21st century BC

The 21st century BC is a century which lasted from the year 2100 BC to 2001 BC.

Events

Ur-Nammu (seated) bestows governorship on Ḫašḫamer, patesi (high priest) of Iškun-Sin (cylinder seal impression, ca. 2100 BC).

Note: all dates from this long ago should be regarded as either approximate or conjectural; there are no absolutely certain dates, and multiple competing reconstructed chronologies, for this time period.

• c. 2100 BC – c. 2050 BC: Nanna Ziggurat, Ur (modern Muqaiyir, Iraq) was built.
• 2091 BC: Beginning of the Patriarchal Age was traditionally set in this year.
• 2080 BC: Ninth Dynasty wars in Egypt.
• 2080 BC: First Intermediate Period of Egypt ended. Middle Kingdom began in Ancient Egypt.
• 2071 BC: Magh Ithe, first recorded battle in Ireland myths.
• 2070 BC (disputable): Yu the Great set up the Xia Dynasty, which isn't verified by archeological findings, some propose the Erlitou culture.
• c. 2064 BC – 1986 BC: Twin Dynasty wars in Egypt.
• c. 2055 BC: End of First Intermediate Period of Egypt (another date is 2040 BC).
• c. 2055 BC: Middle Kingdom began in Ancient Egypt (other date is 2040 BC).
• c. 2055 BC: Mentuhotep II from Thebes managed to reunite Ancient Egypt and began to rule (other date is 2040 BC).
• c. 2055 BC – 1985 BC: Funerary Stele of Amenemhat I was made. Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt. Excavated in 1915–1916. It is now kept in Egyptian Museum, Cairo. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
• c. 2049 BC: Oak trees for Seahenge felled.
• c. 2040 BC: End of First Intermediate Period of Egypt. Start of Middle Kingdom. 11th–14th Dynasties.
• 2040 BC: Beginning of the Xia Dynasty, the first dynasty and government system in China.
• 2040 BC: Pharaoh Merykare died. End of Tenth dynasty of Egypt. Pharaoh Mentuhotep II started to rule. Start of Eleventh Dynasty.
• 2034 BC – 2004 BC: Ur–Amorite wars.
• c. 2009 BC – 1997 BC: Funerary temple of Mentuhotep III was built. Eleventh Dynasty.
• 2004 BC: Elamite destruction of Ur.
• c. 2004 BC: Pharaoh Mentuhotep II, Eleventh dynasty of Egypt dies.
• c. 2000 BC: Aegean Bronze Age ended.

Significant persons

• Ur-Nammu, 3rd dynasty of Ur
• Shulgi of Urim

Legendary people

• According to Abrahamic religious tradition, the era of the Patriarch Abraham (however, other datings include 19th century BC, and/or 17th century through 15th century BC)
• According to Hindu tradition, lifetime of Rama, the 7th Avatar of Vishnu

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

• 2100 BC—Earliest extant law code in Mesopotamia, the Code of Ur-Nammu
• 2037 BC—Emperor Shen Nong makes first (perhaps mythical) tea drink by boiling fresh leaves