The 38th Century BCE

The 38th century BCE is a period of one hundred years, generally dated from approximately 3800 BCE to 3701 BCE. No detailed written records exist from this time, as writing had not yet fully developed. Knowledge of the period therefore relies on archaeology: the remains of dwellings, water wells, tools of bronze and copper, and radiocarbon dating.

Overall, this century is characterized by the continued expansion of agriculture and pastoralism, and by the establishment of permanent settlements in much of the Near East, Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Population grew and settlements expanded, leading to more complex social structures.

Mesopotamia and the Near East

In southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), there existed a culture known as Uruk, which spurred the growth of large settlements. The city of Uruk became one of the earliest places where large populations concentrated. Massive temples were constructed there, and systems of administration for managing wealth and food supplies were developed. The development of sign systems would later lead to cuneiform writing, though the actual writing came after this century.

Europe and the Mediterranean

Europe was in the late Neolithic and early Copper Age (Chalcolithic). Societies built stone monuments (megaliths) and villages organized around fortifications. The cultivation of wheat and barley, and herding of cattle, sheep, and pigs, formed the basis of livelihood. The use of wheeled vehicles and tools drawn by animals spread across the continent during this period.

Egypt and the Nile Valley

In early Egypt, the Nile Valley regions hosted cultures pointing toward later kingdoms, including the Badarian culture and the beginning of the Naqada culture. People farmed the flood plains of the Nile, producing decorated pottery and copper tools. Trade between north and south increased.