Conflict History is a good example of what can be accomplished by mixing Google Maps with a timeline. Conflict History provides a timeline at the bottom of a Google Map. Select a range of dates on the timeline and placemarks representing conflicts appear on the map. For example, if you select the years 1907-1921, every conflict that happened around the world in those years appears on the map. For major conflicts such as World War I, individual campaigns and battles appear on the map.

Thanks to Google Maps Mania for the link.

Applications for Education
Conflict History provides a simple tool for showing students when and where a conflict happened in the world. I can see myself using Conflict History as an introduction and or overview resource when my US History students are studying World War I and World War II.

Here are some related items that may be of interest to you:
History Animated
Interactive Maps and Timelines
Animated Thematic Maps