<imagemap>File:1st millennium montage.png|From top left, clockwise: Depiction of Jesus, the central figure in Christianity; The Colosseum, a landmark of the once-mighty Roman Empire; Kaaba, the Great Mosque of Mecca, the holiest site of Islam; Chess, a new board game, becomes popular around the globe; The Western Roman Empire falls, ushering in the Early Middle Ages; The skeletal remains of a young woman, known as the "ring lady", killed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79; Attila the Hun, leader of the Hunnic Empire, which takes most of Eastern Europe (Background: Reproduction of ancient mural from Teotihuacan, National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City)|400px|thumb

rect 9 6 182 173 Jesus Christ

rect 192 5 411 169 Roman Empire

rect 420 16 560 101 Great Mosque of Mecca

rect 416 112 561 212 Chess

rect 13 189 171 356 Attila the Hun

rect 184 177 308 346 Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD

rect 313 222 559 352 Early Middle Ages

rect 1 1 566 394 Teotihuacan

rect 1 1 566 394 Pilate's court

</imagemap>

thumb|400px|Map of the world in 1 AD, at the beginning of the new millennium.

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 &ndash; ). 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.

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.

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. Islam expanded rapidly from Arabia to western Asia, India, North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, culminating in the Islamic Golden Age (700–1200).

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

{| class="wikitable"

|+Kingdoms and civilizations of the 1st millennium AD

! style="width:18%;text-align:center;"|Africa

! style="width:18%;text-align:center;"|Asia / Oceania

! style="width:18%;text-align:center;"|Europe

! style="width:18%;text-align:center;"|Pre-Columbian Americas

|- style="vertical-align:top;"

|<!--Africa-->

;North Africa

  • Roman/Byzantine Empire (31 BC &ndash; AD 698)
  • Vandal Kingdom (435–534)
  • Rashidun Caliphate (632–661)
  • Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)
  • Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258)
  • Idrisid dynasty (788–974)
  • 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)

|<!--Asia / Oceania-->

;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)

|<!--Europe-->

;Southeastern Europe

  • Roman/Byzantine Empire (27 BC – 1453) <!--Exarchate of Ravenna, Catepanate of Italy-->
  • Slavic expansion (500–800)
  • Bulgarian Empire (682–1018)

;Italy

  • Roman Empire (27 BC – 480)
  • Byzantine Empire (584–1071) <!--Exarchate of Ravenna, Catepanate of Italy-->
  • 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)
  • Emirate of Córdoba (756–929)
  • 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–)

|<!--Americas-->

;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

{| class="wikitable"

|+Events and trends of the 1st millennium AD

! style="width:10%;text-align:center;"|&nbsp;

! style="width:18%;text-align:center;"|Africa

! style="width:18%;text-align:center;"|Americas

! style="width:18%;text-align:center;"|Asia

! style="width:18%;text-align:center;"|Europe

! style="width:18%;text-align:center;"|Oceania

|- style="text-align:left;"

! 1st century<!-- from 1 to 100-->

|<!--1st century AFRICA (limit three) -->AD 70 Amanikhatashan sends Kushite cavalry to aid Roman Emperor in Jerusalem revolt<br>AD 100 Rise of the Kingdom of Aksum <br>AD 100 Khoekhoe reach southern coast of Africa

|<!--1st century AMERICA (limit three)-->AD 1 Cahuachi established<br>AD 50 Pyramid of the Sun began<br>AD 47 Londinium founded<br>AD 58 Alpes Cottiae becomes a Roman province

|- style="text-align:left;"

!2nd century <!-- from 101 to 200-->

|<!--2nd Century AFRICA (limit three) -->150 Rhapta, hint of pre-Swahili, Periplus of the Erythraean Sea<br> 200 Bantu reach east Africa<br>200 Nok culture ends

|<!--2nd Century AMERICA (limit three)-->150 Cahuachi becomes dominant ceremonial site in southern Peru

|- style="text-align:left;"

!4th century <!-- from 301 to 400-->

|<!--4th Century AFRICA (limit three) -->333 Aksum converts to Christianity<br> 350 Meroe comes to an end

|<!--4th Century ASIA (limit three)-->319 Rise of Gupta Empire in South Asia<br>383 Battle of Fei River<br>393 Last Olympic Games

|<!--4th Century EUROPE (limit three)-->

313 Edict of Milan<br>421 Romans defeat Persians<br>600 Construction of Palenque<br>690 Za dynasty founded<br> 697 Carthage destroyed

|<!--9th Century AMERICA (limit three)-->c.830 Classic Maya collapse

|<!--9th Century ASIA (limit three)-->835 Ganlu Incident

|<!--9th Century EUROPE (limit three)-->872 Battle of Hafrsfjord helped unified Norway<br>c.874 Settlement of Iceland<br>896 Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin

|<!--9th Century OCEANIA (limit three)-->

|- style="text-align:left;"

!10th century<!-- from 901 to 1000-->

|<!--10th Century AFRICA (limit three) -->905 Tulunids ejected

  1. Quipu

|<!--MATH AND SCIENCE (limit ten)-->

  1. Algebra
  2. Ptolemaic system
  3. Wootz steel

|<!--AGRICULTURE (limit ten) -->

  1. Coffee
  2. Hops

|<!--TRANSPORTATION (limit ten) -->

  1. Horseshoe
  2. Stirrup
  3. Magnetic compass

|<!--WARFARE (limit ten) -->

  1. Greek fire <!-- c. 670 -->
  2. Gunpowder<!-- c. 850 -->