| 900–1000 | Pacific [colonization] | The Polynesian ancestors of the Maori people discover and begin the settlement of New Zealand. |
| c. 1000 | Arabia, Persia [food and drink] | Coffee is being drunk in Arabia and Persia. References in the work of the Persian philosopher and physician Avicenna (ibn Sina) testify to its use being largely medicinal. |
| 1000 | Japan [literature and language] | Makura no Soshi/The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon is written around this time. A Japanese lady's commonplace book with often mischievous reflections and anecdotes about court life, it is one of the masterpieces of Japanese literature. |
| 1000 | Iceland [political events] | By a majority decision of the Althing (parliament), Iceland adopts Christianity. Pagan worship is permitted in private. |
| c. 1000 | Southeast Asia, Pacific [political events] | Traders and fishermen from Macassar in Sulawesi in Southeast Asia (modern Indonesia), make contact with the Aborigines of northern Australia. |
| c. 1000 | South America [political events] | The rival Andean empires of Tiahuanaco and Huari collapse within a few years of each other. |
| 1000–1100 | Europe [sports] | ‘Tables’, or backgammon, is introduced to Europe by the Arabs (or reintroduced, as it is similar in name and appearance to the Roman game Tabula). It becomes extremely popular over the next few centuries. The name ‘backgammon’ is first used in the mid-17th century. |
| 1000 | Denmark, Norway [wars] | King Svein of Denmark defeats and kills King Olaf I Tryggvesson of Norway at Svöld and thus conquers Norway. |
| c. 1000 | Norway [births and deaths] | Olaf I Tryggvason, Viking king of Norway 995–1000, who was the first to attempt to Christianize Norway, dies (c. 36). |
| c. 1000 | Europe [chess] | Chess is widely known throughout Europe. |
| c. 1000 | Pacific [colonization] | Polynesian migrants reach New Zealand, where they settle and become the Maori people. The Polynesian migration across the Pacific Ocean, using the stars for navigation, has taken centuries to complete. |
| 31 March 1000 | Poland [political events] | Boleslaw Chrobry (the Brave) convinces the Emperor Otto III to create the archbishopric of Gniezno for Poland, with Silesia and Pomerania subject to it. Poland is consequently recognized as independent both politically and ecclesiastically. |
| 25 December 1000 | Hungary [political events] | Duke Stephen is crowned as king of Hungary. He has placed his country under the protection of the Pope, from whom he receives the crown and the establishment of a Hungarian ecclesiastical hierarchy under the archbishopric of Gran. |
