The earliest year recorded in human history is around 4241 BCE. This date is associated with the ancient Egyptian calendar, which is one of the oldest known calendars. The Egyptians used a calendar system based on the lunar cycle and the annual flooding of the Nile River. This calendar was crucial for agricultural planning and religious events.
The year 4241 BCE is significant because it marks the first recorded use of a calendar system that divided the year into 365 days. This early calendar laid the foundation for the development of more sophisticated timekeeping systems in later civilizations.
It’s important to note that while 4241 BCE is the earliest recorded year, human history and prehistory extend much further back. Archaeological evidence suggests that humans have been around for hundreds of thousands of years, but the concept of recording years and keeping track of time in a systematic way began much later.