Claim profile
2001 BC and earlier

The 3rd millennium BC and earlier

Whose working lives fell in the 3rd millennium BC and earlier. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 3rd millennium BC and earlier, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇪🇬 Egypt🇨🇳 China🇮🇹 Italy🇸🇪 Sweden
FieldAllPoliticiansHistorical FiguresReligious FiguresArchitectsWritersDoctorsModelsAcademics
  1. 1KhufuKhufu2700 BC–2566 BC · Politicians15 decades
  2. 2Sargon of AkkadSargon of Akkad2350 BC–2300 BC · Historical Figures4 decades
  3. 3ImhotepImhotep2800 BC–2700 BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Architects11 decades
  4. 4ÖtziÖtzi3275 BC–3230 BC · 🇮🇹 Italy1 decades
  5. 5DjoserDjoser2800 BC–2700 BC · Politicians7 decades
  6. 6NarmerNarmer3200 BC–3125 BC · Historical Figures11 decades
  7. 7EnheduannaEnheduanna2300 BC–2300 BC · Writers2 decades
  8. 8KhafraKhafra2612 BC–2530 BC · Historical Figures8 decades
  9. 9MenesMenes3200 BC–3125 BC · Historical Figures22 decades
  10. 10SneferuSneferu2700 BC–2609 BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Politicians8 decades
  11. 11MenkaureMenkaure2532 BC–2503 BC · Politicians3 decades
  12. 12Pepi II NeferkarePepi II Neferkare2300 BC–2180 BC · Politicians0 decades
  13. 13Qa'aQa'aborn 2890 BC · Politicians0 decades
  14. 14Hor-AhaHor-Aha3162 BC–3100 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  15. 15DjerDjer3001 BC–2999 BC · Politicians2 decades
  16. 16Scorpion IIScorpion IIborn 3500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  17. 17DenDen3000 BC–2995 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  18. 18KhasekhemwyKhasekhemwy2800 BC–2700 BC · Politicians0 decades
  19. 19Mentuhotep IIMentuhotep II2100 BC–2013 BC · Historical Figures1 decades
  20. 20HuniHuni2650 BC–2630 BC · Politicians8 decades
  21. 21DjedefreDjedefre2610 BC–2558 BC · Politicians0 decades
  22. 22UnasUnas2375 BC–2350 BC · Politicians22 decades
  23. 23Yu the GreatYu the Great2297 BC–2197 BC · 🇨🇳 China · Models0 decades
  24. 24ShulgiShulgidied 2045 BC · Historical Figures5 decades
  25. 25Pepi I MeryrePepi I Meryre2400 BC–2250 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  26. 26MerneithMerneith3000 BC–3000 BC · Politicians0 decades
  27. 27GudeaGudea2200 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figures14 decades
  28. 28TetiTeti2350 BC–2300 BC · Politicians13 decades
  29. 29AnedjibAnedjibdied 2985 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  30. 30Nyuserre IniNyuserre Ini2500 BC–2430 BC · Politicians0 decades
  31. 31DjetDjet3000 BC–3000 BC · Historical Figures1 decades
  32. 32Scorpion IScorpion Iborn 3500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  33. 33SahureSahure2600 BC–2475 BC · Politicians3 decades
  34. 34NynetjerNynetjer3000 BC–2845 BC · Politicians0 decades
  35. 35SemerkhetSemerkhet3000 BC–2960 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  36. 36HotepsekhemwyHotepsekhemwy2900 BC–2900 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  37. 37UserkafUserkaf2600 BC–2490 BC · Politicians1 decades
  38. 38KaKa3200 BC–3100 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  39. 39SekhemkhetSekhemkhet2800 BC–2700 BC · Politicians0 decades
  40. 40ShepseskafShepseskaf2600 BC–2499 BC · Politicians0 decades
  41. 41PtahhotepPtahhotep2450 BC–2400 BC · Academics5 decades
  42. 42Seth-PeribsenSeth-Peribsen2775 BC–2650 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  43. 43NNitocris2250 BC–2192 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  44. 44Iry-HorIry-Horborn 3101 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  45. 45Djedkare IsesiDjedkare Isesi2500 BC–2380 BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Politicians0 decades
  46. 46EnmerkarEnmerkar3100 BC–3000 BC · Historical Figures3 decades
  47. 47KhabaKhaba2700 BC–2700 BC · Politicians0 decades
  48. 48NebraNebra2900 BC–2890 BC · Politicians2 decades
  49. 49UrukaginaUrukaginaborn 2500 BC · Historical Figures3 decades
  50. 50Neferirkare KakaiNeferirkare Kakaidied 2465 BC · Politicians0 decades
  51. 51NeferefreNeferefre2480 BC–2455 BC · Politicians0 decades
  52. 52UserkareUserkare2500 BC–2330 BC · Politicians0 decades
  53. 53Merenre Nemtyemsaf IMerenre Nemtyemsaf I2250 BC–2245 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  54. 54SenedjSenedj2800 BC–2800 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  55. 55SanakhtSanakht2700 BC–2668 BC · Politicians0 decades
  56. 56Menkauhor KaiuMenkauhor Kaiu2500 BC–2420 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  57. 57WenegWenegborn 2750 BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Politicians0 decades
  58. 58Lugal-zage-siLugal-zage-sidied 2335 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  59. 59Hetepheres IHetepheres I2575 BC–2551 BC · Politicians0 decades
  60. 60Mentuhotep IIIMentuhotep III2050 BC–2005 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  61. 61NeithotepNeithotepdied 3100 BC · Politicians0 decades
  62. 62Intef IIntef I2200 BC–2121 BC · Politicians0 decades
  63. 63Intef IIIntef II2150 BC–2073 BC · Politicians0 decades
  64. 64BikherisBikheris2600 BC–2600 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  65. 65Merenre Nemtyemsaf IIMerenre Nemtyemsaf II2300 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  66. 66Mentuhotep IVMentuhotep IV2100 BC–1991 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  67. 67Mentuhotep IMentuhotep I2200 BC–2200 BC · Politicians0 decades
  68. 68ManishtushuManishtushudied 2255 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  69. 69PuabiPuabi2500 BC–2001 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  70. 70Sekhemib-PerenmaatSekhemib-Perenmaat2800 BC–2760 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  71. 71Ur-NansheUr-Nanshe2500 BC–2500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  72. 72Khentkaus IKhentkaus I2600 BC–2600 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  73. 73ThamphthisThamphthis2600 BC–2560 BC0 decades
  74. 74MerikareMerikare2100 BC–2040 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  75. 75ZhuanxuZhuanxu2600 BC–2500 BC0 decades
  76. 76NetjerkareNetjerkareborn 2216 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  77. 77EannatumEannatum2500 BC–2425 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  78. 78MesannepadaMesannepadadied 2525 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  79. 79Hetepheres IIHetepheres II2600 BC–2560 BC · Politicians0 decades
  80. 80SneferkaSneferkaborn 2800 BC · Politicians0 decades
  81. 81Prince RahotepPrince Rahotep2600 BC–2600 BC · Religious Figures0 decades
  82. 82Qakare IbiQakare Ibiborn 2150 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  83. 83Double FalconDouble Falconborn 3100 BC0 decades
  84. 84NefermaatNefermaatborn 2500 BC · Architectsnot measured—
  85. 85Cheddar ManCheddar Manborn 9000 BC0 decades
  86. 86Amar-SinAmar-Sin2100 BC–2100 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  87. 87Kennewick ManKennewick Mandied 7300 BC · Historical Figures2 decades
  88. 88Ibbi-SinIbbi-Sinborn 2050 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  89. 89Neferkare NebyNeferkare Neby2300 BC–2260 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  90. 90Utu-hengalUtu-hengal2200 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  91. 91Ankhesenpepi IIAnkhesenpepi IIborn 2400 BC · Politiciansnot measured—
  92. 92MenkareMenkare2200 BC–2200 BC0 decades
  93. 93MMerit-Ptah2700 BC–2659 BC · Doctorsnot measured—
  94. 94Horus BirdHorus Bird2001 BC–2001 BCnot measured—
  95. 95PIPuzur-Ashur I2050 BC–1970 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  96. 96Neferkare IINeferkare IIborn 2150 BCnot measured—
  97. 97Neferkara INeferkara Idied 2748 BCnot measured—
  98. 98PPeseshet2500 BC–2500 BC · Doctors0 decades
  99. 99TTudiyaborn 2500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  100. 100Hedj-HorHedj-Horborn 3200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.