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. 1Sargon of AkkadSargon of Akkad2350 BC–2300 BC · Historical Figures4 decades
  2. 2NarmerNarmer3200 BC–3125 BC · Historical Figures11 decades
  3. 3KhafraKhafra2612 BC–2530 BC · Historical Figures8 decades
  4. 4MenesMenes3200 BC–3125 BC · Historical Figures22 decades
  5. 5Hor-AhaHor-Aha3162 BC–3100 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  6. 6Scorpion IIScorpion IIborn 3500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  7. 7Mentuhotep IIMentuhotep II2100 BC–2013 BC · Historical Figures1 decades
  8. 8ShulgiShulgidied 2045 BC · Historical Figures5 decades
  9. 9Pepi I MeryrePepi I Meryre2400 BC–2250 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  10. 10GudeaGudea2200 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figures14 decades
  11. 11AnedjibAnedjibdied 2985 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  12. 12DjetDjet3000 BC–3000 BC · Historical Figures1 decades
  13. 13Scorpion IScorpion Iborn 3500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  14. 14SemerkhetSemerkhet3000 BC–2960 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  15. 15HotepsekhemwyHotepsekhemwy2900 BC–2900 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  16. 16Iry-HorIry-Horborn 3101 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  17. 17EnmerkarEnmerkar3100 BC–3000 BC · Historical Figures3 decades
  18. 18UrukaginaUrukaginaborn 2500 BC · Historical Figures3 decades
  19. 19Merenre Nemtyemsaf IMerenre Nemtyemsaf I2250 BC–2245 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  20. 20Menkauhor KaiuMenkauhor Kaiu2500 BC–2420 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  21. 21Lugal-zage-siLugal-zage-sidied 2335 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  22. 22Mentuhotep IIIMentuhotep III2050 BC–2005 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  23. 23BikherisBikheris2600 BC–2600 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  24. 24Merenre Nemtyemsaf IIMerenre Nemtyemsaf II2300 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  25. 25Mentuhotep IVMentuhotep IV2100 BC–1991 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  26. 26ManishtushuManishtushudied 2255 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  27. 27PuabiPuabi2500 BC–2001 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  28. 28Ur-NansheUr-Nanshe2500 BC–2500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  29. 29MerikareMerikare2100 BC–2040 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  30. 30EannatumEannatum2500 BC–2425 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  31. 31MesannepadaMesannepadadied 2525 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  32. 32Amar-SinAmar-Sin2100 BC–2100 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  33. 33Kennewick ManKennewick Mandied 7300 BC · Historical Figures2 decades
  34. 34Ibbi-SinIbbi-Sinborn 2050 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  35. 35Neferkare NebyNeferkare Neby2300 BC–2260 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  36. 36Utu-hengalUtu-hengal2200 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  37. 37PIPuzur-Ashur I2050 BC–1970 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  38. 38TTudiyaborn 2500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  39. 39Hedj-HorHedj-Horborn 3200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  40. 40Qi of XiaQi of Xia2200 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  41. 41Horus CrocodileHorus Crocodile3100 BC–3099 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  42. 42HarkhufHarkhuf2300 BC–2259 BC · Historical Figures1 decades
  43. 43AnkhhafAnkhhaf2600 BC–2600 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  44. 44MeskalamdugMeskalamdug2600 BC–2600 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  45. 45UUr-Nungaldied 2620 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  46. 46MerenhorMerenhor2200 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  47. 47TiuTiuborn 3500 BC · Historical Figures18 decades
  48. 48KawabKawab2600 BC–2600 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  49. 49KKikkia2100 BC–2100 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  50. 50Hat HorHat Hor3150 BC–3095 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  51. 51Kutik-InshushinakKutik-Inshushinakborn 2300 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  52. 52TTashlultum2300 BC–2300 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  53. 53Tai KangTai Kangdied 2200 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  54. 54BBullborn 3500 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  55. 55Zhong KangZhong Kang2200 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  56. 56ZOZhu of Xiadied 2100 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  57. 57ShaokangShaokangdied 2100 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  58. 58TheshTheshborn 3200 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  59. 59AkurgalAkurgal2600 BC–2500 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  60. 60KKhenthapborn 3000 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  61. 61Dudu of AkkadDudu of Akkad2300 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  62. 62WaznerWaznerborn 3500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  63. 63AanepadaAanepada2600 BC–2500 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  64. 64ItetItetborn 2600 BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Historical Figures0 decades
  65. 65SSesheshetborn 2500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  66. 66IahIah2200 BC–2100 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  67. 67EErridupizir2300 BC–2300 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  68. 68En-anna-tum IEn-anna-tum I2500 BC–2500 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  69. 69InetkaesInetkaes2700 BC–2700 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  70. 70Khufukhaf IKhufukhaf I2600 BC–2600 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  71. 71MOMang of Xiadied 2000 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  72. 72Lamgi-MariLamgi-Mari3000 BC–2290 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  73. 73UUshpiaborn 2100 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  74. 74Xie of XiaXie of Xiadied 2000 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  75. 75AAminu2200 BC–2100 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  76. 76LLa-ba'shumdied 2596 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  77. 77AIAnkhesenpepi IIIborn 2250 BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  78. 78SSemat2900 BC–2900 BC · Historical Figures1 decades
  79. 79Ur-babaUr-baba2200 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  80. 80HOHuai of Xiadied 2100 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  81. 81Bu JiangBu Jiangdied 2000 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  82. 82Nefertkau INefertkau Iborn 2700 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  83. 83Minkhaf IMinkhaf I2600 BC–2600 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  84. 84Jiong of XiaJiong of Xiadied 2000 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  85. 85SSulili2100 BC–2060 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  86. 86EEn-nun-tarah-anadied 2588 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  87. 87AApiashalborn 2500 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  88. 88UUdul-kalamadied 2605 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  89. 89PersenetPersenet2600 BC–2600 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  90. 90HannuHannu2100 BC–1901 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  91. 91NCNeferkare Cheti III.2200 BC–2200 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  92. 92SISharma-Adad IIborn 2700 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  93. 93AAhaneith2914 BC–2890 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  94. 94MMesh-Hedied 2552 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  95. 95Eannatum IIEannatum IIborn 2450 BC · Historical Figures0 decades
  96. 96KhetiKhetiborn 2100 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  97. 97MenkaMenkaborn 2700 BC · Historical Figures5 decades
  98. 98AAnkhmareborn 2600 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  99. 99Princess KhamerernebtyPrincess Khamerernebty2500 BC–2500 BC · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  100. 100IIytjenuborn 2300 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.