Editing 3rd millennium BC

{{short description|Millennium between 3000 BC to 2001 BC}}
{{Millenniumbox|-3}}
<imagemap>File:3rd millennium BC montage.jpg|thumb|400x400px|From top left clockwise: [[Pyramid of Djoser]]; [[Khufu]]; [[Great Pyramid of Giza]], one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; [[Cuneiform]], a contract for the sale of a field and a house; [[Enheduana]], a high priestess and one of the earliest known authors in history; [[Gudea]] (Background: [[Standard of Ur]]).
rect 34 26 474 319 [[Pyramid of Djoser]]
rect 541 58 802 271 [[Khufu]]
rect 825 28 1264 297 [[Great Pyramid of Giza]]
rect 79 352 401 656 [[Cuneiform]]
rect 572 309 770 665 [[Enheduana]]
rect 920 320 1157 676 [[Gudea]]

rect 1 1 1279 719 [[Standard of Ur]]
</imagemap>
The '''3rd millennium BC''' spanned the years 3000 to 2001 BC. This period of time corresponds to the Early to Middle [[Bronze Age]], characterized by the early [[empire]]s in the [[Ancient Near East]]. In [[Ancient Egypt]], the [[Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)|Early Dynastic Period]] is followed by the [[Old Kingdom]]. In Mesopotamia, the [[Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)|Early Dynastic Period]] is followed by the [[Akkadian Empire]]. In what is now [[Northwest India]] and Pakistan, the [[Indus Valley civilization]] developed a state society.

[[World population estimates|World population]] growth relaxed after the burst due to the [[Neolithic Revolution]].
World population was largely stable, at roughly 60 million, with a slow overall growth rate at roughly 0.03% p.a.<ref>Jean-Noël Biraben, "Essai sur l'évolution du nombre des hommes", ''Population'' 34-1 (1979), 13–25, estimates 40 million at 5000 BC and 100 million at 1600 BC, for an average growth rate of 0.027% p.a. over the Chalcolithic to Middle Bronze Age.</ref>

==Overview==
{{Bronze Age}}
The [[Bronze Age]] began in the [[Ancient Near East]] roughly between 3000 BC and 2500 BC. The previous millennium had seen the emergence of advanced, urbanized civilizations, new [[bronze]] [[metallurgy]] extending the productivity of agricultural work, and highly developed ways of communication in the form of [[writing]]. In the 3rd millennium BC, the growth of these riches, both intellectually and physically, became a source of contention on a political stage, and rulers sought the accumulation of more wealth and more power. Along with this came the first appearances of monumental architecture, [[imperialism]], organized absolutism and internal revolution.

The civilizations of [[Sumer]] and [[Akkad (city)|Akkad]] in [[Mesopotamia]] became a collection of volatile [[city-state]]s in which warfare was common. Uninterrupted conflicts drained all available resources, energies and populations. In this millennium, larger empires succeeded the last, and conquerors grew in stature until the great [[Sargon of Akkad]] pushed his empire to the whole of [[Mesopotamia]] and beyond. It would not be surpassed in size until [[Assyria]]n times 1,500 years later.

In the [[Old Kingdom]] of [[Egypt]], the [[Egyptian pyramids]] were constructed and would remain the tallest and largest human constructions for thousands of years. Also in Egypt, [[pharaoh]]s began to posture themselves as living [[deity|gods]] made of an essence different from that of other [[human]] beings. In [[Europe]], which was still largely [[neolithic]] during the same period, the builders of [[megalith]]s were constructing giant monuments of their own. In the [[Near East]] and the [[Western world|Occident]] during the 3rd millennium BC, limits were being pushed by architects and rulers.

Towards the close of the millennium, Egypt became the stage of the first popular revolution recorded in history. After lengthy wars, the Sumerians recognized the benefits of unification into a stable form of national government and became a relatively peaceful, well-organized, complex technocratic state called the [[Third Dynasty of Ur|3rd Dynasty of Ur]]. This dynasty was later to become involved with a wave of [[nomad]]ic invaders known as the [[Amorite]]s, who were to play a major role in the region during the following centuries.

==Cultures==
[[File:Snake Goddess - Heraklion Achaeological Museum retouched.jpg|200px|thumb|Minoan Snake Goddess.]]
;Near East
{{see|Early Bronze Age}}
* c. [[4th millennium BC]]–[[5th century BC]]: Old [[Dilmun]] period.
*{{Circa|2900}}–2350 BC: [[Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)]]
*c. 2334–2154 BC: [[Akkadian Empire]]
*3100–2686 BC: [[Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)]]
* c. [[2700 BC]]–[[1600 BC]]: Old [[Elamite language|Elamite]] period.
*2686–2181 BC [[Old Kingdom of Egypt]]
*2181–2055 BC [[First Intermediate Period of Egypt]]
* c. [[3000 BC]]: Nubian [[A-Group]] Culture comes to an end.
* {{Circa|[[2300 BC]]}}: Nubian [[C-Group]] culture.
;Europe
{{see|Neolithic Europe}}
* c. [[3200 BC]]: [[Cycladic culture]] in [[Aegean islands]] of [[Greece]].
* c. [[3200 BC]]–[[3100 BC]]: [[Helladic period|Helladic culture]] in mainland [[Greece]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Bronze Age on the Greek Mainland: Early Bronze Age – Early Helladic I|year=1999–2000|location=Athens|publisher=Foundation of the Hellenic World|url=http://www.fhw.gr/chronos/02/mainland/en/eh/intro/eb1/index.html}}</ref>
* c. [[3200 BC]]–[[2800 BC]]: [[Ozieri culture]].
* Founding of Europe's oldest civilization, the [[Minoan Civilization]] in 3000 BC. 
* [[Corded Ware culture]] (also Battle-axe culture, or Single Grave culture).<ref name="dynamic changes">{{Cite journal |last1=Papac |first1=Luka |last2=Ernée |first2=Michal |last3=Dobeš |first3=Miroslav |last4=Langová |first4=Michaela |last5=Rohrlach |first5=Adam B. |last6=Aron |first6=Franziska |last7=Neumann |first7=Gunnar U. |last8=Spyrou |first8=Maria A. |last9=Rohland |first9=Nadin |last10=Velemínský |first10=Petr |last11=Kuna |first11=Martin |display-authors=1 |date=2021 |title=Dynamic changes in genomic and social structures in third millennium BC central Europe |journal=Science Advances |language=en |volume=7 |issue=35 |pages=eabi6941 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abi6941 |pmid=34433570 |issn=2375-2548 |pmc=8386934 |bibcode=2021SciA....7.6941P }}</ref>
* Late [[Maikop culture]].
* Late [[Vinca culture]].
* [[Globular Amphora culture]].
* Early [[Beaker culture]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Genetic Study Reveals Bohemia's Dynamic Prehistory |url=https://www.archaeology.org/news/9963-210830-bohemia-genome-migration |work=[[Archaeology (magazine)|Archaeology]] |publisher=Archaeological Institute of America |date=30 August 2021}}</ref>
* [[Yamnaya culture]], [[Catacomb culture]], likely loci of [[Proto-Indo-Europeans|Indo-European]] [[Satemization]].<ref name="Indo-European">{{Cite journal|last1=Haak |first1=Wolfgang |last2=Lazaridis |first2=Iosif |last3=Patterson |first3=Nick |last4=Rohland |first4=Nadin |last5=Mallick |first5=Swapan |last6=Llamas |first6=Bastien |last7=Brandt |first7=Guido |last8=Nordenfelt |first8=Susanne |last9=Harney |first9=Eadaoin |last10=Stewardson |first10=Kristin |last11=Fu |first11=Qiaomei |date=11 June 2015 |title=Massive migration from the steppe was a source for Indo-European languages in Europe |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |volume=522 |issue=7555 |pages=207–211 |doi=10.1038/nature14317 |issn=0028-0836 |pmc=5048219 |pmid=25731166 |bibcode=2015Natur.522..207H |arxiv=1502.02783}}</ref>
* The [[Sintashta-Petrovka-Arkaim]] culture emerges from the [[Catacomb culture]] from about [[2200 BC]], likely locus of [[Proto-Indo-Iranian]].
* [[Butmir culture]].
* Late [[Funnelbeaker culture]].
* [[Baden culture]].
* [[Gaudo culture]].

;South Asia
* 2800 BC–2600 BC: [[Indus Valley civilisation|Harappan 2]].
* 2600 BC–1900 BC: [[Indus Valley civilisation|Harappan 3]] (Mature Harappan).

;East and Southeast Asia
*[[Longshan culture]]
*[[Baodun culture]]
*[[Shijiahe culture]]
*[[Liangzhu culture]]
*[[Majiayao culture]]
*[[Lower Xiajiadian culture]]
* {{Circa|2500 BC}}: Austronesian peoples from Formosa colonize Luzon in northern Philippines.

;Americas
*[[Mesoamerican Archaic period]]
*[[Old Copper Complex]]
* [[Norte Chico civilization|Caral/Norte Chico civilization]].

;Sub-Saharan Africa
*[[Savanna Pastoral Neolithic]]

==Events==
[[File:Los Millares recreacion cuadro.jpg|thumb|A model of the prehistoric town of [[Los Millares]], with its walls.]]
Certain [[4th millennium BC]] events were precursors to the 3rd millennium BC:

* {{Circa|3700}}-1800 BC: [[Norte Chico civilization|Caral-Supe]] flourished between the fourth and second millennia BC, with the formation of the first city generally dated to around 3500 BC, at [[Huaricanga]], in the Fortaleza area. It is from 3100 BC onward that large-scale human settlement and communal construction become clearly apparent, which lasted until a period of decline around 1800 BC.
* {{Circa|3500 BC}}-3000 BC [[Huaricanga]] is the earliest city of the Norte Chico civilization, called Caral or Caral-Supe in Peru and Spanish language sources. "It existed around 3500 BC and was the oldest city in the Americas and one of the earliest cities in the world." It is located in the arid Fortaleza Valley on Peru's north central coast and is 14&nbsp;mi (23&nbsp;km) inland from the Pacific Ocean. The site covers a total area of 100 hectares, and is the largest Late Archaic construction in the Norte Chico region. The three earthwork mounds on the large site are believed to be remains of pyramidal-shaped structures. Two standing stones, known as huancas, also survive. Excavation in 2007 revealed a structure believed to be a temple, of a design similar to, but predating, the Mito architectural tradition seen in the Peruvian highlands. In addition, later research in the Fortaleza and Pativilca valleys has found evidence of maize cultivation, as well as fourteen other domesticated species of fruits and vegetables. This suggests that agriculture may have been more important to the development of Caral-Supe civilization than previously thought, as it was for other independent civilizations of the world, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India.
* c. [[3700 BC]]: [[Lothal]]: Indus Valley trade-port city in [[India]].
* c. [[3650 BC]]–[[3000 BC]]: [[Minoan culture]] appeared on [[Crete]].
* c. [[3200 BC]]/[[3100 BC]]: [[Helladic culture]] and [[Cycladic culture]] both emerge in [[Greece]].
[[File:P1150890 Louvre stèle de victoire Akkad AO2678 rwk.jpg|thumb|Detail of a victory stele of [[Akkadian Empire|Akkadian]] king [[Rimush]]]]
The 3rd millennium BC included the following key events:

* c. [[3000 BC]]: [[Upper and Lower Egypt#Unification|Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.]]
* c. [[3000 BC]]: First evidence of gold being used in the Middle East.
* c. [[3000 BC]]: Nubian [[A-Group]], Ta-Seeti "kingdom" came to an end, possibly due to raids by [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]].
* c. [[3000 BC]]–[[2000 BC]]: [[marine vessel|Vessels]] from [[Denmark]] are made; they are now at [[National Museum]], [[Copenhagen]].
* c. [[2890 BC]]: Second Dynasty of Egypt, reign of [[Hotepsekhemwy]].
* [[Syria]]: Foundation of the city of [[Mari, Syria|Mari]] ([[29th century BC]]).
* Semitic tribes occupy Assyria in northern part of the plain of Shinar and Akkad.
* Phoenicians settle on Syrian coast, with centers at [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] and [[Sidon]].
* Beginning of the period of the mythical [[Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors|Sage Kings]] in China, also known as the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.
* c. [[2879 BC]]: Rise of the [[Xích Quỷ]] Kingdom and the [[Hồng Bàng dynasty]] in northern [[Viet Nam]] and southern [[China]].

[[File:Marble seated harp player MET DP256380.jpg|thumb|Harp Player from the island of [[Keros]], made by the [[Cycladic culture]] sometime in the 28th century BC.]]

*{{Circa|2800 BC}}–2700 BC: Harp Player, from [[Keros]], [[Cyclades]], was made. It is now at the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], [[New York City|New York]].
*[[Iran]]: Creation of the Kingdom of [[Elamite Empire|Elam]].
*[[Germination]] of the [[Bristlecone pine]] tree "[[Methuselah (pine tree)|Methuselah]]" about [[2700 BC]], one of the oldest known [[trees]] still living now.
* c. [[2686 BC]]: Third Dynasty of Egypt, reign of [[Sanakhte]].
* c. [[2613 BC]]: Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, reign of [[Sneferu]].
* c. [[2600 BC]]: Founding of the Chalcolithic Iberian civilizations of [[Los Millares]] and [[Vila Nova de São Pedro|Zambujal]].
*[[2600 BC]]: Unified [[Indus Valley civilisation]].
* c. [[2500 BC]]: The state of [[Assyria]] is established.
* c. [[2500 BC]]: Excavation and development of the [[Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni]] at [[Paola, Malta]], a subterranean temple complex subsequently used as a [[necropolis]].
* c. [[2500 BC]]–[[2200 BC]]: Incised panel [[Frying pan (NAMA 4974)|"Frying pan"]], from [[Syros]], [[Cyclades]] is made; it is now at the [[National Archaeological Museum, Athens|National Archaeological Museum]], [[Athens]].
* {{Circa|2500 BC}}–2200 BC: Two figures of women, from the [[Cyclades]], are made; they are now at [[Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art|Museum of Cycladic Art]], [[Athens]].
* Dynasty of [[Lagash]] in [[Sumer]].
*[[2474 BC]]–[[2398 BC]]: Golden age of [[Ur]] in [[Mesopotamia]].
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* c. [[2498 BC]]: Fifth Dynasty of [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]], reign of [[Userkaf]].
* c. [[2492 BC]]: The [[Armenia]]n patriarch [[Hayk]] defeats the [[Babylonia]]n king Bel (legendary account).
* c. [[2345 BC]]: Sixth Dynasty of [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]], reign of [[Teti]].
* 2334 BC: [[Sargon of Akkad]] conquers Mesopotamia, establishing the [[Akkadian Empire]].
* {{Circa|[[2300 BC]]}}: [[C-Group]] pastoralists arrive in Nubia.
* c. [[2181 BC]]: Seventh and Eighth Dynasty of Egypt (2181–2160).
* c. [[2160 BC]]: Ninth Dynasty of Egypt, reign of [[Akhtoy Meryibtowe]].
* c. [[2130 BC]]: Tenth Dynasty of Egypt, reign of [[Meryhathor]].
* c. [[2134 BC]]: Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt, reign of [[Mentuhotep I]].[[File:Indo-European migrations.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Early [[Indo-European migrations]] from the [[Pontic steppes]] and across Central Asia]]
*[[Megalith]]ic, [[Corded Ware culture]] and the [[Beaker people|Beaker]] flourish in [[Europe]].<ref name="dynamic changes"/>
* Sumerian poetry, lamenting the death of [[Tammuz (deity)|Tammuz]], the shepherd god.
* Sumerian cuneiform writing (reduces pictographs still in use to about 550 BC).
* Major religious festival in Sumeria celebrates victory of god of spring over goddess of chaos.
* Earliest [[Troy|Trojan]] culture.
* Glass beads in Egypt.
* The world's last surviving [[mammoth]] population, on [[Wrangel Island]] in the [[Arctic Ocean]], goes extinct, sometime between 2500 and 2000 BC.
* {{Circa|2070 BC}}–1600 BC: The first dynasty in traditional [[Chinese historiography]]--[[Xia dynasty]] begins in China.

==Inventions, discoveries, introductions==
[[File:The Great Pyramid of Giza.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Great Pyramid of Giza]], Kheops.]]
[[File:MedicineWheel.jpg|200px|thumb|The Medicine Wheel in [[Bighorn National Forest]], Wyoming, United States.]]
*The oldest documented evidence of the practice of [[meditation]] are wall arts in the [[Mohenjodaro]] and [[Harappa]].
*[[Stepwell]]: Earliest clear evidence of the origins of the stepwell is found in the [[Indus Valley civilisation]]'s archaeological site at [[Mohenjodaro]] in [[Pakistan]].
*Toilet platforms above [[Drain (plumbing)|drains]], in the proximity of wells, are found in several houses of the cities of [[Mohenjodaro]] and [[Harappa]].
* Pottery develops in [[Americas]] ([[30th century BC]]).
* c. [[3000 BC]]: [[Potter's wheel]] appears in [[Mesopotamia]].
* [[2900 BC]]–[[2400 BC]]: [[Sumer]]ians invent phonogram (linguistics).
* [[2650 BC]]: Reservoirs, script, metals and pottery used in the city of [[Dholavira]] in [[Indus Valley civilization]].
* {{Circa|[[2300 BC]]}}: Metals are used in [[Northern Europe]].
* [[China|Chinese]] record a [[comet]].
* Building of the Great [[Pyramid]] of [[Giza]] ([[26th century BC]]).
* Sails used on [[ship]]s ([[20th century BC]]).
* First [[ziggurat]]s built in [[Sumer]].
* [[Near East]] civilizations enter [[Bronze Age]] around 3000 BC.
* Oldest known [[medicine wheel]] constructed in the [[Americas]].
* First [[Copper]] (~2500 BC) and then [[Bronze]] (~2000 BC) and other types of [[metallurgy]] are introduced to [[Ireland]].
* The [[kunga (equid)|kunga]] was first bred in Ancient Syria and Mesopotamia by hybridizing captured now-extinct [[Syrian wild ass]] males with [[domestic donkey]] females between 2600 and 2000 BCE. It later fell out of favor when both [[domestic horse]]s and their donkey hybrids, [[mule]]s, arrived in the ancient Near East at the end of the millennium.
* [[Domestication of the horse]] with the coming of [[Proto-Indo-Europeans|Indo-Europeans]] in central Eurasia.
* The [[chariot]] emerges in Eurasian Steppe just before 2000 BC.
* The [[camel]] ([[dromedary]]) domesticated (though widespread use took until mid-to-late [[2nd millennium BC]]).<ref>{{cite book|first=Chris|last=Scarre|title=Smithsonian Timelines of the Ancient World|year=1993|isbn=978-1-56458-305-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yy3VngEACAAJ|page=176|publisher=Smithsonian Institution |quote=Both the dromedary (the one-humped camel of Arabia) and the Bactrian camel (the two-humped camel of Central Asia) had been domesticated since before 2000 BC.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Bulliet|first=Richard W.|title=The Camel and the Wheel|series=Morningside Book Series|location=New York|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=1990|orig-year=1975|page=183|isbn=978-0-231-07235-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vnf74PlZ7Z8C|quote=As has already been mentioned, this type of utilization [camels pulling wagons] goes back to the earliest known period of two-humped camel domestication in the third millennium BC.}}</ref>
* Indoor plumbing and sewage in the [[Indus Valley civilization]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Khan|first=Saifullah|title=Chapter 2 Sanitation and wastewater technologies in Harappa/Indus valley civilization (ca. 2600-1900 BC|url=https://www.academia.edu/5937322|language=en}}</ref>[[File:Ur chariot.jpg|thumb|200px|Chariot depicted on the [[Standard of Ur]], from the [[Sumer]]ian city-state of [[Ur]], {{Circa|2600 BC}}]]
*[[Sumer]]ian medicine discovers the healing qualities of mineral springs.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Johnston|first=Douglas M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=99H_tpN_iVkC&dq=sumerian+mineral+springs&pg=PA147|title=The Historical Foundations of World Order: The Tower and the Arena|date=2008|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|isbn=978-90-04-16167-2|language=en}}</ref>
* Weaving loom known in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Loom {{!}} weaving|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/loom|access-date=2021-01-20|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>
* Ornamental [[button]]s—made from seashell—were used in the [[Indus Valley civilisation]] for ornamental purposes by 2000 BCE.
* Sumerian numerical system based on multiples of 6 and 12.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
* Egyptians begin use of papyrus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pyma/hd_pyma.htm|title=Papyrus-Making in Egypt|last=Capua|website=www.metmuseum.org|access-date=2019-10-05}}</ref>
* [[Austronesian peoples|Austronesian]] peoples have developed lateen sail, and the out-rigger as well as extensive development of celestial navigation systems.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
* Oldest known evidence of the [[Cannabis smoking|inhalation of cannabis smoke]], as indicated by [[charred]] cannabis [[seed]]s found in a [[ritual]] [[brazier]] at a [[burial site]] in present-day [[Romania]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Rudgley|first=Richard|author-link=Richard Rudgley|year=2000|orig-year=1999|title=Lost Civilisations of the Stone Age|location=New York|publisher=Touchstone (Simon and Schuster)|page=138|isbn=978-0-684-85580-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vhSHn-B89A0C}}</ref>

==Cultural landmarks==
[[File:Stonehenge2007 07 30.jpg|thumb|Stonehenge.]]
* c. [[3000 BC]]–[[2500 BC]]: Tomb, [[Newgrange]], [[Ireland]], was built.
* c. [[2750 BC]]–[[1500 BC]]: [[Stonehenge]], [[Salisbury Plain]], [[Wiltshire]], England, is built.
* Completion of the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]].
* Completion of first phase of [[Stonehenge]] monument in England.
* Era of [[Buena Vista, Peru|Buena Vista]] pyramid/observatory in [[Peru]].
*The [[Sydney rock engravings]] in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]], which are examples of [[Aboriginal rock art]], date from around 3000 BC.<ref>[http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2016/03/top-7-aboriginal-rock-art-sites/ Australia's top 7 Aboriginal rock art sites by Australian Geographic]</ref>

==Centuries==
*[[30th century BC]]
*[[29th century BC]]
*[[28th century BC]]
*[[27th century BC]]
*[[26th century BC]]
*[[25th century BC]]
*[[24th century BC]]
*[[23rd century BC]]
*[[22nd century BC]]
*[[21st century BC]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Millennia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:3rd Millennium Bc}}
[[Category:3rd millennium BC| ]]
[[Category:Millennia|-97]]