The 1st millennium of the anno Domini or Common Era was a millennium spanning the years 1 to 1000 (1st to 10th centuries; in astronomy: JD – ). The world population rose more slowly than during the preceding millennium, from about 200 million in the year 1 to about 300 million in the year 1000.Klein Goldewijk, K., A. Beusen, M. de Vos and G. van Drecht (2011). The HYDE 3.1 spatially explicit database of human induced land use change over the past 12,000 years, Global Ecology and Biogeography20(1): 73-86. (pbl.nl). Goldewijk et al. (2011) estimate 188 million as of the year 1, citing a literature range of 170 million (low) to 300 million (high). Out of the estimated 188 million, 116 million are estimated for Asia (East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, excluding Western Asia), 44 million for Europe and the Near East, 15 million for Africa (including Roman Egypt and Roman North Africa), 12 million for Mesoamerica and South America. North America and Oceania were at or below one million. For 1000, they estimate the world population at 295 million.
In Western Eurasia (Europe and Near East), the first millennium was a time of great transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages. The 1st century saw the peak of the Roman Empire, followed by its gradual decline during the period of Late Antiquity, the rise of Christianity and the Great Migrations. The second half of the millennium is characterized as the Early Middle Ages in Europe, and marked by the Viking expansion in the west, and the continuation of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) in the east.
The latter half of the first millennium also saw the prominent rise of Islam in Arabia, with its influence later expanding across a vast area spanning from Sindh in the Indian subcontinent and western Asia to North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, ushering in the Islamic Golden Age ( 8th–14th century).
In East Asia, the first millennium was also a time of great cultural advances, notably the spread of Buddhism to East Asia. In China, the Han dynasty is replaced by the Jin dynasty and later the Tang dynasty until the 10th century sees renewed fragmentation in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. In Japan, a sharp increase in population followed when farmers' use of iron tools increased their productivity and crop yields. The Yamato court was established. The North Indian subcontinent was divided among numerous kingdoms throughout the first millennium, until the formation of the Gupta Empire.
In Mesoamerica, the first millennium was a period of enormous growth known as the Classic Era (200–900). Teotihuacan grew into a metropolis and its empire dominated Mesoamerica. In South America, pre-Incan, coastal cultures flourished, producing impressive metalwork and some of the finest pottery seen in the ancient world. In North America, the Mississippian culture rose at the end of the millennium in the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys. Numerous cities were built; Cahokia, the largest, was based in present-day Illinois. The construction of Monks Mound at Cahokia was begun in 900–950.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the Bantu expansion reaches Southern Africa by about the 5th century. The trans-Saharan slave trade spans the Sahara and the Swahili coast by the 9th century.
Civilizations, kingdoms and dynasties +Kingdoms and civilizations of the 1st millennium ADAfrica Asia / OceaniaEuropePre-Columbian AmericasNorth Africa Roman/Byzantine Empire (31 BC – AD 698) Vandal Kingdom (435–534) Rashidun Caliphate (632–661) Umayyad Caliphate (661–750) Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258) Idrisid dynasty (788–974) Tulunid Emirate of Egypt (868–905) Ikhshidid Emirate of Egypt (935–969) Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171)
East Africa Himyarite Kingdom (110 BC – 940) Kingdom of Aksum (–940) Christian Nubia (–1500) Harla Kingdom (after ) Savanna Pastoral Neolithic (before ) Bantu expansion Pastoral Iron Age (after ) Sultanate of Mogadishu (after ) Sultanate of Shewa (896–1286)
Sahara / West Africa Pastoral Neolithic Ghana Empire (3rd century–1240) Kanem Empire (–) Kingdom of Nri (948–)
Central / Southern Africa Bantu expansion Late Stone Age rock art: Bidzar (Cameroon) Matobo National Park rock art (Zimbabwe) Nyero rock paintings (Uganda)West Asia Kingdom of Armenia (331 BC – AD 428) Kingdom of Iberia (302 BC – AD 580) Parthian Empire (247 BC – AD 224) Roman/Byzantine Empire (27 BC – 1453) Sassanid Empire (226–651) Principality of Iberia (588–888) Rashidun Caliphate (632–661) Umayyad Caliphate (661–750) Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258) Principality of Tao-Klarjeti (813–1008)
East Asia Han dynasty (206 BC – AD 220) Goguryeo (37 BC – AD 668) Buyeo (150 BC - AD 494) Baekje (18 BC - AD 660) Silla (57 BC - AD 935) Jin dynasty (266–420) Three Kingdoms (220–280) Sixteen Kingdoms (304–439) Northern and Southern dynasties (420–589) Sui dynasty (581–618) Tang dynasty (618–907) Balhae (698–926) Liao dynasty (907–1125) Song dynasty (960–1279)
Central Asia
Zhangzhung (500 BC – AD 625) Xiongnu (1st century) Kushan Empire (30–375) Xianbei state (Mongols) (–234) Hephthalite Empire (440s–670) Rouran Khaganate (330–555) Yenisei Kyrgyz (539–1219) Göktürks (552–744) Tibetan Empire (618–842) Volga Bulgaria (660-1240) Muslim conquest of Transoxiana (673–751) Uyghur Khaganate (744–840) Oghuz Yabgu State (766–1055) Kimek–Kipchak confederation (880–1200)
South Asia Indo-Scythians ( – 400) Indo-Parthian Kingdom (12 BC – 130) Kushan Empire (30–375) Gupta Empire (280–590) Varman dynasty (350–655) Pushyabhuti dynasty (500–647) Maukhari dynasty (550–800) Kalachuri dynasty (550–625) Later Guptas (590–700) Rashtrakuta dynasty (753–982) Chola dynasty (300–1279) Pala Empire (750–1162)
Southeast Asia
Srivijaya (650–1377) Oceania Austronesian expansion Tuʻi Tonga Empire (950s–1865)Southeastern Europe Roman/Byzantine Empire (27 BC – 1453) Slavic expansion (500–800) Bulgarian Empire (682–1018) Italy Roman Empire (27 BC – 480) Byzantine Empire (584–1071) Kingdom of the Lombards (568–774) Republic of Venice (697-) Carolingian Empire (751-843) Papal States (754–) Holy Roman Empire (962–1806)
Iberia Roman Empire (27 BC – 480) Kingdom of the Suebi (409–585) Visigothic Kingdom (418–720) Umayyad Caliphate (711–750) Umayyad state of Córdoba (756–1031) Kingdom of Asturias (720–910) Kingdom of León (910–1230)
Western / Central Europe Germanic expansion ( BC – AD 400) Roman Empire (27 BC – 480) Early Christian Ireland (400–800) Sub-Roman Britain (410-597) Anglo-Saxon England (–1066) Francia (511–751) Duchy of Bavaria (555–) Samo's Empire (631–658) Carolingian Empire (751-843) Great Moravia (833-907) West Francia (843–987) East Francia (843–962) Duchy of Bohemia (870–1198) Principality of Hungary (895-1000) Kingdom of Croatia (925–) Kingdom of England (927–) Holy Roman Empire (962–1806) Capetian France (987–)
Eastern Europe Sarmatia ( – AD 370) Bosporan Kingdom (438 BC – AD 370) Roman Crimea (47 BC – AD 340) Goths (–370) Alans (–370) Hunnic Empire (370s–469) First Turkic Khaganate (6th century) Avar Khaganate (567 – after 822) Khazar Khaganate (650–969) Volga Bulgaria (660-1240) Kievan Rus' (882–1240)
Northern Europe Roman Iron Age (1–500) Vendel Period (550–790) Viking Age (790–1066) Kingdom of Norway (872–)Mesoamerica Zapotec Maya civilization (250–900) Teotihuacan (550–) Toltec (–1168) Teuchitlan Kaan Kingdom
South America Lima culture () Moche culture (–700) Tiwanaku empire (–1150) Wari culture (–1000) Cara culture ( – ?) Tairona ( – ?)
North America Woodland period Hopewell tradition Baytown culture Plum Bayou culture Troyville culture Mississippian culture (–1600) Dorset culture Thule tradition Norse Greenland (985 – 15th century)
Events The events in this section are organized according to the United Nations geoscheme +Events and trends of the 1st millennium AD AfricaAmericasAsiaEuropeOceania 1st centuryAD 70 Amanikhatashan sends Kushite cavalry to aid Roman Emperor in Jerusalem revoltJr Ph D Grant Bishop Williams(2009). Abraham's Other Sons. AuthorHouse: pp. 50,51. AD 100 Rise of the Kingdom of Aksum AD 100 Khoekhoe reach southern coast of AfricaAD 1 Cahuachi establishedAD 50 Pyramid of the Sun beganAD 25 Han dynasty reestablished under GuangwuAD 33 Christianity begins AD 70 Jewish diasporaAD 9 Rhine established as boundary between Rome and GermanyAD 47 Londinium foundedAD 58 Alpes Cottiae becomes a Roman provinceAD 79 Pompeii destroyedAD 1 Caroline Islands colonized2nd century 150 Rhapta, hint of pre-Swahili, Periplus of the Erythraean Sea172 Bucolic War out breaks in Egypt against Roman rule200 Bantu reach east Africa200 Nok culture ends150 Cahuachi becomes dominant ceremonial site in southern Peru184 Yellow Turban Rebellion106 Dacia becomes a Roman province166 Siege of Aquileia180 End of the Macromannic Wars 3rd century 212 Egyptians granted Roman citizenship215 Alexandrian revolts in Egypt 230 Aksum wars with Himyar and Saba alliance292 Revolts erupt in Egypt against Roman rule300 Kingdom of Aksum prints own coins 250 Rise of Laguna de los Cerros292 Stela 29 inscribed300 Tikàl conquers El Mirador208 Battle of Red Cliffs during the decline of the Han dynasty280 Jin reunifies China212 Roman citizenship extended to all free people in the empire214 Hispania divided into Gallaecia, Tarraconensis, Baetica and Lusitania286 Diocletian divides the empire East and West 300 Eastern Polynesian culture develops4th century 333 Aksum converts to Christianity 350 Meroe comes to an end 350 King of Anwar, Kaja Maja 378 Teotihuacan conquers Waka, Tikal, and Uaxactun, the beginning of its conquest of the Maya319 Rise of Gupta Empire in South Asia383 Battle of Fei River393 Last Olympic Games313 Edict of Milan370 Huns invade Eastern Europe396 Alaric and the Visigoths invade Greece 5th century401 c. camel main transport for trans-Sahara 429 Vandal invasion480 Egyptians rose in revolt against attempts to suppress the cult of Isis 500 Nubia split into Nobadia, Makuria, Alodia 420 Northern and Southern dynasties period begins 407 Vandals enter Iberia421 Romans defeat Persians476 Fall of the Western Roman Empire500 Settlement of Hawaii, Easter Island, Society Islands, Tuamotus and Mangareva 6th century 520 Kaleb attacks Yemen 533 Belisarius invades Africa540 Nubia converts to monophysite Christianity582 Egyptians revolt led by Abaskiron against the Byzantine rule600 Wari' conquer Peru600 Construction of Palenque 538 Buddhism introduced in Japan.570 Birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad507 Battle of Vouillé535 Byzantine army invades Italy585 Visigoths conquer Suevi kingdom 7th century641 Muslims invade Africa690 Za dynasty founded 697 Carthage destroyed650 Settlement of Xochitecatl and Cacaxtla700 Teotihuacan destroyed618 Tang dynasty established632 Rise of Islam651 Islamic conquest of Persiac.680 First Bulgarian Empire is founded700 Settlement of the Cook Islands8th century702 Aksum attacks Arabia 706 Medieval Egypt720 Bashmurian revolts erupt in Egypt against Arab rule789 Independent Morocco738 Quiriguá becomes independent of Copan 750 Sacred Cenote built at Chichén Itzá780 Murals at Bonampak abandoned738 Caliphate campaigns in India and invasion of India by Umayyad Caliphate is averted 755 An Shi Rebellion717 Siege of Constantinople718 Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula