Timeline of Environmental History - 4th Millennium BC

4th Millennium BC

Year(s) Event(s)
Start End
3900 BC
  • Intense aridification triggered worldwide migration to river valleys, which might have caused changes in human behaviour, such as patriarchy, institutionalised warfare, social stratification, abuse of children, the development of the human ego, separation from the body (afterlife and reincarnation worship), the rise of anthropomorphic gods and the concept of linear historic time. A possible inspiration for the myth/legend of the fall of man.
  • Abrupt end of the Ubaid period.
3600 BC 2800 BC
  • Climatic deterioration in Western Europe and the Sahara.
  • In Europe Pollen zone VII Sub Boreal, oak and beech.
  • Glacial advances of the Piora oscillation, with lower economic prosperity in areas not able to irrigate in the Middle East.
3500 BC to 3000 BC end of the Neolithic Subpluvial era, return of extremely hot and dry conditions in the Sahara Desert, hastened by the 5.9 kiloyear event.
3500 BC 3200 BC Gerzeh/Naqada II culture in Egypt
3200 BC 3000 BC Naqada III and Protodynastic Period of Egypt
3100 BC 2686 BC Early Dynastic Period of Egypt. The hallmarks of Ancient Egypt (art, architecture, religion) all formed during this period. This is widely assumed to be the time and place of the first writing system, the Egyptian hieroglyphs (date is disputed, some claim they were used as far back as 3200 BC, while others believe they weren't invented until the 28th century BC).
between 3000 BC and 2800 BC 30 km/19 mi-wide Burckle Crater is formed in Indian Ocean from a possible meteor or comet impact, possibly inspiring most flood myths.

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Famous quotes containing the word millennium:

    “The millennium will not come as soon as women vote, but it will not come until they do vote.”
    —Anna Howard Shaw (1847–1919)