1st millennium BC

The 1st Millennium BC

The 1st millennium BC was a very long time, from the year 1000 BC to 1 BC. Many amazing things happened during this time all around the world!

People learned to use iron to make tools and weapons. This time was called the Iron Age in many places, like the Old World. Big changes happened in many lands.

Important Places and People

Lots of famous places grew during this time. In Greece, new ideas began. Aristotle, a smart thinker, lived here. In China, the Zhou dynasty ruled at first, and later the Han dynasty came. In India, the Vedic civilization created important books.

Fun Facts

• People in Mesopotamia and Egypt built huge temples and cities.
• In Mesoamerica, the Maya people began to build cities.
• Many new ways of writing started, like the Greek alphabet.

Why It Matters

The 1st millennium BC was very important because many of the world’s big religions began, like Buddhism and early Judaism. People also made many inventions, like the Greek alphabet and new ways to build ships.

This was a time when the world’s people started to grow and change in many ways!