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How to create a timeline. Step by step.

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Timelines for kids - A comprehensive overview of timelines for k-6 students

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You must scroll down to the very bottom of the page to see the first civilization. ( Australian Aboriginals)

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I used to believe my great-grandmother was the first person on earth. She was so old, she HAD to be. Those deep lines carved around her eyes and mouth were a dead giveaway.

Turns out I was wrong. Unbelievably wrong. People have graced the vast grassy plains of this planet since long before even Nana's great grandparents were alive (and there's even a tortoise that's older than her!).

Who knew? Well, I do now, and you can as well.

Here's a complete ancient civilizations timeline - their names, dates, locations, and some bizarre bits of trivia about them - starting with one that was still flourishing only 600 years ago, and concluding with one still powering forward today.

16. The Incan Civilization

Peru gives history nerds an amazing place to start. Between 1438 and 1532, the Inca people blossomed from a small tribe to being South America's largest empire in the pre-Columbian era, and during its zenith, their borders even crept well into Ecuador and Chile.

This growth happened quickly, thanks to an unfortunate habit of the Inca - conquest. They adored eating up weaker cultures and they quickly became an unstoppable force.

The Inca are recognized as the geniuses who pieced Machu Picchu together, but they also did much more than that. Civilians enjoyed perks like freeze-dried foods and an effective mail system. Messengers used a mindblowing network of roads and if their durability is anything to go by, Incan engineers certainly gave their modern counterparts a run for their money.

The snaking lines were so decently built that several pathways survive today, still in excellent condition. Top-notch hydraulics also provided cities like Machu Picchu with stone fountains that brought fresh water from far away springs.

But the Inca Empire's thirst to conquer was ironic, as the day came when a stronger foe wanted their territory. The Spanish conquistadors that walked off of ships and onto South American soil brought with them a serious case of gold fever, as well as influenza and smallpox.

With the rampant spread of disease, countless died from infection and the nation destabilized. And with that, civil war broke out. The Spanish used their superior weapons and strategies to steamroll over the fragile resistance that remained, and once the last emperor, Atahualpa, was executed, all that remained of the Inca was a page in history.

15. The Aztec Civilization

The birth of the Aztecs remains a mystery. Nobody knows for sure where they came from, but, ultimately, the Aztecs planted their flag in the south-central region of pre-Columbian Mexico.

In 1325, the ambitious tribe built the heart of their civilization: a stunning capital city called Tenochtitlan that stood steady until 1521 and still serves as the foundation for modern-day Mexico City.

If the Aztecs were a cricket team, they'd be all-rounders. Besides acing agriculture, art, and architecture, their political and military excellence won the Aztecs nearly 6 million subjects from 500 city-states - each consisted of its own territory, and many that were conquered paid a tribute that boosted the Aztecs' wealth.

In addition, their economy was an ever-healthy beast; during a good day, Tenochtitlan's marketplace bustled with the activity of 50,000 people looking for a bargain. Plus, if you know the words "coyote," "chocolate" and "avocado," then congratulations! You're speaking Nahuatl, the major language of the Aztecs.

When the end came, it echoed sadly of the demise of the Incas. The Spanish arrived on ships in 1517 and sparked epidemics, battles, and death with the locals.

Led by the infamous Hernán Cortés, the conquistadors snowballed their numbers by enlisting the native enemies of the Aztecs, and massacred people at Tenochtitlan.

The Aztec leader, Montezuma, died a suspicious death in custody, and not long after, the man's nephew expelled the invaders. But Cortés returned again in 1521, and he tore Tenochtitlan to the ground, ending the Aztec civilization.

14. The Roman Civilization

Traditionally considered to have been founded in 753 B.C., Rome's beginnings were that of a modest village. The people who settled the banks of Italy's Tiber River then exploded, growing into the most powerful ancient empire ever seen.

READ MORE: The founding of Rome

Through war and trading, the city's footprint reached most of Northern Africa, Western Asia, Continental Europe, Britain, and the Mediterranean islands.

The culture is famous for its enduring monuments. Thanks to the use of special concrete as well as attention to detail, the Romans raised modern tourist-magnets like the Colosseum and the Pantheon.

And when visitors check their calendar to book a visit or jot down their traveling details using the western alphabet, they're also utilizing two of the greatest things that Roman civilization left behind as a lasting legacy.

But the Roman Empire crumbled, and not because a foreign horde stormed the gates - instead, the Roman upper crust fought over the crown until civil war broke out.

Sensing blood, Rome's adversaries gathered, and having to fight them off left the once incredibly wealthy culture broke. The final blow was brought to fruition due to the size of the empire. The many borders couldn't all be defended, and the Germanic prince, Odovacar, crushed what remained of the Roman army.

He gave the last emperor the boot and settled as king of Italy, ending the Roman civilization in 476 A.D.
READ MORE: The Complete Roman Empire Timeline The Roman High Point The Decline of Rome The Fall of Rome
13. The Persian Civilization

A series of kings forged the Persian Empire. The first, Cyrus II, started a tradition of conquering new lands. From 550 B.C. to 331 B.C., this royal hobby of collecting new territories granted the Persians the largest empire recorded in ancient history.

Their land included modern-day Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Northern India, and regions inside Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.

The culture left behind great ruins, intricate metalworks, and invaluable golden treasures. Interestingly, they practiced "Zoroastrianism," which remains one of the oldest religions still practiced today.

The tolerant belief system was likely the reason why Cyrus II was unusual for his time - choosing to treat his defeated enemies with respect instead of brutality. A later king, Darius I (father of the movie-famous Xerxes I, from the film 300), created the jaw-dropping Royal Road, a network that reached from the Aegean Sea to Iran and connected several cities through 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) of paving.

The Royal Road helped to establish an express mail service as well as control over a vast territory. But, unfortunately, it was also what brought Persia's doom.

Alexander the Great from Macedonia used the convenient roads to trot along, conquering the Persians who were financially exhausted from the suppression of revolts among their captured states. Alexander was met with fierce resistance, but knuckled Persia into submission and ended its long and brutal reign.

12. The Ancient Greek Civilization

One of history's most well known and unforgettable cultures flowed first from farmers. During the time of the Greek Dark Ages, only a few villages toiled the earth; by the time Ancient Greece was in full swing in 700 B.C., these villages had buffed up into entire city-states.

Competition led to searching out new land, and in doing so Greece spread 1,500 city-states all the way from the Mediterranean to Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), and from the Black Sea to North Africa.

The ancient Greek civilization was one of pure invention - they polished the concepts and theories of art, science, technology, and literature; they planted the seeds for democracy, the American Constitution, and governments driven by the idea of freedom the world around.

The Grecian era also gave us theatre and Homer's epic poems, Iliad, and Odyssey. Best, and most famous of all, it gave us the Olympic Games, as, starting around 776 B.C., athletes competed for the ultimate prize - a wreath of olive leaves, known as a "kotinos" (back then, earning a crown of foliage and wearing it to honor the gods was a big deal).

The terrible fates of most great civilizations of the past were brought about by themselves or by others looking to destroy them. The ancient Greeks were a rare exception.

Their archaic period didn't end with blood and fire; instead, around the year 480 B.C., the era evolved into the spectacular Classical Age - a time that rocked architectural and philosophical thinking until 323 B.C.

READ MORE: Ancient Sparta: The History of the Spartans
READ MORE: The Peloponnesian War
READ MORE: The Battle of Thermopylae

11. The Chinese Civilization

China's immense historical status is nothing new; for thousands of years, the civilization's trademark was to do things big and with flair. But most beginnings are humble, and China is no exception.

First starting with small neolithic villages scattered across the vast landscape, from this cradle came the famous dynasties that first sprouted along the Yellow River in the north.

Ancient Chinese culture wove the first silk and pressed the first paper. Nifty fingers built the original maritime compass, the printing press, and gunpowder. And just for extra measure, the Chinese also invented and perfected porcelain-making, a thousand years before European craftsmen figured out their secret.

It was domestic problems that tipped the first domino to their downfall. Imperial in-fighting led to wars that axed the Shang Dynasty in the year 1046 B.C., leading to the close of the era during which China's ancient culture rose to sparkling heights.

But despite the end of this remarkable chapter in history, the Chinese nation still continues as the world's longest-lasting civilization.

10. The Mayan Civilization

The Mayan presence in Central America is thousands of years old, but archaeologists like to pin the culture's real beginnings on the Preclassic period. Around the year 1800 B.C. marked the moment that hunters and gatherers decided to settle down and build permanent homes.

The first villages were incredibly successful at farming and would go on to seed the Maya throughout their large territory.

The ancient Mayan Empire was filled with wonders - tall temples that almost touched the sky; an unusual calendar that counted millions of years; incredible astronomical understanding; extensive record keeping.

Several cities had unique trademarks such as pyramids, grand tombs, and detailed hieroglyphs splashed over everything. The Maya reached artistic and intellectual heights never seen before in the New World, but despite these civilized achievements, the culture wasn't all unicorns and rainbows - they loved the pass-time of human sacrifice, and unleashing warfare on their own people.

Inner conflict, drought, and their conquest by the Spanish in the 16th century all conspired to boot this stunning civilization straight off a metaphorical cliff.

The culture perished under the pressure to convert to Christianity and from the rampant spread of European diseases, but the Maya themselves never went completely extinct, as millions of their descendants exist across the world today and continue to speak several Mayan languages.

9. The Ancient Egyptian Civilization

Prehistoric humans came upon the Nile - a lush green oasis surrounded by hot deserts on all sides - and liked what they saw. Settlements mushroomed alongside the river, and the earliest agricultural villages date back 7,000 years, setting the scene for the country of Egypt that still exists today.

READ MORE: Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

The Ancient Egyptians are synonymous with pyramids, mummies, and pharaohs (sometimes all at once), but there exist two more cornerstones of Egyptology - the culture's distinctive art and a crowd of gods possessed by a rich mythology.

And, in 1274 B.C., Pharaoh Ramses II ended a bloody 200-year-old conflict with the Hittites when the two kingdoms agreed to be allies, signing one of the world's first peace treaties.

The kingdom of Ancient Egypt disappeared slowly, its layers stripped away one by one. Starting with several wars that tore down its defenses, the invasions began and each wave erased more and more of the ancient civilization's ways.

The Assyrians weakened Egypt's military and economy. Greek letters replaced hieroglyphics. The Romans effectively ended the pharaohs. The Arabs grabbed the country in 640 A.D., and by the 16th century, the Egyptian language had been completely replaced with Arabic.

8. The Norte Chico Civilization

This culture is a riddle. As if by magic, they suddenly appeared around 3,000 B.C. and settled along a dry and hostile strip of land. This Andean plateau in north-central Peru, called Norte Chico, gave the culture its name, and despite the harsh, arid conditions, the civilization flourished for 1,200 years.

The Norte Chico people were able to succeed without writing, and no evidence has been found to indicate social classes. But their ability to arrange massive pyramids, houses, and plazas around their temples suggests that the civilization enjoyed some kind of government, bountiful resources, and trained workers.

A typical trademark of many ancient cultures is pottery and art, but this unique society has never produced a single shard that's been found, nor did they seem inclined to pick up a paintbrush. Very few artifacts have been left behind, so almost nothing is known about the daily lives of these people.

Incredibly, they created around 20 settlements, which were among the largest cities of their day. Plus, the Norte Chico's architecture was so monumental, precise, and well-planned that later cultures, including the Inca, unashamedly poached a few ideas from them to use in their own societies.

The Norte Chico's silence and lack of leftover evidence hides what happened to them and the reasons they waved their cities goodbye, vanishing. Historians might never solve the origins of this plucky group.

7. The Danubian Culture, or Linearbandkeramik Culture

Past the dazzling empires of Rome and Greece, further back into history than the pyramids and temples of the Nile, there awaits a gem - a nameless civilization from around 5,500 B.C. that grew from thousands of graves and many settlements, near the Balkan foothills and the Lower Danube Valley.

Over the next 1,500 years, this civilization, known as the Danubian culture, raised towns with thousands of homes and shone as perhaps the most advanced society in the world during its time.

One of its most known habits was that of creating "goddess" figurines. The purpose of the terracotta statues remains unsolved, but historians speculate that they likely celebrated female strength and beauty.

And contrary to what today's modern hands might do, this society also cast gold into graves; one of the civilizations largest and oldest gold caches, around 3,000 pieces, was found in one of its cemeteries.

The Danubian's striped pottery prompted a witty German to refer to the culture as "Linearbandkeramik," (very creatively meaning "Linear Pottery Culture") and the title, abbreviated to "LBK," stuck.

All that remains of the Danubian demise is a vague footnote, but what is known is that, across two centuries, desperate events collided with their civilization.

Mass graves that no one knows the cause of started to appear in settlements around the same time that this remarkable community began to disappear.

6. The Mesopotamian Civilization

Meaning the "Land Between Rivers" in ancient Greek, Mesopotamia was a region - not a single civilization - and several cultures benefited from the fertile lands that today includes southwest Asia and swathes along the eastern Mediterranean ocean.

The first lucky people arrived in 14,000 B.C. and flourished between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. For thousands of years, Mesopotamia was prime real estate, and every surrounding culture and group wanted it.

Putting aside the invasions and the many conflicts that followed, the fruitful soil of the region allowed those who settled Mesopotamia to reach levels beyond mere survival, using it to rise to their full potential.

Mesopotamia is credited with the beginnings of human civilization and many things that would change the world - the invention of time, the wheel, mathematics, maps, writing, and sailboats.

The Sumerians, one of the first human civilizations, were the first to build. After dominating for nearly 1000 years, they were conquered by the Akkadian Empire in 2334 B.C. who, in turn, fell to the Gutian barbarians (a group that steered like a drunk monkey and nearly caused the entire empire to crash and burn).

Mesopotamia changed hands several times, as from the Babylonians to the Hittites, swinging from peace to war and then back again. Despite this, the regional culture was able to develop its own flavor - with hallmarks such as using clay tablets for record keeping and communication, known as "cuneiform" writing - before everything was snuffed out of existence by the Persians when they seized Mesopotamia in 539 B.C.

5. The Indus Valley Civilization

In the 1920s, somebody noticed "old-looking" artefacts near the Indus River, and what started as a single discovery of a small memory led to uncovering the surprisingly big Indus Valley civilization.

With territory that stretched 1.25 million square kilometers (nearly 500,000 square miles), it reached a thousand settlements throughout modern Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan.

Conflict typically arises when people clump together in large societies, but where archaeologists fully expected to find signs of warfare in a civilization this big, there wasn't a single mangled skeleton, any burnt buildings, or evidence that the Indus people raided other nearby cultures.

Or even that they practiced inequality, racial or through social class, amongst themselves. In fact, for 700 years, the civilization prospered without armor, defensive walls, or weapons. Instead, they enjoyed plenty of food, big spacious cities, modern-looking streets with drains, and sewage systems that kept the cities clean.

Natural resources made them wealthy enough to achieve this, and they lived in peace due to their neighbors preferring to trade for Indus specials like copper, timber, and semi-precious stones.

And though the other cultures that surrounded them were too distracted by their own internal power struggles to take these treasures by force, it would be a mix of human and natural factors - invaders from Central Asia and climate change - that would strangle the Indus culture in the end.

4. The Jiahu Culture

Before China's great dynasties, small neolithic villages formed the roots of their great civilization. The oldest of these settlements was found near the town of Jiahu, in today's Henan Province of Eastern China.

Several buildings, including more than forty homes, gave the Jiahu culture the title of China's first and oldest identifiable civilization.

The culturally rich village has, in all likeliness, heavily influenced the development of Chinese civilization. Dating back 9000 years, archaeologists managed to dig up record-breaking artifacts, such as the world's earliest wine, the oldest known working musical instruments - flutes made from the bones of birds and still sounding a decent tune - and some of the oldest preserved rice. The site also produced what could be the most ancient sample of Chinese writing ever found.

The settlement itself went under, perhaps literally, around 5700 B.C., as evidence shows that the entire area was a few feet underwater at that time.

The nearby rivers were filled enough to overflow and flood the village, triggering civilization-wide abandonment and migration towards an unknown destination.

3. 'Ain Ghazal

Researchers get their geek on with the civilization of 'Ain Ghazal, a name that means "the spring of the gazelle" in modern Arabic. This neolithic society is a great window into studying the human transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settling and staying in one place long enough to farm. The 'Ain Ghazal culture boomed during this major shift and survived in what is modern-day Jordan.

The first small group swelled to roughly 3,000 citizens and went on to flourish for centuries. Their metropolis was decorated with mysterious figures made from lime plaster, including pregnant women and stylized human figures, and the inhabitants put those same types of lime plaster faces on the skulls of their dead.

As the switch was made to farming, the need for hunting lessened and they relied more heavily on their goat herds and vegetable stores.

Despite something going wrong for reasons unknown, and around ninety percent of the population packing up in a hurry to leave, this culture's successful transition into one of the first settled civilizations has allowed researchers such as anthropologists and archaeologists - those who focus on the history of how humans grew into the modern world - to correct many assumptions about how societies evolved.

2. The Çatalhöyük Settlement

Period: 7500 B.C. - 5700 B.C.
Original Location: Southern Anatolia
Current Location: Turkey

Turkey is home to the world's most well known Stone-Age city. Its name coming from a blend of the Turkish words meaning "fork" and "mound," the builders of Çatalhöyük honored the bond between a wandering people and a big river. They chose a waterway on the Konya Plain and settled in, draping their city over two hills.

Where 'Ain Ghazal showcased the huge human shift of the gatherer-farmer transition, Çatalhöyük is the best example known to demonstrate an early urban civilization immersed in agriculture.

Their homes were unusual as they were tightly-packed together and had no windows or doors - to get inside, people climbed through a hatch in the roof. The civilization also lacked grand monuments and elite buildings or areas, a surprising clue that the community might've been more equal than most.

The abandonment of Çatalhöyük is a missing page from a mostly successful story. Archaeologists have discovered that the class system likely became more divided and this eventually broke the culture down.

However, social unrest is an early and unproven suspect, as only four percent of the entirety of Çatalhöyük has been dug through and examined. The rest, buried and brimming with information, might yet reveal the city's end in a way that cannot be disputed.

1. Australian Aboriginals

The most mind-bending ancient civilization belongs to the Aboriginals of Australia. Many great empires have come and gone over the millennia, but indigenous people arrived in Australia 50,000 years ago - and they're still standing.

And, incredibly, there's evidence that suggests they might've first set foot on the continent as far back as 80,000 years ago.

The culture is famous for its " Dreamtime ", and a sentence or two can't do this topic justice - "The Dreaming" is a concept that blankets all time; future, past, and present, and permeates every aspect of life.

It's both a creation story and a destination after death, a sort of blueprint for a prosperous life. All told, the phenomenon is as unique as the people who have gained strength and guidance from it for as long as they have existed.

Thankfully, there's no need to explain this culture's extinction - they still exist today! But though this is the case, throughout their history, Australian Aboriginals have faced brutal persecution that was designed to end their culture, languages, and lives.

While the nation survives and has even received an apology from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the fight to keep their traditions alive remains a struggle.

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Our world would look a lot different today if these civilizations had never existed. Their influence is in nearly every one of our modern fields, including sports, science, finance, engineering, politics, agriculture, and social development. Take those away, and how valuable our human history is - from all over the globe - quickly becomes undeniable.

Other Notable Civilizations

The history of the world doesn't start and end with these 16 civilizations - the world has stood witness to many other groups who have come and gone over the last 50,000 years.

Here are some of those civilizations who didn't make our list:

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Ancient Civilization Timeline: The 16 Oldest Cultures

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I used to believe my great-grandmother was the first person on earth. She was so old, she HAD to be. Those deep lines carved around her eyes and mouth were a dead giveaway. Turns out I was wrong. Unbelievably wrong.

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/ How did ancient civilization contribute to today's world?

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There is no doubt that ancient civilizations made significant and important contributions in all fields of life for humankind. These contributions allowed humans to develop and function better in their daily lives; thus societies managed to make big leaps in their economic and political development, as well as cultural production and their religion, whilst simultaneously leaving a legacy in evolutionary history for future generations. This consequently causes specialization and modernization, which eases such operations even more. Below is a list of some of these contributions.

Ancient Civilizations Contributions

Contributions made to mankind by the Egyptian civilization

The Ancient Egyptians made huge contributions to mankind, which were essential for the development of society. Some examples include their problem-solving techniques, their vision and ways of seeing the world, which subsequently served humankind to create thought and reasoning in general, ways of recording history, and many other things, which are mentioned below:

Hieroglyphics

This is a way of writing, which derives from Greek, "heiros" meaning sacred and "glypho" which means sculpt, etc. They were mainly pictograms, which symbolized people, animals, plants, and stylized objects, which were inscribed on Papyrus, temples, and pyramids. Current researchers have said that hieroglyphics are the most ancient type of writing in the world.

They created the so-called "false position" which was the base or the beginning of what we now know as the algebraic method. They also created the decimal system, complex mathematical formulas, calculated the areas of trapezoids, triangles, and squares, resolved algebraic equations and discovered "Pi".

The Egyptians were some of the first to incite popular movements, which achieved great things that are remembered throughout history as some of mankind's greatest historical phenomenon.

Other relevant contributions

Art and engineering were present in their buildings

Irrigation canals made the area the biggest grain producer in the ancient world

The origins of the scientific method can also be dated back to the Egyptians

The manufacture of glass was used on a daily basis and as an ornament in tombs

They invented sailing as a mode of transport.

Alchemy also originated in ancient Egypt.

They discovered the calendar of 365 and a quarter days, the most scientific calendar of ancient times.

Contributions made by the Mesopotamian culture

The creation of writing is attributed to the Sumerians around the year 3100 BC. It all began with pictographic writing, which subsequently changed to ideograms, due to the difficulty of drawing the concepts that they wanted to represent. Ideograms made the interpretation of drawings easier. As time went by, ideograms gave way to signs in the form of wedges or spikes that represented sounds. This process of simplification was due to the fact that Mesopotamia wasn't rich in rocky terrain, which means there was a shortage of stones, but the land was rich in clay, which later allowed them to create bricks. Cuneiform writing was carried out on clay when it was still wet, which would then laid out to dry and baked with other bricks forming larger scriptures.

The Calendar

The Mesopotamian calendar was one of the humankind's first calendars. Sumerian astronomers were the first to regulate the archaic calendar. The months were divided into four weeks of seven days, in accordance with the phases of the moon, leaving out the last two days of each month, hence the calendar of 12 months and 360 days.

The days of the week were named after the moon, the sun and the five planets that were known by the Sumerians at that time: Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. These names have evolved in different languages in quite a similar way.
Currency

Before the onset of currency, bartering was the system that people used to exchange products, where they would swap something they didn't need for something else that they did need. Bartering was used for a long time but the growth of commercial activity came to prove that this system wasn't practical and hence currency was born.

In Mesopotamia, people began to use bars of gold, silver, copper, iron and bronze to intermediate exchanges but the first two had advantages on the rest due to their shortage, which made them more valuable. Little by little the first coins began to appear to simplify the levying of tax replacing cattle and wheat with coins.

Today's civilization would not function without the wheel. This circular mechanical object that revolves around an axis is a fundamental component in any machinery, in land vehicles and also to make pottery, despite the fact that the Incas and the Aztecs managed fine without it. The first evidence of the wheel is found in a Sumerian pictogram, dated the year 3500 B.C. One of the first ways it was used was in oxen-pulled wagons to transport goods, as well as lathes to make ceramic objects with greater speed and precision.

Given the abundance of water in Mesopotamia, agriculture was one of the most popular jobs. To try and facilitate the task of mixing the soil before planting seeds, the people of Mesopotamia invented and perfected the plow, which is considered an evolution of the pickaxe and the hoe. Initially humans pulled it, but later on animals such as oxen or mules were responsible for pulling the plow.

Plows were made completely out of a single piece of wood and were a similar shape to how they are today, but until the arrival of the Romans, plows did not include iron blades, which allowed them to delve deeper into the earth.

Although it is true that metallurgy was invented thousands of years ago, it was in Mesopotamia where copper and copper and bronze to make bronze started being used more regularly. People used copper and bronze in Mesopotamia until bronze finally prevailed.

In Mesopotamia, there were three professions related to metallurgy: the qurqurru was in charge of extracting the metal from the ore. The nappahu or smelter would make the pieces of metal from material retrieved from the ore. And finally, the kutimmu would be in charge of manufacturing objects with the precious metals.

The Sexagesimal (base 60) System

The sexagesimal system is a positional numbering system that uses the number 60 as an arithmetic base which facilitates calculations with fractions. The number 60 has the advantage of having many dividers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30 and 60). The sexagesimal system is used to measure times and angles.

First code of laws

Hammurabi was the sixth King of Babylon and is mainly known for the legislation of a new code of laws: the Hammurabi code, which became one the first written laws in history. The Hammurabi code contains 282 laws written on twelve tablets written in Akkadian so that any literate person could read it. These laws provided a punishment for every transgression of the law; punishments that were very tough indeed, such as the death penalty, eye for an eye, disfigurement, and the list goes on.

But apart from the tough punishments, it was the first code of laws that gave the King the opportunity to provide evidence to demonstrate if they were innocent of what they were accused of. Guilty or innocent, there was no in-between. Other Mesopotamian cultures created their own codes of laws such as those of the UrNammu, Esnunna, Lipit-Istar or the Hittite.

Architecture

As I have commented above, due to the lack of rocky terrain, stones were a scarce commodity, which obliged them to make use of mud, manufacturing bricks in order to build thick walls without openings, which meant that their buildings were resistant, heavy and uniform. Wood was also scarce commodity in the region, which is why it wasn't used in construction work either. Bricks were easy to use, and therefore they were used to build temples, palaces, walls and tombs.

The most characteristic element of Mesopotamia's temples is the Ziggurat, a square tower with several tiered floors, and on the top of which a sanctuary can be found. Each corner of the tower is orientated towards the four cardinal points, and the floors can be accessed by ramps or stairs located on the sides. These buildings were made with materials such as marble, alabaster, gold and Cedar.

Irrigation

Being surrounded by two rivers, agriculture in Mesopotamia was one of the main ways to stock up on goods. Above we have already mentioned that one of Mesopotamia's contributions to modern-day culture was the plow to help people work in the field. But in addition to the plow, another important advance in culture was irrigation, better known as riego, in which the correct amount of water is transported in order to help the crops grow. In order to do this, small canals were constructed to transport water from the rivers to the plantations.

Astrology and Astronomy

Assyrian Kings were surrounded by priests and clairvoyants that interpreted dreams and omens based upon astronomical observation. These Kings put the astronomers in charge of finding out the best dates to begin important projects such as the building of temples, and when to start wars...their predictions were also quite accurate.

Priests calculated the length of the days and nights, the sunrises and sunsets, and with this information, they created the first calendar, which has been mentioned above, and with which future eclipses could be predicted. The predictions were based upon the Moon's positioning in the sky but also in particular during the appearance of the first half Moon at the start of each month. These predictions were not applied to individuals, but instead were used to predict the future of crops, wars or epidemics.

Contributions made by the Indian Civilization

The main advance of the Ancient Indian civilization was its urban architecture; their buildings were made of adobe bricks, had several floors and an efficient sewage system. They were also the first to cultivate and make cotton fabrics.

Later on, in the 5th Century, when India was a part of the Gupta empire, they made big innovations:

They developed the decimal system, which established the numeric symbols that we use today. They were the first, along with the Mayas, to invent the concept of zero. The mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata determined the value of "Pi" (the approximate relation between the circumference and diameter of a circle) and the spherical shape and rotation of the Earth. Other astronomers calculated the diameter of the Muna and wrote about gravitation.
Metallurgy: they produced steel to make weapons and armors.
Medicine: they knew how to sterilize and how to use drugs to treat the sick. They cured bites from poisonous snakes. They did surgery such as gallbladder extraction and intestinal stitching.

Contributions made by the Chinese Civilization

The great contributions of the Ancient Chinese culture which are appreciated to this day can be separated into three areas:

They created pagodas, which were basically roofs which overlapped each other. They also manufactured porcelain and silk items which linked them to the spiritual world they believed in.

They are known as the first culture to use ink in writing. They also used paper made from bamboo fibers, tree bark, and water.

Another of their longest-lasting inventions, alongside the previous two, was gunpowder, which comes from mixing nitrate, charcoal with other substances. It was used to make fireworks.

There were major inventions, some of the most important of which being the first compass and the first seismograph.

In medicine, they tried to make sure the human body was in harmony with the mind, the spirit, and with its environment, the Tao, which is the origin of the universe. It has two primordial forces which have an unstable balance: Yin and Yang. This cosmology defines illnesses as a rupture in naural balance and to treat them, balance must be returned. Harmony can be restored with accupuncture which consists of applying needles to 365 points; when the needles are inserted into these points, the Yin and Yang in the body are stabilized. In the Golden Age of Taoism, they began to approach the use of vegetable and mineral remedies, poisons, respiratory techniques and physical exercise.

With regards to literature, many texts were created. An example is the " Book of Origins", which tells the story of the Zhou dynasty; in this book, its author Tchouang Tseu, who lived in the 3 rd Century BC, structured the main doctrines of Taoism. The Confucianists also wrote their main doctrines in " The Invariable Average" and in " The Great Study ".

Architecture

Their main principles were aesthetic beauty and functionality. Their houses, for example, were made from wood whilst the roofs had curved eaves and the roof tiles were painted in different colors. Their great creations include the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army.

The Great Wall of China: Built and rebuilt between the 5 th Century B.C. and the 17th Century A.D., its purpose was to protect the Northern area of the Chinese Empire during the dynasties of the attacks of the Xiongu nomads from Mongolia and Manchuria. It is approximately 8851.8 kilometers long, and goes from the Korean border to the Gobi desert, it is between 6 and 7 meters high and 4 to 5 meters wide, and was built by more than a million warriors. It is also known for being the world's biggest cemetery due to the fact that around 10 million workers died during its construction. It has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Cultural contributions of the Greek civilization

The Ancient Greeks developed independent cities (called Polis), which encouraged them to be strongly independent, but also promoted a strong appreciation for mankind, who developed them and accomplished many things, which became a real legacy for the Western world. Among them are the following:

In this activity, the Greek concept of "nothing in excess" was practiced, seen for example in architecture where there were no large monumental buildings, but instead a series of public buildings linked to daily life in the cities. In these constructions, the use of columns with different styles was common (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian).

Sculpture also has a prominent place in Greek culture, and in their sculptures, the Greeks show their appreciation for the human being, who is usually represented naked and harmonious in its anatomical composition. Phidias and Miron are among the leading sculptors of the Greek world.

Philosophy

The "love of wisdom" began with the Greeks, as can be seen in their search for the ground substances that the Universe is composed of (for example, for Tales it was water, however for Anaximenes it was air)

During the classic period, philosophers reflected upon the nature of man (anthropological period), of whom some of the most notable figures are Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Socrates proposed that one must know oneself in order to be more wise and virtuous. He was accused of corrupting the youth, so he was condemned to drink hemlock. Plato was a disciple of the philosophers mentioned above (in fact information that we know about Socrates was found through Platonic dialogues). He suggested that there is a series of ideal elements that should govern man's conduct.

Aristotle was one of Plato's disciples, but unlike his teacher, he was a realist, not an idealist. He devoted himself to study a number of subjects, amongst them logic, metaphysics, politics, and biology.

This activity emerged in the Greek classical period and is closely linked to the religious festivities in honor of the God Dionysus (God of wine and festivities). In these events, done outdoors, they performed tragedies, which were tense plays with a tragic denouement. Authors such as Sophocles (author of "Oedipus Rex"), Aeschylus (author of the "Oresteia") and Euripides (author of "The Bacchae") were particularly renowned. Comedies also had an important role, as they satirized Greek society and politics, conveying the opposite message of a tragedy. Aristophanes (author of "The Birds", where the imperialism of Athens was critiqued) particularly stands out in this type of theater.

While the Greeks, in some areas, were not creators, they did focus on establishing some theorems, such as Pythagoras in mathematics. Medicine emerged in Greece because Hippocrates believed that illnesses were caused by natural causes, and not through magical practices.

History also has a leading role in Greece, where the research side was developed, it no longer being seen as a simple account of events. Its major exponents were Herodotus and Thucydides.

As explained above, the main political contribution to the Western world was the development of the democratic system in the polis of Athens. According to Pericles, who is considered the leading exponent of this regime, in Athens...

"We benefit from a political regime that does not imitate the laws of our neighboring states; we do more than imitate others, on the contrary, we serve as a model to others. This regimen has been named democracy because the administration is in the hands, not of a few, but of the majority. In the settling of private disputes, everyone is equal before the law. Election to public office is made on the basis of availability, not on the basis of membership to a particular class. No man is kept out of public office by the obscurity of his social standing because of his poverty, as long as he wishes to serve the state."
(Summary of the funeral speech of Pericles in honor of the fallen in the Wars of the Peloponnese. In Thucydides, the Peloponnesian War)

The Olympic Games

The Games were considered the most important religious holiday in the Greek world, where representatives from different cities would gather to compete in races, fights, discus throwing, and other games. Despite the fact that they have changed a lot over time, they originate in the Greek civilization.

Contributions made by the Roman Civilization

The main contributions that the Ancient Roman Empire brought to us were: architecture, sculpture, technique, painting and contributions to civilization from Rome. Also, Latin, their mother tongue, left a legacy to humanity.

Architecture

The Romans constructed buildings with arches, domes, and vaults, which they adopted from the Etruscans, mixing these elements with some decorative elements of Greek architecture.
Roman architecture is characterized by its monumental quality and by the way their buildings were open to the public. Rome and the Empire were filled with circuses, theaters, amphitheaters, baths, roads, forums, basilicas, arches, and more.

For the Romans, decoration and hygiene were very important, which is why they built squares, forums, markets, public baths, aqueducts, viaducts, bridges, and sewerage systems, whose remains can still be found in the rest of Europe.

Rome's main Amphitheater was the Roman Colisseum

The Roman Colosseum is a huge amphitheater, which was built to give favors to the best and most legendary wrestlers, as well as to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum is located in the heart of Rome. Its interior is made from sand-covered wood, and underneath there is a maze of halls divided into several floors, where dungeons and animal cages were kept. Cavea, the grandstand area, and was divided into three overlapping sectors, with a wooden fourth level for the standing spectators. Each sector was reserved for a different social class. In the tallest part, the Colosseum has a Velarium; a large tent that protected the spectators from the sun. The Emperor and the most important members of Roman society would sit at the podium.

Emperors and Roman generals built arches and columns to celebrate the memory of their triumphs, which they decorated beautifully with embossments and statues to remember their feats.

During the Republic, the severity of the Etruscan tradition still prevailed in Roman sculpture. The Romans tried to imitate the artistic forms of Greece and Asia Minor in their statues, paintings, and works of art.

Roman painting is distinguishable by the frescoes that decorated the houses in Pompeii and some tombs. Their painting style isn't just a simple imitation of Greek painting; it has a uniqueness that is incomparable to any other style.

Mosaic, or decoration with glazed bricks, originated from the East and was commonly used in Rome and throughout the whole Empire. It was used to represent big and important scenes with a technique similar to that used in painting.

Technology

Pure science wasn't cultivated in Rome; however, technology was advanced, as it was practical and useful.

Their enormous constructions, extensive walkways, bridges and aqueducts, and walls are testimony of their extensive knowledge of architecture, metallurgy, and hydraulics.

Rome had seven hills and eleven aqueducts. The size of the city grew proportionally with the water that entered it. When the barbarians cut the water supply, Rome fell.

In parts of the city, it is still possible to see remains of gigantic arcs, grand works of engineering. The grandeur of Rome is also apparent in the remains of the aqueducts in the southeast of Rome.

Aqueducts were canals built from waterproof cement and were covered with slabs of stone. They transported the water that collected at the bottom of the hills to the city, flowing at a constant angle. The water gathered pressure and was stored in large tanks next to the spring.

When the water reached the center of Rome it was used to supply fountains and public buildings. The Romans spent a large part of their public funds ensuring that the facilities were well maintained so that there was always a supply of clean and fresh water.

In Rome's heyday, there was always a large supply of clean and fresh water; however during the sieges of the barbarians they suffered from frequent water supply cut-offs until it finally dried up.

Latin: The origin of the Romance languages

When the Romans conquered new regions, they imposed their own language, Latin. However, it was not "pure" Latin, but common or "Vulgar" Latin, which was what was spoken at home, in the street and in the field.

Latin and Romance languages evolved from Vulgar Latin, what we know today as Portuguese, Catalan, Provençal, French, Sardinian, Italian, Romansh, Romanian and Spanish or Castilian. All places where the Latin language was spoken were called "Romania"; this included five European Nations: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Romania. Latin had an enormous influence.

Other contributions to modern civilization

The Roman law, made up of original laws of the Republic, Imperial rights, and decisions made in courts were all collected in the "Code of Justinian", which was used as the basis for the famous Napoleonic Code.

The Roman peace that was maintained in the ancient world for 200 years.

The public buildings that the Romans built for the whole population to use.

Literature and Roman history, classical Latin works and work compiled by historians have served as a model and an important source of knowledge.

Politics. Despite the mistakes made in civil wars and the failure of their economic system, which was based on slavery and estates, Roman politics still forms a base for modern nations.

Contributions made by the Aztec Civilization

The Aztecs stood out for their ability to build cities, their knowledge of science and their varied ways of artistic expression.

They had their own hieroglyphic writing, a numeration system and a calendar that consisted of 18 months of 20 days each with 5 extra days, but it was inferior to the Mayan calendar.

They developed metallurgy skills, working specifically with gold and copper.

They made cotton dresses.

Their ceramics were distinguished by the sets of polychromatic vases.

Chewing gum was another important contribution that the Aztecs brought to the world.

They were the first to chew the sap that was secreted by the rubber tree.

We can thank the Aztecs for bringing the flavors of vanilla and chocolate to the world.

Chinampas were an ingenious Mexican invention and are an example of the advanced level of technological and agricultural advancement that the Aztecs achieved. They are just a small part of the striking ecological and hydraulic balance that was around in the great Tenochtitlan until before the Spanish conquest.

Chinampas were true floating gardens, and were attached to the subsoil, nailing stakes or tree trunks, which gave stability to the ground when they took root.

Between the chinampas there were canals that were used as a quick communication route, which substituted the absence of the wheel.

In Xochimilco these Mexican wonders can still be found.

The Aztec codices, like the majority of the pre-Cortesian codices, were made with a special paper made from bark from the amatl tree.

Cultivation techniques

Seed selection

Crop rotation

Selection of land that is suitable for cultivation

Selection of the time of year

Taking the rain and the phases of the moon into account

These are the same techniques that farmers use today.

The cultivation of maize, which was used to make:

Bread

Cake

Tortillas

Chicha (a fermented drink)

These are foods that we often find in our daily diet and drinks that many farmers still enjoy.

Based on the cycles of the Sun or Venus they put together a solar calendar that they called the Sun Stone, which represented the 5 ages of humanity.

Art and Architecture

The State helped a large number of specialized artisans to develop feather art and precious metalwork.

They built several important constructions such as the Teocalli.

Language and Writing

The language spoken in the Empire was called Nahuatl.
Writing was based upon symbols that described history and mythology.

Contributions made by the Mayan Civilization

The Mayans developed a calendar that is as precise as the one we use today.

According to the observation of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars, they could predict phenomena such as eclipses and equinoxes.

They were aware of the concept of zero and used it long before was discovered in other places.

They used a vigesimal number system, multiplying by 20 instead of 10.

Architecture

They built great monuments such as Kukulkan in Chichen-itza.

They built the Korbel Arch (the false arch), which replaced the real one.

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Ancient Civilizations Contributions (All Cultures From Sumerian to Mayan)

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There is no doubt that ancient civilizations made significant and important contributions in all fields of life for humankind. These contributions allowed humans to develop and function better in their daily lives; thus societies managed to make big leaps in their economic and political development, as well as cultural production and their religion, whilst simultaneously leaving a legacy in evolutionary history for future generations.

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We use many of the Greek Alphabet as symbols today

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Nat Geo Collection: Ancient Civilisations: China

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Nat Geo Collection: Ancient Civilisations: China

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Ancient China is responsible for a rich culture, still evident in modern China. From small farming communities rose dynasties such as the Zhou (1046-256 B.C.E), Qin (221-206 B.C.E), and Ming (1368-1644 C.E.). Each had its own contribution to the region. During the Zhou Dynasty, for example, writing was standardized, iron working refined, and famous thinkers like Confucius and Sun-Tzu lived and shared their philosophies. During the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang commissioned the Terracotta Army, and the Ming Dynasty refurbished the Great Wall to protect the nation from Mongol attacks.

Learn more about the history and rich culture of Ancient China with this curated resource collection.

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Ancient China is responsible for a rich culture, still evident in modern China. From small farming communities rose dynasties such as the Zhou (1046-256 B.C.E), Qin (221-206 B.C.E), and Ming (1368-1644 C.E.). Each had its own contribution to the region.

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Kids learn about the civilization and history of ancient Greece including the government, philosophy, science, Athens, Sparta, daily life, people, art, architecture, theater, and mythology. Educational articles for students, schools, and teachers.

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What is a civilization/ What are the different civilizations

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What is a civilization/ What are the different civilizations

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The term civilization basically means the level of development at which people live together peacefully in communities. Ancient civilization refers specifically to the first settled and stable communities that became the basis for later states, nations, and empires.

The study of ancient civilization is concerned with the earliest segments of the much broader subject called ancient history. The span of ancient history began with the invention of writing about 3100 bc and lasted for more than 35 centuries. Humankind existed long before the written word, but writing made the keeping of a historical record possible ( see human origins).

The first ancient societies arose in Mesopotamia and Egypt in the Middle East, in the Indus valley region of what are now Pakistan and India, in the Huang He (Yellow River) valley of China, on the island of Crete in the Aegean Sea, and in Central America. All these civilizations had certain features in common. They built cities and invented forms of writing. They learned to make pottery and use metals. They domesticated animals, and they created fairly complex social structures with class systems.

Apart from written records and carved inscriptions, the knowledge about ancient peoples is derived from the work of archaeologists. Most of the significant archaeological findings have been made in the past 200 years. The Sumerian culture of Mesopotamia was discovered in the 1890s, and some of the most important archaeological digs in China were made after the late 1970s.

The single, decisive factor that made it possible for humankind to settle in permanent communities was agriculture. A turning point in human history, the invention of farming and the tremendous changes it brought about have been called the agricultural revolution. After farming was developed in the Middle East about 6500 bc, people living in tribes or family units did not have to be on the move continually searching for food or herding their animals. Once people could control the production of food and be assured of a reliable annual supply of it, their lives changed completely.

People began to found permanent communities in fertile river valleys. They settled around rivers for a number of reasons. Rivers were an important source of fresh water for drinking. They could be used for transportation. Settlers also learned to use the water supply to irrigate the land for farming. Sedentary settlement, or being settled in one place, made it possible to domesticate animals in order to provide other sources of food and clothing.

Farming was indeed a revolutionary discovery. It not only made settlements possible-and ultimately the building of cities-but it also made available a reliable food supply. With more food available, more people could be fed. Populations therefore increased. The growing number of people available for more kinds of work led to the development of more complex social structures. With a food surplus, a community could support a variety of workers who were not farmers. The agricultural revolution thus resulted in a division of labor, with some people farming, while others worked at various crafts, such as making pottery, cloth, or tools. Craftspeople traded the goods they made to farmers for food.

Farming the world over has always relied upon a dependable water supply. For the earliest societies this meant rivers and streams or regular rainfall. The first great civilizations grew up along rivers. Later communities were able to develop by taking advantage of the rainy seasons.

All the ancient civilizations probably developed in much the same way, in spite of regional and climatic differences. As villages grew, the accumulation of more numerous and substantial goods became possible. Heavier pottery replaced animal-skin gourds as containers for food and liquids. Cloth could be woven from wool and flax. Permanent structures made of wood, brick, and stone could be built.

The science of mathematics was an early outgrowth of agriculture. People studied the movements of the Moon, Sun, and planets to calculate seasons. In so doing they created the first calendars. With a calendar it was possible to calculate the arrival of each growing season. Measurement of land areas was necessary if property was to be divided accurately. Measurements of amounts-for example, of seeds or grains-was also a factor in farming and housekeeping. Later came measures of value as commodity and money exchange became common.

The use of various ways of measuring led naturally to record keeping, and for this some form of writing was necessary. The earliest civilizations all seem to have used picture-writing-pictures representing both sounds and objects to the reader. The best known of the ancient writing systems is probably Egyptian hieroglyphics, a term meaning "sacred carvings," since many of the earliest writings were inscribed on stone.

All the major ancient civilizations-in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus valley, and China-emerged in the 4th millennium bc. Historians still debate over which one emerged first. It may well have been in the Middle East, in an area called the Fertile Crescent. This area stretches from the Nile River in Egypt northward along the coast of the historical region of Palestine, then eastward into Asia to include Mesopotamia. In this area people settled along the riverbanks and practiced field agriculture. This kind of farming depended on the reproduction of seed, normally from grain crops.

Mesopotamia (from a Greek term meaning "between rivers") lies between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, a region that is today part of Iraq. By about 5000 bc, small tribes of farmers had made their way to the river valleys. On the floodplains they raised wheat, barley, and peas. They cut through the riverbanks so that water for their crops could flow to lower lying soil.

These early irrigation systems were more fully developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia. They drained marshes and dug canals, dikes, and ditches. The need for cooperation on these large irrigation projects led to the growth of government and law. The Sumerians are thus credited with forming the earliest of the ancient civilizations.

The land of the Sumerians was called Sumer (Shinar in the Bible). Their origins are shrouded in the past. They were not Semites, like most of the peoples of the region. The Sumerians spoke a language unrelated to other known tongues. They may have come to southern Mesopotamia from Persia before 4000 bc.

Sumerian towns and cities included Eridu, Nippur, Lagash, Kish, and Ur. The cities differed from primitive farming settlements. They were not composed of family-owned farms but were ringed by large tracts of land. These tracts were thought to be "owned" by a local god. A priest organized work groups of farmers to tend the land. The farmers provided barley, beans, wheat, olives, grapes, and flax for the community.

These early cities, which existed by 3500 bc, were called temple towns because they were built around the temple of the local god. The temples were eventually built up on towers called ziggurats (holy mountains). The ziggurats had ramps or staircases winding up around the exterior. Public buildings and marketplaces were built around these shrines.

The temple towns grew into city-states, which are considered the basis of the first true civilizations. At a time when only the most basic forms of transportation and communication were available, the city-state was the most governable type of human settlement. City-states were ruled by leaders called ensi s. They were probably authorized to control the local irrigation systems. The food surplus provided by the farmers supported these leaders as well as priests, artists, craftsmen, and others.

The Sumerians contributed to the development of metalworking, wheeled carts, and potter's wheels. They may have invented the first form of writing. They engraved pictures on clay tablets in a form of writing known as cuneiform (meaning "wedge-shaped"). The tablets were used to keep the accounts of the temple food storehouses. By about 2500 bc these picture-signs were being refined into an alphabet.

The Sumerians developed the first calendar, which they adjusted to the phases of the Moon. The lunar calendar was adopted by the Semites, Egyptians, and Greeks. Trade increased between Sumerian cities and between Sumer and other, more distant regions. This led to the growth of a merchant class.

The Sumerians organized a complex mythology. It was based on the relationships among the various local gods of the temple towns. In Sumerian religion, the most important gods were seen as human forms of natural forces-sky, Sun, earth, water, and storm. Each of these gods was originally associated with a particular city. The gods were worshiped not only in the great temples but also in small shrines in family homes.

Warfare between cities eventually led to the rise of kings, called lugals, whose authority replaced that of city-state rulers. Sumer became a more unified state, with a common culture and a centralized government. This led to the establishment of a bureaucracy and an army. By 2375 bc, most of Sumer was united under one king, Lugalzaggisi of Umma.

The Sumerians were conquered by their Semitic neighbors. But their civilization was carried on by their successors-the Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans.

The Babylonians made distinct contributions to the growth of civilization. They added to the knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. They built the first great capital city, Babylon. The Babylonian King Hammurabi set forth the Code of Hammurabi in the late 18th century bc. This was the most complete compilation of Babylonian law and one of the first great law codes in the world.

Egyptian farmers had settled in the long and narrow valley of the Nile River by 5000 bc. Within 2,000 years Egyptians had invented writing and built massive irrigation works. They had established a culture that bequeathed the pyramids and other magnificent monuments to posterity.

The ancient Egyptians depended heavily on the Nile River. The river created an oasis in the surrounding desert, providing water for drinking and for farming. Each year, the river rose, flooded, and fell. Its flooding deposited sediments along the riverbank, making the land good for farming. The fertility of the land and the general predictability of the Nile's flooding ensured farmers a high yield from a single annual crop. Eventually, the Egyptians could store large surpluses of grain, to trade and to keep in reserve in case of crop failures. Surplus crops would form the chief basis of ancient Egypt's great wealth. The Nile was also the society's most important transportation route.

Most of the ancient Egyptians lived in the Nile valley and delta, and nearly all were farmers. The primitive farming settlements of Egypt were concerned with the raising of grains, fruits and vegetables, and animals. These settlements slowly gave way to larger groupings of people. Probably the need to control the Nile floodwaters through dams and canals eventually led to the rise of government in the region.

By the end of the prehistoric period before about 2925 bc, Egypt was divided into two kingdoms. Lower Egypt had its capital at Buto, while Upper Egypt was centered at Hierakonpolis. In this period travelers brought in ideas from Sumer, including the concepts of writing and the pottery wheel.

Egyptian civilization began with the unification in the 3rd millennium bc of the upper and lower regions by King Menes. He established a new capital at Memphis. In this era the Egyptians developed the first 365-day calendar. They invented the plow and made use of copper. They developed hieroglyphic writing and began to build with stone. Trade and exploration flourished.

The Egyptians were ruled by kings known as pharaohs who claimed to be descended from the god Horus. These kings, supported by a priestly class, lived in splendor, and they saw to it that after their deaths they would be buried in splendor. The tombs built for them were designed as storehouses to hold all the things that the kings would need in the afterlife.

The earliest royal tombs foreshadowed the later great monuments, the pyramids. By about 2700 bc the first pyramid was built, in Saqqarah. The three great Pyramids of Giza still standing near Cairo were built in the 26th and 25th centuries bc.

Early Egyptian history is divided into three major eras: the Old Kingdom (about 2575-about 2130 bc), the Middle Kingdom (1938-about 1630 bc), and the New Kingdom (about 1539-1075 bc). By the dawn of the Old Kingdom, the characteristics of Egyptian civilization had already been firmly established. The periods not accounted for by the dates are believed to be times of decline known as the Intermediate periods.

The valley of the Indus River is considered to be the birthplace of Indian civilization. Located on the Indian subcontinent, largely in what is now Pakistan, the Indus valley civilization was not discovered by archaeologists until 1924. The ancient history of this region is obscured by legend. It appears, however, that by 4000 bc primitive farmers were raising vegetables, grains, and animals along the riverbank. By 2700 bc two major cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, and numerous smaller towns had emerged.

There is some evidence that Mesopotamian traders reached the early people of the Indus valley by sailing there from Sumer. The Indus valley people shared some developments-such as complex irrigation and drainage systems and the art of writing-with the people of Sumer. However, the people of the Indus valley also developed a unique cultural style of their own.

What little is known of the Indus civilization suggests that it had large cities that were well laid out and well fortified. There were public buildings, palaces, baths, and large granaries to hold agricultural produce. The many artifacts and artworks found by archaeologists indicate that the residents of the Indus had reached a fairly high level of culture before their civilization was destroyed.

The Vedic people, who were nomads from the Eurasian steppes, migrated to the Indus valley beginning about 1500 bc. They introduced a caste system, which persists to the present day. The caste system divides all people into social classes with differing rights and obligations. It was a formal expression of the interdependent labor division seen in all civilizations. By the 6th century bc at least 16 states had been established on the Indian subcontinent.

By about 2500 bc a civilization had emerged on the island of Crete in the Aegean Sea. Excavations in 1900 at the site of Knossos revealed the existence of a culture named by archaeologists as Minoan after a mythical king, Minos. Minoans probably settled in Crete before 3000 bc.

There is evidence of outside influence in Crete; apparently Egyptian traders reached the Aegean Sea soon after the Minoans did. Nevertheless, Minoan civilization developed its own unique features. By about 2000 bc, great cities with elaborate and luxurious palaces were built, and sea trade was flourishing.

The Minoans had a picture-writing system, as had other ancient peoples. The Minoan religion seems to have centered on a mother goddess and on the figures of the bull and the snake. The Minoans are known for their beautiful and colorful wall paintings and their fine pottery. About 1400 bc Minoan civilization began to decline. The end was hastened by invasions from mainland Greece. ( See also Aegean civilization.)

The Chinese had settled in the Huang He, or Yellow River, valley of northern China by 3000 bc. By then they had pottery, wheels, farms, and silk, but they had not yet discovered writing or the uses of metals.

The Shang Dynasty (1600?-1046 bc) is the first documented era of ancient China. The highly developed hierarchy consisted of a king, nobles, commoners, and slaves. The capital city was Anyang, in what is now north Henan province. Some scholars have suggested that travelers from Mesopotamia and from Southeast Asia brought agricultural methods to China, which stimulated the growth of ancient Chinese civilization. The Shang peoples were known for their use of jade, bronze, horse-drawn chariots, ancestor worship, and highly organized armies.

Like other ancient peoples, the Chinese developed unique attributes. Their form of writing, probably developed by 2000 bc, was a complex system that used characters that stood for words or parts of words. Such early forms of Chinese became known through the discovery by archaeologists of oracle bones, which were bones with writings inscribed on them. They were used for fortune-telling and record keeping in ancient China.

The Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 bc) saw the full flowering of ancient civilization in China. During this period the empire was unified, a middle class arose, and iron was introduced. The sage Confucius (551-479 bc) developed the code of ethics that dominated Chinese thought and culture for the next 25 centuries.

Meso-America is the term used to describe the ancient settlements of Mexico and Central America. The earliest elaborate civilization known in the Americas is that of the Olmec of central Mexico. The Olmec lived in the lowlands of what are now Veracruz and Tabasco states from about 1200 bc. They left artifacts ranging from tiny jade carvings to huge monuments such as the volcanic rock statues at San Lorenzo. These monuments suggest the existence of an organized and diverse society with leaders who could command the work of artisans and laborers. Among the many other complex pre-Columbian civilizations in Central and South America were the Chavín, Nazca, Moche, and Inca of Peru, the Chibcha and Tairona of Colombia, the Marajoara and Tapajó of Brazil, the Maya of the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Aztec of Mexico. ( See also American Indians; Middle American Indians; Central American and Northern Andean Indians; Central Andean Indians; Rainforest Indians; South American Nomadic Indians.)

Only four ancient civilizations-Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus valley, and China-provided the basis for continuous cultural developments in the same location. After the Minoan society on Crete was destroyed, its cultural traditions and legends passed into the life of mainland Greece. As for Meso-America and South America, their cultures were submerged by the Spanish conquerors of the 16th century.

Brier, Bob, and Hobbs, Hoyt. Daily Life of the Ancient Egyptians (Greenwood, 2008).Chrisp, Peter. Atlas of Ancient Worlds (DK, 2009).Connolly, Sean. The Americas and the Pacific (Zak, 2009).Croy, Anita, ed. Ancient Aztec and Maya (Brown Bear, 2010).Dalal, Anita, ed. Ancient Egypt; Ancient Mesopotamia (Brown Bear, 2009).Fletcher, Joann. Exploring the Life, Myth, and Art of Ancient Egypt (Rosen, 2010).Grant, Neil. Ancient Egypt and Greece (Zak, 2009).Hazen, W.A. Everyday Life: Ancient Times (Good Year, 2006).Hurdman, Charlotte, and others. Life in the Ancient World (Lorenz, 2008).Long, C.J. Ancient America (Lucent, 2002).McNeill, W.H. The Rise of the West (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2001).Martell, Hazel. The Kingfisher Book of the Ancient World (Kingfisher, 2006).Morris, Neil. Asian Civilizations; Mesopotamia and the Bible Lands (Zak, 2009).Nardo, Don. Ancient Egypt; Ancient India (Lucent, 2007; 2008).Nemet-Nejat, K.R. Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia (Hendrickson/Roundhouse, 2003).Shaughnessy, E.L. Exploring the Life, Myth, and Art of Ancient China (Rosen, 2010).

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The term civilization basically means the level of development at which people live together peacefully in communities. Ancient civilization refers specifically to the first...

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Ancient Greece

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Facts about Ancient Greece for kids | National Geographic Kids

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Join us here at National Geographic Kids as we travel thousands of years back in time to discover ten fascinating facts about Ancient Greece…

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Ancient Rome

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Ancient Rome for Kids | Learn all about the History of the Roman Empire for Kids

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Ancient Egypt

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Ancient Egyptian History for Kids: Inventions and Technology

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Kids learn about Ancient Egyptian inventions and technology including papyrus, writing, medicine, mathematics, ship building, and makeup.

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Key Components of a civilization

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Civilization describes a complex way of life that came about as people began to develop networks of urban settlements. The earliest civilizations developed between 4000 and 3000 B.C.E., when the rise of agriculture and trade allowed people to have surplus food and economic stability. Many people no longer had to practice farming, allowing a diverse array of professions and interests to flourish in a relatively confined area. Civilizations first appeared in Mesopotamia (what is now Iraq) and later in Egypt. Civilizations thrived in the Indus Valley by about 2500 B.C.E., in China by about 1500 B.C.E. and in Central America (what is now Mexico) by about 1200 B.C.E. Civilizations ultimately developed on every continent except Antarctica.

Characteristics of Civilization

All civilizations have certain characteristics. These include: large population centers; monumental architecture and unique art styles; shared communication strategies; systems for administering territories; a complex division of labor; and the division of people into social and economic classes.

Large population centers, or urban areas, allow civilizations to develop, although people who live outside these urban centers are still part of that region's civilization. Rural residents of civilizations may include farmers, fishers, and traders, who regularly sell their goods and services to urban residents. The huge urban center of Teotihuacan, in modern-day Mexico, for example, had as many as 200,000 residents between 300 and 600 C.E.
Shared Communication
Shared communication is another element that all civilizations share. Shared communication may include spoken language; alphabets; numeric systems; signs, ideas, and symbols; and illustration and representation. Shared communication allows the infrastructure necessary for technology, trade, cultural exchange, and government to be developed and shared throughout the civilization. The Inca civilization, for example, had no written script that we know of, but its complex system of accounting allowed the government to conduct censuses of its population and production across the vast stretch of the Andes. A khipu is a recording device made of a series of strings knotted in particular patterns and colors.

Written language in particular allows civilizations to record their own history and everyday events-crucial for understanding ancient cultures. The world's oldest known written language is Sumerian, which developed in Mesopotamia around 3100 B.C.E. The most familiar form of early Sumerian writing was called cuneiform, and was made up of different collections of wedge (triangle) shapes. The earliest Sumerian writing was record-keeping. Just like written records of modern civilizations, Sumerian cuneiform kept track of taxes, grocery bills, and laws for things like theft.

Written language was a key part of shared communication during the Islamic Golden Age, which flourished in southern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia from the seventh to the 13th centuries. So-called "Arabic numerals" and the Arabic language were shared communications that allowed diverse cultures across the Arabic world to contribute the dazzling advances in mathematics, science, technology, and the arts.
Infrastructure and Administration
All civilizations rely on government administration-bureaucracy. Perhaps no civilization better exemplifies this than ancient Rome. The word "civilization" itself comes from the Latin word civis﻿, meaning "citizen." Latin was the language of ancient Rome, whose territory stretched from the Mediterranean basin all the way to parts of Great Britain in the north and the Black Sea to the east. To rule an area that large, the Romans, based in what is now central Italy, needed an effective system of government administration and infrastructure. Romans used a variety of methods to administer their republic and, later, empire.

Language also played a part in Roman infrastructure. Romans spread the Latin language throughout southern Europe. The so-called "Romance languages" (Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan, and Italian) are called that because they all developed from the Roman language: Latin. Having a similar language made communication and leadership easier for Rome in its far-flung territories. Roman leaders relied on a series of legal codes for administration. These codes helped structure laws between different parts of Roman territory, as well as between rich and poor, men and women, slave and free. Roman laws included restrictions on marriage, ownership of land, and access to professions such as priesthoods.

One of Rome's most lasting contributions to Western Civilization was the establishment of legal culture itself. Roman law was largely public, and jurists created such formalities as legal language and procedure that would define European law for centuries. In fact, "Roman law" describes the legal system used throughout Western Europe through the 18th century.

Finally, Romans used local leaders, as well as Romans, to administer the law in their territories. Residents were more familiar with their own leaders, and more likely to follow their announcements. Israeli leaders worked with Roman authorities in the Roman territory of Palestine, for example, while British leaders often worked with Romans on the island of Great Britain. Some people born in Roman territories eventually became Roman emperors: The emperor Constantine, for instance, was born in what is now Serbia; the emperor Hadrian may have been born in what is now Spain. This interaction reduced conflict between Rome and its territories.
Division of Labor
Civilizations are marked by complex divisions of labor. This means that different people perform specialized tasks. In a purely agricultural society, members of the community are largely self-sufficient, and can provide food, shelter, and clothing for themselves. In a complex civilization, farmers may cultivate one type of crop and depend on other people for other foods, clothing, shelter, and information. Civilizations that depend on trade are specially marked by divisions of labor.

The city of Timbuktu, in what is now Mali, was an important trading center for several African civilizations. Residents of Timbuktu specialized in trading such goods as gold, ivory, or enslaved people. Other residents provided food or shelter for trade caravans traveling on camels from the Sahara. The urban center of Timbuktu was also a center of learning. Its division of labor included not only merchants, but doctors, religious leaders, and artists.
Class Structure
Class can also refer to the type of work people perform. There are many divisions of social class. Social class is often associated with economic class, but not strictly defined by it. In the ancient civilization of China, there were four major types of social classes. Scholars and political leaders (known as shi) were the most powerful social class. Farmers and agricultural workers (nong) were the next most-powerful group. Artists (gong), who made everything from horseshoes to silk robes, were the next order of social class. At the bottom of the social classes were the merchants and traders, who bought and sold goods and services. Known as shang﻿, these merchants were often much wealthier than the other classes but had a lower social status.

Development of Civilization

Civilizations expand through trade, conflict, and exploration. Usually, all three elements must be present for a civilization to grow and remain stable for a long period of time. The physical and human geography of Southeast Asia allowed these attributes to develop in the Khmer civilization. The Khmer flourished in parts of what are now Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar between 800 and 1400.

The Khmer maintained vibrant trading relationships throughout East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and even Europe and Africa through the Silk Road, a collection of both overland and maritime trade routes. The Silk Road linked the spice and silk markets of Asia with the merchants of Europe. Southeast Asia's extensive network of waterways facilitated trade, with the Khmer capital of Angkor being built on the shores of Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, Tonle Sap. The outflowing Tonle Sap River is a tributary of the mighty Mekong River, which connects Southeast Asia with the Tibetan Plateau in the north and the South China Sea in the south. In addition to material goods, the Khmer civilization facilitated a powerful trade in ideas. In particular, the Khmer were instrumental in spreading the influence of Buddhist and Hindu cultures from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia.

The primary conflicts of the Khmer civilization were waged with neighboring communities-the Cham, the Vietnamese, and the Thai. The Cham were a collection of kingdoms in what is today central and southern Vietnam, while the ancient Vietnamese influence extended through what is today northern Vietnam. Thai kingdoms such as Sukothai and Ayutthaya flourished in what are now Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia. The Khmer civilization was founded on the consistent resistance of political pressure from the Cham and Vietnamese, but it ultimately could not withstand pressure from Thai civilizations. Thousands of Thai peoples migrated from the north (what is now the Yunnan region of China), establishing small kingdoms in the southwest of the Khmer Empire. Eventually, these kingdoms became strong enough to annex Khmer territory, leading to Ayutthaya's conquest of the Khmer capital of Angkor in 1431.
Exploration and Innovation
The Khmer civilization relied heavily on rice farming, and developed a complex irrigation system to take advantage of the rivers and wetlands that dotted their territory. An efficient series of irrigation canals and reservoirs, called allowed fewer farmers to produce more rice. This, in turn, allowed more people to pursue nonagricultural lifestyles and migrate to great urban areas, such as Angkor. Angkor, the capital of the ancient Khmer civilization, is home to one of the largest most distinctive religious monuments in the world, Angkor Wat.

Fall of Civilizations

Many civilizations have flourished and then failed or fell apart. There are many reasons for this, but many historians point to three patterns in the fall of civilizations: internal change, external pressure, and environmental collapse. The fall of civilizations is never the result of a single event or pattern. Sometimes, civilizations seem to "disappear" entirely.
Internal Change External Pressure
The clearest example of external pressure on a civilization is foreign invasion or sustained warfare. Protecting a civilization's borders can be extremely expensive and demand a strong military at the expense of developing or maintaining other aspects of a civilization. External pressure can lead to the relatively abrupt end of a civilization (and, often, the adoption of another). The fall of the Aztec Empire with the arrival of European conquistadores is such an example.

External pressures can also lead to the gradual diminishing of a civilization. The "fall" of what we often think of as Ancient Egypt is a good example of how external pressures can redefine a civilization over hundreds of years. Egypt had faced longstanding, intermittent conflict on its borders, with competing civilizations such as the Nubians (to the south), the Assyrians (in the Middle East), and the Libyans (to the west). Later, Egypt encountered the civilizations of Ancient Greece and Rome, and eventually became part of the Roman Empire. Ancient Egypt also faced external pressures not directly associated with armed conflict. The powerful forces of Christianity and Islam influenced the eradication of both hieroglyphics, the writing system of Ancient Egypt, and its polytheistic religion.
Environmental Collapse
Some anthropologists think that both natural disasters and misuse of the environment contributed to the decline of many civilizations. Natural hazards such as drought, floods, and tsunamis, become natural disasters as they impact civilizations. Drought contributed to the fall of civilizations such as the Maya and the Indus Valley or Harappan civilization.

The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization in what is now Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The Indus Valley Civilization depended on seasonal monsoon rains to supply water for drinking, hygiene, and irrigation. Climate change made monsoons much more unpredictable and seasonal flooding less reliable. Harappans suffered from water-borne diseases and were unable to effectively irrigate their crops. The collapse of Minoan civilization, a major influence on Ancient Greece, is often associated with a catastrophic eruption of the Thera volcano on the island of what is now Santorini. The eruption caused a massive tsunami that reduced the population, trading capabilities, and influence of the Minoans.

Human activity can also strain the environment to the point of a civilization's collapse. One of several factors contributing to the collapse of the Viking outpost in Greenland, for instance, was the failure of European settlers to adapt to Greenland's climate and soil. Farming methods that were successful in the rich, loamy soils of Northern Europe were ill-suited to Greenland's colder, thinner soil and shorter growing seasons. The land could not support the crops necessary to sustain Viking livestock, including goats, cattle, and sheep. In addition, the land itself was harvested for peat, the outpost's primary construction material. The Vikings in Greenland also faced internal pressures, such as a weak trading system with Europe, and external pressures, such as a hostile relationship with their Inuit neighbors.
'Lost Civilizations'
History and myth are rich with "lost civilizations," entire ways of life that seemed to flourish and then disappear from the historical record. The disappearance of the Ancestral Puebloan civilization is one such mystery. Ancestral Puebloan civilization thrived in what is now the Four Corners region of the United States: the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Ancestral Puebloan civilization developed around 1200 B.C.E. and thrived for more than a thousand years. Ancestral Puebloan civilization was marked by monumental architecture in the form of apartment-like cliff dwellings and large urban areas known as pueblos. Culturally diverse Ancestral Puebloans were connected by a complex road system, a standard style of religious worship, and a unique art style evidenced by pottery and petroglyphs.

Ancestral Puebloans seem to have abandoned their urban areas around 1300 C.E. The disappearance of this civilization remains a mystery, although most scientists say Ancestral Puebloans engaged in warfare with their Navajo neighbors, internal groups competed for land and resources, and sustained droughts reduced Ancestral Puebloan ability to irrigate crops in the arid Southwest. The Pueblo people never disappeared, of course: Diverse groups developed their own, competing civilizations after the Ancestral Puebloans migrated or fell apart. These groups include the Zuni and Hopi civilizations.

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Civilization describes a complex way of life that came about as people began to develop networks of urban settlements. The earliest civilizations developed between 4000 and 3000 B.C.E., when the rise of agriculture and trade allowed people to have surplus food and economic stability.

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Friday, July 6, 2018

The Roman Empire ruled thousands of years ago. Still, it left a huge mark on our world. Bridges, stadiums, languages, and books show Roman influence.
Art and Architecture
The ancient Greeks greatly influenced the Romans. However, the Romans improved on certain Greek building ideas.

Greeks used posts and beams to hold up buildings. Ancient Romans created curved roofs and large arches instead. These could support more weight than Greek buildings. Arches were used to build huge Roman bridges.

The Colosseum is a large stadium in Rome. It is like sports stadiums we have today. It had separate levels of seating. It also had a rounded shape. Both were Roman ideas.

The arches of the Colosseum are made out of cement. It is a very strong building material. Many cement Roman buildings still stand today. The Romans made them with ash and rock from nearby volcanoes.

Scientists study Roman concrete even today. They can still learn from the ancient master builders.

Sculptures of Rome have lasted a long time, too. Romans used marble to make statues and monuments. Many can be seen today in museums.
Technology and Science
The Romans were very skilled engineers. They understood the science of how things move. They made aqueducts. This is a kind of plumbing system that brought in water from all over.

A large road system was built by Romans. It was said that "all roads lead to Rome." They laid gravel first. Then, they paved over it with huge rock slabs.

The Romans were also skilled at farming. They knew much about climate, soil, and planting. They pioneered ways to effectively plant crops and to water and drain fields. Modern farmers still use Roman methods.
Literature and Language
Much literature has been influenced by ancient Roman writers. Poets such as Virgil and Ovid made long-lasting, popular works.

Ovid's Metamorphoses is an example. It inspired authors such as Dante and Shakespeare.

During the empire, Romans took over many new lands. Their language, Latin, spread everywhere.

Latin became the root for a group of languages called the "Romance languages." These include French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.

Many English words come from Latin root words. The English alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet. "Agenda" and "bona fide" are examples of common Latin words we still use today.

The Roman justice system influenced how the United States' courts work today.

One example is the initial hearing. This is where a Roman government official would decide if a case was worthy. If it was, a well-known Roman citizen would start a trial. Witnesses and evidence would be presented.

The Roman Empire later fell. Still, it changed the world in many ways.

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Traces of Ancient Rome in the Modern World

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Friday, July 6, 2018 The Roman Empire ruled thousands of years ago. Still, it left a huge mark on our world. Bridges, stadiums, languages, and books show Roman influence. Art and Architecture The ancient Greeks greatly influenced the Romans. However, the Romans improved on certain Greek building ideas.

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Ancient Greek

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Friday, March 15, 2019

For many people, the word "ancient" simply means old-fashioned. But that's not quite right. Many ideas and ways of life that came from ancient Greece a few thousand years ago are still used today.

It was the ancient Greeks who gave us libraries, democracy, and even the modern alphabet.

The Greeks helped to shape the world in which we live. Here are some of their most famous people.

Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher. A philosopher is someone who thinks about the world and asks big questions. Socrates is famous for inventing what is called the Socratic method. This is a special way of teaching. Instead of talking the whole time, teachers ask students questions. That way, students learn how to think through problems.

Socrates did not write his ideas down. We know about his life thanks to his student, Plato.

Plato was born about 2,400 years ago. He was a philosopher and writer. He wrote many books. One of his most famous books is "The Republic." In this book, Plato writes about fairness and happiness. George Washington and other Founding Fathers of the United States all knew about Plato's ideas.

One of Plato's students was a man named Aristotle. He was one of the greatest philosophers of all time. Aristotle thought about the meaning of life and how to treat others. He was also very curious. He studied animals and labeled them in different groups. Animal scientists today still follow some of his ideas.

Alexander the Great was the ruler of Macedon, a kingdom in ancient Greece. He lived more than 2,300 years ago. He fought in his first war when he was 18 years old. He was a brilliant leader. Alexander was able to create a huge empire. His empire reached as far as India.

Pericles lived in the city of Athens. This was one of the most powerful cities in ancient Greece. Pericles was a leader and general. He did much to help Athenian culture. He helped pay to build the Parthenon. This is a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. The Parthenon still stands today.

Pythagoras was a Greek mathematician. The Pythagorean theorem is a famous math formula. It is used to find the area of a right triangle. It was named after Pythagoras.

Hippocrates was very important for medicine. He was an ancient Greek doctor. He said people should exercise and eat healthy foods. Hippocrates is known for what is called the Hippocratic oath. It is a moral code or promises that doctors must follow. The most famous part is "Do no harm."

These Greeks lived thousands of years before us. Their ways and ideas are still important today. They helped to build the world in which we live.

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The Lasting Legacy of Ancient Greek Leaders and Philosophers

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Friday, March 15, 2019 For many people, the word "ancient" simply means old-fashioned. But that's not quite right. Many ideas and ways of life that came from ancient Greece a few thousand years ago are still used today. It was the ancient Greeks who gave us libraries, democracy, and even the modern alphabet.

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Civilization (or civilisation) comes from the Latin word civis meaning someone who lives in a town. When people are civilised, they live in large well-organized groups like towns, not in small tribes or isolated family groups.

However, a civilization is something more than a town. It is an advanced stage of organisation. That means it has laws, culture, a regular way of getting food and protecting the people. Most civilizations have agriculture, and a system of government like monarchs or elections. They speak a common language, and usually have a religion of some kind. They teach their young the knowledge they need. All civilizations since the Sumerians and the Egyptians have some kind of writing. Writing lets people store and build up knowledge.

The Roman Empire is an example of a large civilization. It was governed from Rome. This empire once stretched from the Scottish borders to North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. They had their own language, Latin.

Latin became the preferred method of communication among educated people until long after their civilization had vanished. Today lawyers and politicians, doctors and scientists, scholars and others still use Latin in the course of their everyday work, even though the Roman civilization died out more than 1,500 years ago. It is said that William Shakespeare excelled at Latin. Latin is still taught in some schools. We still admire and copy Roman architecture, use Roman numerals to count certain things, use the names of Roman gods to mark the days and months of our calendars, name the constellations in the sky by the same names that the Romans used and we model our Western political constitutions and structures on Roman models (Senate, Governor, election, tribunal, justice, vote, census, even the word Constitution, are all Latin words, their meaning unchanged in thousands of years).

The Roman civilization lasted almost 1000 years, but the Ancient Egyptian civilization was older and lasted longer. The Romans and Egyptians fought each other in the Battle of Actium. Rome won, and Egypt became part of the Roman Empire.

While the Great Wall of China was built to protect Ancient Chinese states and empires against the raids and invasions of nomadic groups, over thousands of years the region of China was also home to many influential civilizations

Ancient Egypt is a canonical example of an early culture considered a civilization.

Dictionary definitions

1. An advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, an advanced state of moral conduct, the extensive use of record-keeping, including writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions.

2. The type of culture and society developed by a particular nation or region or in a particular epoch: Maya civilization; the civilization of ancient Rome.

3. The act or process of civilizing or reaching a civilized state.

4. Cultural or intellectual refinement; good taste.

5. Modern society with its conveniences: "We returned to civilization after camping in the mountains".

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Civilization (or civilisation) comes from the Latin word civis meaning someone who lives in a town. When people are civilised, they live in large well-organized groups like towns, not in small tribes or isolated family groups. However, a civilization is something more than a town. It is an advanced stage of organisation.

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History for kids - Free history network for kids

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Guide to Ancient Greece

The Ancient Greeks lived around 3,500 years ago their legacy shapes the world we live in today. For some people, life in Greece was good, and many lived in busy towns and cities. They build many temples and very important building that all stood on hills. You will learn about daily life and how they tried to make sense of the world with Philosophy. We hope you have fun learning about this wonderful topic and time in history.

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Guide to Ancient Greece The Ancient Greeks lived around 3,500 years ago their legacy shapes the world we live in today. For some people, life in Greece was good, and many lived in busy towns and cities. They build many temples and very important building that all stood on hills.