The 1040s BC is a decade which lasted from 1049 BC to 1040 BC.

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• 1048 BC—Medon, King of Athens, dies after a reign of 20 years and is succeeded by his son Acastus.
• 1046 BC—Following the Battle of Muye, King Wu of Zhou overthrows the Shang Dynasty under the Chinese King Di Xin, and establishes the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC–256 BC).
• 1044 BC—On the death of Smendes I, king of Egypt, he is succeeded by two co-regents, Psusennes I and Neferkare Amenemnisu.
• c. 1042 BC—Beginning of the Rebellion of the Three Guards. Guanshu Xian and Caishu Du instigate Shang loyalists under Wu Geng to revolt.
• 1041 BC—Some sources^[1][2][3] propose this as the date of King David's birth

• Shu Du of Cai
• Ashur-rabi II, king of Assyria, is born (approximate date).