World History: Ancient Civilizations

Mesopotamian Civilization (c. 3500–539 BCE)

• Location: Modern-day Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• Cities: Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, Assyria.
• Contributions: Cuneiform script, Code of Hammurabi, Ziggurats, advances in mathematics and astronomy.
• Society: Early urbanization, complex societies, early forms of government and law.

Egyptian Civilization (c. 3100–30 BCE)

• Location: Along the Nile River in northeastern Africa.
• Periods: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom.
• Contributions: Hieroglyphics, Pyramids, Sphinx, advances in medicine, calendar system.
• Society: Pharaohs, centralized administration, strong religious beliefs centered around gods like Ra and Osiris.

Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1300 BCE)

• Location: Modern-day Pakistan and northwest India.
• Cities: Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro.
• Contributions: Urban planning, drainage systems, standardized weights and measures, undeciphered script.
• Society: Trade networks, agriculture-based economy, possible theocratic governance.

Chinese Civilization (c. 1600 BCE–221 BCE)

• Location: Yellow River (Huang He) valley.
• Dynasties: Xia (semi-legendary), Shang, Zhou.
• Contributions: Oracle bones, early Chinese script, bronze casting, Confucianism and Daoism (later periods).
• Society: Feudal structure, development of statecraft, emphasis on familial and social hierarchy.

Minoan Civilization (c. 3000–1450 BCE)

• Location: Crete (modern-day Greece).
• Capital: Knossos.
• Contributions: Linear A script (undeciphered), advanced architecture, extensive trade networks, early form of plumbing.
• Society: Palace-centered economy, possible matriarchal influence, sophisticated art and culture.

Mycenaean Civilization (c. 1600–1100 BCE)

• Location: Mainland Greece.
• Cities: Mycenae, Pylos, Tiryns.
• Contributions: Linear B script (early form of Greek), fortifications, tombs (tholos), epic tales (basis for Homeric epics).
• Society: Warrior culture, hierarchical political structure, influence on later Greek culture.

Phoenician Civilization (c. 1500–300 BCE)

• Location: Modern-day Lebanon and coastal Syria.
• Cities: Tyre, Sidon, Byblos.
• Contributions: Alphabet (precursor to Greek and Latin scripts), maritime trade, purple dye, establishment of Carthage.
• Society: Thalassocracy (sea-based empire), trade networks throughout the Mediterranean.

Ancient Greece (c. 800–146 BCE)

• Location: Modern-day Greece and the Aegean region.
• Periods: Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic.
• Contributions: Democracy (Athens), philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), art and architecture (Parthenon), literature (Homer).
• Society: City-states (polis), varied political systems (democracy, oligarchy, monarchy), significant military conflicts (Persian Wars, Peloponnesian War).

Ancient Rome (c. 753 BCE–476 CE)

• Location: Modern-day Italy and surrounding Mediterranean regions.
• Periods: Roman Kingdom, Republic, Empire.
• Contributions: Roman law, engineering (roads, aqueducts, Colosseum), Latin language, governance and military organization.
• Society: Patricians and plebeians, expansionist policy, significant cultural assimilation and syncretism, eventual shift to Christianity.

Ancient Persia (c. 550–330 BCE)

• Location: Modern-day Iran and surrounding regions.
• Empires: Achaemenid Empire.
• Contributions: Zoroastrianism, Royal Road, postal system, administrative divisions (satrapies).
• Society: Multicultural empire, respect for local customs and religions, centralized administration under emperors like Cyrus the Great and Darius I.