26th century BC Facts for Kids

Millennium:	3rd millennium BC
Centuries:	27th century BC · 26th century BC · 25th century BC
Decades:	2590s BC 2580s BC 2570s BC 2560s BC 2550s BC 2540s BC 2530s BC 2520s BC 2510s BC 2500s BC
Categories:	Births – Deaths Establishments – Disestablishments

The 26th century BC was a time period that lasted from the year 2600 BC to 2501 BC. This was a very long time ago, even before ancient Rome or Greece existed! Many important things happened in places like Ancient Egypt and the Indus Valley civilization.

Important Events of the Century

Around 2600 BC: Wars continued in Mesopotamia, a region in what is now Iraq. These were part of the Early Dynastic period, when many small kingdoms fought for power.
Around 2600 BC: The Indus Valley civilization, also known as the Harappan civilization, became very strong. This civilization was in what is now Pakistan and India. They built amazing cities.
Around 2600 BC: In Crete, an island in Greece, the "Pre-Palace Period" began. This was a time before large palaces were built there.
Around 2600 BC – 2500 BC: In Denmark, people still hunted wild horses for food.
Around 2600 BC – 1900 BC: A huge water tank was built in the city of Mohenjo-daro in the Indus Valley civilization. It might have been used for public bathing or religious ceremonies.
Around 2589 BC: Pharaoh Khufu began his rule in Ancient Egypt. A pharaoh was the king or queen of Egypt.
Around 2575 BC: The Old Kingdom of Egypt was in full swing. This was a powerful time for Egypt, and Sneferu was a pharaoh from the 4th Dynasty.
Around 2570 BC: Khafre started to rule as pharaoh in Ancient Egypt.
Around 2550 BC: The famous Great Pyramid of Giza was finished. This giant pyramid was built for Pharaoh Khufu.
Around 2550 BC: Egyptian rulers started to connect with people living in the Western Desert, in places like the Dakhla Oasis.
Around 2550 BC: Mesannepada became king of Ur, an important city in Mesopotamia. He started the First Dynasty of Ur.
Around 2550 BC – 2400 BC: A beautiful musical instrument called the Great Lyre with a bull's head was made. It was found in the tomb of King Meskalamdug in Ur.
Around 2533 BC: Menkaura began his rule as pharaoh in Ancient Egypt.
Around 2510 BC – 2460 BC: A famous carving was made in the tomb of a person named Ti in Saqqara, Egypt. It shows Ti watching a hippopotamus hunt.
Around 2500 BC: In China, the legendary line of rulers called Sanhuangwudi was founded by Huang Di.
Around 2500 BC: The building of the stone circle at Stonehenge in England began. This huge monument took hundreds of years to build.
Around 2500 BC: A famous sculpture of Menkaura and a queen (possibly Khamerernebty II) was created. It was found in Giza and is now in a museum.

Important People of the Century

Around 2601 BC–2578 BC: This was the time when Pharaoh Khufu ruled Ancient Egypt. He was a very important pharaoh from the Fourth Dynasty.
2599 BC: Huni was a pharaoh during this time.
2575 BC: Sneferu was a pharaoh of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.
2528 BC: Djedefra was a pharaoh.
2520 BC: Khafre was a pharaoh.

Deaths

Khufu died during this century.

New Ideas and Discoveries

Rock drawings in Rødøy, Norway, show that people were using skis a very long time ago!
The Bactrian camel (with two humps) and the Dromedary (with one hump) were tamed by humans. This meant people could use them for travel and carrying goods.