6000 BC to 5000 BC

During the 6th millennium BC, agriculture spread from the Balkans to
Italy and Eastern Europe, and also from Mesopotamia to Egypt.
World population was essentially stable at
approximately 5 million, though some speculate up to 7 million.

A massive volcanic landslide off of Mt. Etna, Sicily caused a megatsunami
which devastated the eastern Mediterranean coastline on three continents.[1]
c. 6000 BC: The Mehrgarh culture reaches its height c. 6000 BC. The Mehrgarh
site is one of the most important Neolithic sites in the world. It is located in present-day
Pakistan (Baluchistan Province).
c. 6000 BC: The entire 6th Millennium was a part of the Holocene climatic optimum
(so were the 4th, 5th, and 7th Millennia). This was a warm period also known as the
Atlantic period. This period was characterized by minimal glaciation and high sea levels.
(McEvedy)
c. 6000 BC: Records of the Mosyllonian civilization in Somalia
c. 6000 BC: The Copper Age comes to the Fertile Crescent. (Roux 1980)
First use of copper in Middle East. (Bailey 1973)
c. 6000 BC: Fully Neolithic agriculture has spread through Anatolia to the
Balkans. (1967 McEvedy)
c. 6000 BC: Equids disappear from the Americas.
c. 6000 BC: Junglefowl kept in India.
c. 6000 BC: Female figurines holding serpents are fashioned on Crete and
may have been associated with water, regenerative power and protection of the home.
c. 5900 BC: Prehistoric Vinca culture emerges on the shores of lower Danube.
c. 5800 BC: Beginning of the Dadiwan culture in China.
c. 5800 BC: The Hosanna Period in Mesopotamia , with the earliest
version of stamp seals. (Roux 1980)
c. 5760 BC: The volcano Puy-de-Dôme in France erupts.
c. 5677 BC: Cataclysmic volcanic explosion of 12,000-foot (3,700 m) high
Mount Mazama creates Oregon's Crater Lake[2] when the resulting caldera fills with
water. With a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 7, it remains the largest single
Holocene eruption in history of the Cascade Range.
c. 5600 BC: Beginning of the desertification of North Africa, which ultimately
lead to the creation of the Sahara desert. It's possible this process pushed some
natives into migrating to the region of the Nile in the east, thereby laying the
groundwork for the rise of Egyptian civilization.
c. 5600 BC: The Red Paint People become established in the region from present-day
Labrador to New York state.
5509 BC: The Byzantine calendar dates creation to 1 September of this year.
c. 5500 BC: Beginning of the Cucuteni-Trypillian culture in the region of modern-day
Romania, Moldova, and southwestern Ukraine
c. 5500 BC: Beginning of the Xinle culture in China.
c. 5500 BC: Agriculture started in Ancient Egypt.
c. 5500 BC: Predynastic period (Neolithic) starts in Ancient Egypt (other date is 4350 BC).
c. 5450 BC: Volcano Hekla eruption.
c. 5400 BC: Beginning of the Zhaobaogou culture in China.
c. 5400 BC: Irrigation and the beginning of the Sumerian civilization in Southern Iraq.
c. 5400 BC: Watson Brake mound complex constructed in present-day Louisiana.
c. 5300 BC: Beginning of the Beixin culture in China.
c. 5200 BC: Beginning of human inhabitation and settlements in Malta.
c. 5000 BC: Beginning of the Hemudu culture in China.
c. 5000 BC: Beginning of the Daxi culture in China.
c. 5000 BC: Beginning of the Majiabang culture in China.
c. 5000 BC: Beginning of the Yangshao culture in China.
c. 5000 BC: Farming reached central and north Europe.

c. 7000 BC: Beginning the Holocene climatic optimum.
c. 6000 BC: The land bridge connecting England with the rest
of Europe disappears beneath the waters of the North Sea and the
English Channel.
c. 5600 BC: According to the Black Sea deluge theory, the
Black Sea floods with salt water. Some 3000 cubic miles
(12,500 km³) of salt water is added, significantly expanding it
and transforming it from a fresh-water landlocked lake into a salt water sea.

c. 6000 BC: Cycladic people started to use a coarse, poor-quality
local clay to make a variety of objects.
c. 6000 BC: Brick building was taking place at modern-day Çatalhöyük,
Turkey.[3]
Agriculture appears in the valley of the Nile.
Rice cultivated in Asia.
Plough invented.
c. 6000–5000 BC: Wine is created for the first time in Persia.
c. 5000 BC: Agriculture began in the Americas perhaps this early,
in complete isolation from the Old World.[3]
Artifacts of stone were supplemented by those of metal, and the crafts of
basketry, pottery, weaving (Africa).
Dead were buried in a fetal position, surrounded by the burial offerings and
artifacts, facing west (Africa).
Decorated, black-topped clay pots and vases; bone and ivory combs,
figurines, and tableware, are found in great numbers (Africa).
Jewelry of all types and materials (Africa).
Objects began to be made not only with a function, but also with an
aesthetic value. (Africa)
Organized, permanent settlements focused around agriculture. (Africa)


6000 Jiahu symbols carved
carved into shells in China


5400 - 2500 Cave paintings in Sahara

5000 Nile Vally Egyptian culture established
5000 - 1200 Bronze Age Starts Middle East

5000 invention of the wheel