20th century BC facts for kids

The 20th century BC was a period of 100 years. It started in the year 2000 BC and ended in 1901 BC. Many important events happened around the world during this time.

What Happened in the 20th Century BC?

The pyramid ruin of Amenemhet I at Lisht. He was the founder of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt

• Around 2000 BC, the ancestors of the Latins arrived in what is now Italy. They were early people who lived there.
• The town of Mantua in Italy might have been founded around this time.
• Many experts believe the famous Stonehenge monument in England was finished around 2000 BC.
• Farmers and herders from Ethiopia traveled south. They settled in Kenya, bringing new ways of life.
• Horses were tamed and began to be used for transport. This made travel and trade much easier.
• The first palaces of the Minoan civilization appeared on the island of Crete. This was a very advanced culture.
• The site of the large palace complex Knossos on Crete started to be lived in.
• The Indus Valley civilization, also known as the Harappan civilization, began to decline.
• The Bronze Age started in northern Ancient China. People began to use bronze for tools and weapons.
• A famous stone statue, the Torso from Harappa, was made around 2000 BC. It is now in the National Museum in New Delhi.
• Another important statue, the Torso of a "priest-king," was made in Mohenjo-daro between 2000 BC and 1900 BC. It is now in the National Museum of Pakistan.
• Some religious writings suggest that Abraham founded Judaism around 2000 BC.
• The Xia dynasty began in China around 2040 BC. The Olmec civilization also started in Mesoamerica.
• From 2064 BC to 1986 BC, there were wars between two ruling families in Egypt. These were called the Twin Dynasty wars.
• The Middle Jōmon period ended in Japan around 2000 BC.
• A special vessel from Asahi Mound in Toyama Prefecture was made during the Jōmon period. It is now at the Collection of Tokyo University.
• A unique clay figure called a Dogū was made in Yamanashi Prefecture. It is now in the Tokyo National Museum.
• In 1991 BC, Pharaoh Mentuhotep IV of Egypt died. This ended the Eleventh Dynasty.
• Pharaoh Amenemhat I then began to rule, starting the Twelfth Dynasty.
• Around 1985 BC, the government in Ancient Egypt became less centralized. Power was spread out more.
• Rock-cut tombs were made at Beni Hasan between 1985 BC and 1795 BC during the Twelfth Dynasty.
• A famous "Hippopotamus" statue was made from the tomb of Senbi at Meir. It is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
• In 1953 BC, several naked-eye planets appeared very close together in the sky.
• Around 1942 BC, a king from Leubingen (now part of Sömmerda) was buried in a large mound.
• In 1932 BC, the Amorites conquered the city of Ur.
• A copy of a "Harvest scene" wall painting from the tomb of Khnumhotep at Beni Hasan was made between 1928 BC and 1895 BC.
• From 1913 BC to 1903 BC, there was a war between Egypt and Nubia.

New Ideas and Discoveries

• Around 2000 BC, the first written descriptions of schizophrenia appeared.
• Glass started to be used around 2000 BC.
• In 1950 BC, the copper bar cubit of Nippur set the standard for the Sumerian cubit length, which was about 51.72 centimeters.

In Stories

• The book Valley of the Kings by Cecilia Holland is set around 1600 BC.
• The novel Stonehenge is set in 2000 BC.

See also