4th millennium BC facts for kids

The 4th millennium BC was a time of big changes for people around the world. It was when the Bronze Age began, and when writing was first invented!

During this period, powerful city-states like Sumer and the kingdom of Egypt started to grow. Farming also spread far and wide across Eurasia. The number of people on Earth doubled, from about 7 million to 14 million, especially in areas where these new civilizations were forming.

Key Events and Discoveries

• Mesopotamia's Growth: In Mesopotamia, the Uruk period was happening. This is when the Sumerian people became very important. They started developing "proto-cuneiform" writing, which was an early form of their famous wedge-shaped script.
• New Ways to Count: People in Mesopotamia also began using a base-60 mathematics system, which is still used today for measuring time (like 60 seconds in a minute). They also studied astronomy (stars) and astrology (how stars might affect life).
• Early Laws and Water Systems: They developed early civil law and complex ways to manage water, called hydrology.
• Amazing Inventions: This time saw the invention of the sailboat, the potter's wheel (which made making pottery much faster), and the wheel itself! The Copper Age slowly turned into the early Bronze Age.
• First Settlers in Greece: Around 4000 BC, the first people settled on the island of Thera in Greece. They likely came from the Minoan island of Crete.
• Ancient Art: A special beaker (a type of cup) was made in Susa (modern Shush, Iran) around 4000 BC. Also, between 4000 BC and 2000 BC, rock-shelter paintings of people and animals were created in Cogul, Spain.
• Climate Change and Migration: Around 3900 BC, a big dry period called the 5.9 kiloyear event happened. It made the Sahara desert much drier, causing people to move to river valleys like the Nile valley in North Africa.
• Ancient Temples in Malta: From 3600 BC to 3200 BC, amazing stone temples were built on the island of Malta. The Ġgantija complex on Gozo is one of the oldest free-standing structures in the world! Other temples like Mnajdra, Ta' Ħaġrat, and Kordin III were also built.
• Metalworking Begins: Around 3500 BC, a new way to cast metal, called lost wax casting, started in the Mohenjodaro area.
• Early Cities in Mesopotamia: The first cities began to appear in Southern Mesopotamia between 3500 BC and 2340 BC.
• Writing Develops: The cuneiform writing system, which used wedge-shaped marks, grew from earlier picture-writing. The first clear writings in the Sumerian language were found around the 31st century BC.
• Bronze Age in Indus Valley: The Bronze Age began in the Indus Valley (where Harappa is today) around 3300 BC.
• Ötzi the Iceman: Around 3300 BC, a man known as Ötzi the Iceman died near the border of Austria and Italy. His body was found preserved in a glacier in 1991. He likely died from an injury, possibly during a conflict.
• Newgrange in Ireland: The Newgrange solar observatory and passage tomb was built in Ireland between 3300 BC and 2900 BC.
• Ancient Egypt Unites: Around 3150 BC, the Predynastic period ended in Ancient Egypt. The Early Dynastic period began, which included the first two dynasties of pharaohs.
• The Maya Calendar: The Maya calendar's starting point, or "day zero," is August 11 or 13, 3114 BC.
• Egypt's Unification: Legend says that around 3100 BC, a ruler named Menes united Upper and Lower Egypt. A new capital city was built at Memphis. The Narmer Palette is an important artifact from this time, showing the unification.
• Skara Brae: A Neolithic village called Skara Brae in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, was lived in from about 3100 BC to 2600 BC.
• Discovery of Silver: Silver was discovered and started to be used during this millennium.
• Early Pottery in Colombia: Around 3000 BC, the first pottery in Colombia was made at Puerto Hormiga.

Important People

• Ötzi the Iceman: He lived around 3300 BC.
• Early Egyptian Rulers: Some of the first pharaohs of Egypt lived during this time, including Tiu, Thesh, Hsekiu, Wazner, Ro, Serket, and Narmer.

Inventions and Discoveries

• Potter's Wheel: Invented in Sumer around 4000 BC.
• Horse Domestication: Horses were tamed in Ukraine around 4000 BC.
• Wheeled Carts: Used in Sumer by 3500 BC.
• Bronze Tools: Bronze tools and weapons were being used in Sumer.
• Tin Use: Tin started to be used in Mesopotamia around 3000 BC.
• First Cities: Cities began to form in Mesopotamia (Sumer) and Egypt.
• Writing Systems: The first writing appeared in cities like Uruk and Susa (using cuneiform). Hieroglyphs also started in Egypt.
• Sails: Used on the Nile River for boats.
• Sweet Track: The Sweet Track in England was built, which is the world's first known engineered roadway.
• Drainage and Sewage: Early systems for Drainage and sewage collection were created in the Indus Valley civilization.
• Engineering in Sumer: People in Sumer built Dams and canals. They also used simple machines like the inclined plane and lever to move large stone sculptures.
• Metals: Copper was used for tools and weapons. Bronze was also used, especially by the Maykop culture.
• Early Pyramids: Mastabas, which were rectangular tombs, were built. These were the first steps towards the famous Egyptian pyramids.
• Stonehenge Begins: The earliest part of the Stonehenge monument in England (a circular earth bank and ditch) was built around 3100 BC.
• Céide Fields: The Céide Fields in Ireland, possibly the oldest field system in the world, were developed.
• Sumerian Writing: Early Sumerian writing on clay tablets had about 2,000 picture-like signs.
• Music: Harps and flutes were played in Egypt. Later, Lyres and double clarinets were also played.
• Early Numerals: The earliest known numbers appeared in Egypt.
• Linen Production: Linen fabric began to be made in the Middle East.

Religion and Beliefs

• Some religious traditions link this time to figures like Sri Krishna and the events of the Mahabharata.
• Other traditions mention figures like Adam, Cain, Enoch, Methuselah, and Noah.

Images for kids

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  Monte d'Accoddi is an archaeological site in northern Sardinia, Italy, located near Porto Torres. It dates back to the 4th millennium BC.

See also

In Spanish: IV milenio a. C. para niños