As I say all over the place in this blog, I think that the mind mapping program iMindMap is by far the best for this application.

However, some of the other programs work easier, or better, for specific applications. One example is creating a timeline in the style of a mind map (or as an actual mind map, depending upon how you define a mind map).

Here is a partial mind map of some events in my life very easily and quickly created in the mind mapping program XMIND. I used the most basic FREE version of this program. While not of the artistic quality of iMindMap, the program very quickly produces a timeline mind map.

Click the image to expand.