The 35th century BC in the Near East sees the gradual transition from the Chalcolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Proto-writing enters transitional stage, developing towards writing proper. Wheeled vehicles are now known beyond Mesopotamia, having spread north of the Caucasus and to Europe.

Cultures

• Uruk period (Sumer)
• Naqada IIb (Ancient Egypt)
• Early Minoan I
• Sredny Stog culture (final phase)
• Yamna culture (early phase)
• Cucuteni culture
• Vinča culture
• Megalithic Europe (Atlantic fringe)
• Comb Ceramic culture
• Funnelbeaker culture
• Yangshao culture

Artefacts

only approximate dating is usually possible for mid-4th millennium artefacts.

• Kish tablet
• Bronocice pot

Events

• The Sahara Desert starts to form from semi-arid savannah, through desertification.

Decades and years