Justify the boundaries — periodization matters)
• Temporal register: Which of Braudel's registers? (Evenements for a battle; conjonctures for an economic cycle; longue duree for a civilizational pattern)
• Thematic focus: Which wings are relevant? (A purely political timeline misses economic and cultural dimensions)

Step 2 — Identify Key Events

Select events that are:

• Causally significant: They changed what happened next
• Representative: They illustrate the broader pattern
• Diverse: They cover multiple dimensions (political, economic, cultural, military)

For each event, note:

• Date and brief description
• Causal connection to previous event(s)
• Significance assessment (why it matters)
• Wing reference (which thematic wing would handle a deep dive)

Step 3 — Identify Turning Points

Turning points are events after which the trajectory changed irreversibly. Mark 2-4 per timeline. A turning point must satisfy:

• Before this event, multiple futures were plausible
• After this event, the range of plausible futures narrowed significantly

Step 4 — Render the Timeline

Output Template

═══════════════════════════════════════════
TIMELINE: [Topic]
PERIOD: [Start] — [End]
REGISTER: [Evenements / Conjonctures / Longue duree]
WINGS: [Primary thematic wing(s)]
═══════════════════════════════════════════

[DATE] — [EVENT]
  → Caused by: [Causal link to previous]
  → Led to: [Causal link to next]
  → Significance: [Why this matters]
  → Wing: [Relevant thematic wing]

[DATE] — ★ TURNING POINT: [EVENT]
  → Before: [What was possible]
  → After: [What became inevitable/impossible]
  → Why decisive: [What made this irreversible]

[DATE] — [EVENT]
  ...

═══════════════════════════════════════════
CROSS-TEMPORAL PATTERN:
  [What this timeline reveals about broader historical dynamics]

WHAT THIS TIMELINE MISSES:
  [Dimensions, perspectives, or events not captured]
═══════════════════════════════════════════

Design Principles

• Causal links are mandatory: Every event must connect to at least one other event. A timeline without causation is just a list.
• Turning points are marked visually: Use ★ to distinguish turning points from ordinary events.
• Multi-wing annotations: Note when an event has dimensions beyond the primary wing (e.g., a political event with economic causes).
• Acknowledge limits: Every timeline is a selection. State what's omitted.