Timeline

This timeline notes many important events in Star Wars history. The common reference point is the Battle of Yavin, where Luke Skywalker destroyed the first Death Star, labeled here as SW4 for Star Wars IV:A New Hope

BSW4 = Before Star Wars IV
ASW4 = After Star Wars IV

25,000 years BSW4
The Old Republic is formed. Jedit Knights appear.

5,000 years BSW4
Pioneering hyperspace explorers Gav and Jori Daragon stumble upon the mighty Sith Empire, which is ruled by Dark Lords of the Sith and thrives on dark-side Force powers. This eventually leads to a major battle between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire.

4,000 years BSW4
The Great Sith War.

(Depicted in Tales of the Jedi, Dark Lords of the Sith, and The Sith War.)

896 years BSW4
Jedi Master Yoda is born.

200 years BSW4
Wookiee Chewbacca is born on the planet Kashyyyk.

60 years BSW4
Ben 'Obi-Wan' Kenobi is born.

41 years BSW4
Anakin Skywalker is born.

32 years BSW4 (Fall of the Republic)
A dark period of corruption and social injustice sweeps through the Republic, paving the way for Senator Palpatine's rise to power.

29 years BSW4
Han Solo born in the Corellian star system.

22-20 years BSW4
Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark side of the Force and becomes Darth Vader.

18 years BSW4
Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa born and placed in hiding; Jedi Knights hunted and killed; Palpatine becomes Emperor; Empire formed; first strings of rebellion begin.

10 years BSW4
A teenage Han Solo develops into a hotshot pilot and smuggler, and eventually wins the Millennium Falcon from the gambler Lando Calrissian.

10-5 years BSW4
The droid companions C-3PO and R2-D2 are involved in a series of harrowing adventures in the service of several different owners.

1-5+ years BSW4
Han Solo and Chewbacca operate as smugglers. Their travels take them to the Corporate Sector, the Hutt-owned worlds of Nar Shaddaa and Nal Hutta, and other sections of the galaxy.

(Depicted in Han Solo at Stars' End, Han Solo's Revenge, Han Solo and the Lost Legacy, Dark Empire, and Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina.)

1-0 years BSW4
Rebel agent Kyle Katarn steals the Empire's Death Star plans.

Star Wars IV: A New Hope
The Battle of Yavin: The Imperial Senate is dissolved and Emperor Palpatine declares a New Order. Luke Skywalker, Ben Kenobi, Han Solor and Chewbacca save Princess Leia, confront Darth Vader and help destroy the first Death Star, but not before it is used to destroy Leia's adopted planet of Alderaan. Kenobi lets himself be struck down by Vader and becomes one with the Force.

Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (3 years ASW4)
The Battle of Hoth. The main Rebel base is destroyed. Luke Skywalker goes to Dagobah to train under Jedi Master Yoda. Leia, Han, Chewbacca and C-3PO are captured by Vader on Bespin's Cloud City and held as bait for young Skywalker. Solo is frozen in carbonite and given to bounty hunter Boba Fett for delivery to crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader, who claims to be Luke's father, and Luke loses his hand and lightsaber, but is rescued by Leia and Lando Calrissian.

3-4 years ASW4 (Shadows of the Empire)
Galactic criminal leader Prince Xizor of the Black Sun organization, plots the death of Luke Skywalker to discredit Vader and becomes the Emperor's second-in-command, but failed and was destroyed by Vader. Leia Organa, Luke, and Lando Calrissian track Boba Fett, hoping to save Han Solo.

Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (4 years ASW4)
Luke and Leia free Han Solo; Jabba the Hutt dies. Lando Calrissian and Admiral Ackbar lead the attack that destroys the second Death Star. Luke Skywalker confronts the Emperor and Darth Vader; Palpatine dies when Vader redeems himself and turns on his former master.

Luke Skywalker leads a Rebel fleet to Bakura, devastating an advance Ssi- ruuvi invasion force.

The New Republic created by declaration of Mon Mothma; the fledging government begins the work of reuniting the galaxy.

(Depicted in The Truce of Bakura, and the Heir to the Empire Sourcebook.)

8 years ASW4
The New Republic continues to unite the worlds of the galaxy under its rule. Hapan Prince Isolder seeks the hand of Princess Leia Organa in marriage. Warlord Zsinj killed over the planet Dathomir. Han Solo weds Leia Organa.

(Depicted in The Courtship of Princess Leia.)

9 years ASW4
Grand Admiral Thrawn's campaign nearly succeeds in toppling the New Republic. Luke Skywalker confronts the mad Jedi Joruus C'Baoth. Smuggling leader Talon Karrde allies with the New Republic. Jacen and Jaina Solo born to Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo.

(Depicted in Heir to the Empire, Dark Forces Rising, and The Last Command.)

10 years ASW4
The remnants of the Empire, under the direction of a reincarnated Emperor Palpatine, reduces the New Republic's sphere of influence to less than half of the galaxy. Despite the introduction of many new weapons, such as World Devastators and tank droids, the Empire is defeated.

(Depicted in Dark Empire, Dark Empire II, and Empire's End.)

11 years ASW4
Imperial forces from the secret Maw Installation, under the command of Admiral Daala, attack the New Republic using an experimental weapon named the Sun Crusher. The Imperial fleet is devastated and the Sun Crusher is destroyed, although Daala escapes. Luke Skywalker establishes his Jedi Praxeum (Academy) on Yavin Four.

(Depicted in Jedi Search, Dark Apprentice, and Champions of the Force.)

12-13 years ASW4
Luke has an epic - but ultimately unfulfilled - romance with one-time Jedi Knight Callista, as he is trapped aboard an old Imperial battle moon, battles a Hutt crime lord and deals with a mysterious outbreak of a deadly plague.

14 years ASW4
Leia and Han's three children are kidnapped by a one-time Imperial official who has established an 'Empire Reborn' movement.

15 years ASW4
Luke Skywalker achieves the ability to cloak objects.

16-17 years ASW4
The New Republic is threatened by the cruel and xenophobic Yevethan species. Luke searches for clues about his mother. Wedge Antilles becomes a general.

17 years ASW4
Kueller, a one-time pupil at the Jedi academy, becomes a dark-side menace, even as bombs he planted endanger the New Repulic.

18 years ASW4
Thracken Sal-Solo, Han's nearly identical cousin, leads a brutal revolutionary army intent on ruling the Corellian sector. The Solo children help to stop him by disabling Sal-Solo's star-busting weapon.

22-23 years ASW4
Anakin Solo begins his instruction at the Jedi academy.

23-24 years ASW4
Jaina and Jacen Solo train at the Jedi academy and help to take on the evil Second Imperium.

Note: Extracted from Star Wars, The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels, by Bill Smith and Star Wars Encyclopedia by Stephen J. Sansweet.