1st millennium
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| Millennia: | 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium - 2nd millennium |
In the Gregorian calendar, the 1st millennium is the period of one thousand years that commenced with the year 1 Anno Domini. There is no "year zero" in the Gregorian calendar.
The early 1st millennium marks the peak of the Roman Empire. Late Antiquity is a period of transition, transforming the Eastern Roman Empire into the Byzantine Empire, while the Western Roman Empire collapses, giving rise to the European Early Middle Ages. Christianity and Islam rise to power in the 4th and 7th centuries, respectively. The late 1st millennium sees the transition to the High Middle Ages. World population, which had tripled over the preceding millennium, grows more slowly, rising from approximately 170 to 300 million.
Events
- Beginning (30s) and rise (4th century) of Christianity
- London founded by Romans as Londinium
- Diaspora of the Jews (1st century)
- The Olympic Games observed until 393
- The Library of Alexandria, largest library in the world, burned
- High point, and fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century)
- Rise of the Byzantine Empire
- Germanic kingdoms established in Northern and Western Europe (Migration Period, Dark Ages)
- Beginning of Islam (7th century)
- Maya civilization at its height
- Three kingdoms in China
- The height of Hindu culture in India under the Gupta Dynasty
- Islamic conquest of the Middle East and North Africa
- Viking raids common in northern Europe (Viking Age, from the 8th century)
- Beginning of the Middle Ages in Europe
Significant persons
- Caesar Augustus, Roman emperor (63 BC- 14)
- Jesus, central figure in Christianity (d. c. 29–33)
- Paul of Tarsus (d. 67), central apostle of Christianity to the gentiles
- Cai Lun (d. 121), Chinese inventor of paper
- Plutarch (d. c. 127), Greek historian
- Zhang Heng (d. 139), Chinese astronomer and mathematician
- Ptolemy (d. 178), Greek astronomer and mathematician
- Chandragupta (280–319), founder of the Indian Gupta Empire
- Constantine I (d. 337), Roman emperor
- Augustine of Hippo (354-430), theologian and Father of the Church
- Attila (d. 453), Hunnic king and warlord
- Theodoric the Great (454-526), king of the Goths and of Italy
- Aryabhata (b. 476), Indian astronomer and mathematician
- Muhammad (570-632), prophet and founder of Islam
- Saint Isidore of Seville (d. 636), archbishop and encyclopedist
- Brahmagupta (d. 668), Indian mathematician and astronomer
- Abi Ishaq (d. 735) Arab grammarian
- Charles Martel (d. 741), defeated the Arabs at Toulouse, 721
- Charlemagne (d. 814), Frankish conqueror and founder of the Holy Roman Empire
- Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Ḵwārizmī (c. 780 – c. 850), Persian mathematician
- Alfred the Great (d. 899)
- Al Battani (850-923), Arab astronomer and mathematician
- Otto the Great (912-973)
Inventions, discoveries, introductions
- Paper invented in China
- Algebra developed in the Middle East
- Various horse-riding improvements including the horseshoe and the stirrup
- Hop (plant) added to beer for the first time
- Ptolemaic system used to describe the motion of the planets
- Chess developed, gaining widespread use
- Magnetic compass invented
- Steel first used in India
Cultural landmarks
Centuries and decades
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