Ancient Civilizations
Ancient civilizations are the basis of the world as we know it today, built on the ruins of 10,000 years of advanced cultures such as the Greek, Roman, Mesopotamia, Mayan, Indus, Egyptian, and others that we know primarily through archaeology and some written records.
Ancient Egypt (136)
Longshan (4)
Ancient Greece (81)
Maya Civilization (72)
Ancient Near East (16)
Mesopotamia (43)
Aztec Civilization (21)
Mississippian and Hopewell (25)
Byzantine and Ottoman (12)
Moche Civilization (20)
Caral Supe Civilization (9)
Olmec Civilization (17)
Etruscan (11)
Persian Empire (37)
Hittites (9)
Roman Empire (44)
Inca Empire (25)
Tiahuanaco (9)
Indus Civilization (31)
Vikings (33)
Islamic Civilization (18)
Traveling the Silk Road - A Photo Essay
In November 2009, a new exhibit opened at the American Museum of Natural History, featuring artifacts and reconstructions of places and pieces of the ancient Silk Road. This photo essay compares old photographs to exhibits and provides a bit of background to Traveling the Silk Road.
In November 2009, a new exhibit opened at the American Museum of Natural History, featuring artifacts and reconstructions of places and pieces of the ancient Silk Road. This photo essay compares old photographs to exhibits and provides a bit of background to Traveling the Silk Road.
What Makes a Civilization?
Archaeologists recognize that in some cases, in some places, at some times, simple societies for one reason and another develop into more and more complex societies, and some become civilizations. These are the characteristics that archaeologists identify as complex societies.
Archaeologists recognize that in some cases, in some places, at some times, simple societies for one reason and another develop into more and more complex societies, and some become civilizations. These are the characteristics that archaeologists identify as complex societies.
Monumental Architecture
Monumental or public architecture, at an archaeological site, refers to large man-made structures of stone or earth, such as pyramids, temples and shrines.
Monumental or public architecture, at an archaeological site, refers to large man-made structures of stone or earth, such as pyramids, temples and shrines.
Craft Specialization
Craft specialization--the creation of specific jobs in a society such as warriors, artisans, scribes, shamans, rulers, etc.--is one of the defining characteristics of ancient civilizations, and most likely the reason we don't have an egalitarian society today.
Craft specialization--the creation of specific jobs in a society such as warriors, artisans, scribes, shamans, rulers, etc.--is one of the defining characteristics of ancient civilizations, and most likely the reason we don't have an egalitarian society today.
Ranking and Social Inequality
Another marker of ancient civilizations is evidence of ranking and social inequality, when a society begins to assign ranks of importance or wealth to classes of people. Rank can be earned (called achieved rank) or inherited (ascribed rank) or both.
Another marker of ancient civilizations is evidence of ranking and social inequality, when a society begins to assign ranks of importance or wealth to classes of people. Rank can be earned (called achieved rank) or inherited (ascribed rank) or both.
Sedentism
Increasing sedentism is another characteristic of ancient civilizations; it is the term archaeologists use to describe the process of settling down.
Increasing sedentism is another characteristic of ancient civilizations; it is the term archaeologists use to describe the process of settling down.
Pastoralism
Pastoralism, another characteristic of complexity, refers to the subsistence practice in which people care for and domesticate animals such as cattle, camels, llamas, sheep, goats and alpacas.
Pastoralism, another characteristic of complexity, refers to the subsistence practice in which people care for and domesticate animals such as cattle, camels, llamas, sheep, goats and alpacas.
Guide to the Ancient Near East
From N.S. Gill, About.com's guide to Ancient History, an illustrated guide to the Ancient Near East.
From N.S. Gill, About.com's guide to Ancient History, an illustrated guide to the Ancient Near East.
The New Seven Wonders of the World
A quick photo tour of the new seven wonders of the world--plus some extras that readers say should be in there, too.
A quick photo tour of the new seven wonders of the world--plus some extras that readers say should be in there, too.
Ancient America - Archaeology of American Civilizations
The continents of North and South America were 'discovered' by the European civilizations in the late 15th century AD, but their civilizations were vast and complex long before the first European landed. The following are a taste of the complexity of the civilizations of ancient America.
The continents of North and South America were 'discovered' by the European civilizations in the late 15th century AD, but their civilizations were vast and complex long before the first European landed. The following are a taste of the complexity of the civilizations of ancient America.
Chinese Dynastic History
From About's guide to Ancient History, a little taste of what you wanted to know about Chinese history, from the Neolithic period through the latter part of Imperial China, ending in AD 1911.
From About's guide to Ancient History, a little taste of what you wanted to know about Chinese history, from the Neolithic period through the latter part of Imperial China, ending in AD 1911.
Monte Alban and the Zapotec Civilization
Monte Alban was the capital city of the Zapotec Civilization, sited 1400 meters above sea level in the Valley of Oaxaca of central Mexico. The Zapotecs and their amazing city flourished between about 500 BC and 1521 AD.
Monte Alban was the capital city of the Zapotec Civilization, sited 1400 meters above sea level in the Valley of Oaxaca of central Mexico. The Zapotecs and their amazing city flourished between about 500 BC and 1521 AD.
National Geographic Expedition Week
The National Geographic Society is one of the oldest continuously publishing journals in the world. Founded in 1888, the society has as its main goals "exploration, research, and scientific discoveries'. These days they are best known for video explorations of scientific studies.
The National Geographic Society is one of the oldest continuously publishing journals in the world. Founded in 1888, the society has as its main goals "exploration, research, and scientific discoveries'. These days they are best known for video explorations of scientific studies.
The First Emperor: The Man Who Made China
In this exclusive video from the Discovery Channel special to be aired on Chinese New Year's, Sunday, January 29, 9-11 PM ET/PT Professor of Chinese at the University of California Jeffrey Riegel describes bronze weaponry excavated from Emperor Chin's burial chambers. With a brief appearance by curator Yuan Zhongyi.
In this exclusive video from the Discovery Channel special to be aired on Chinese New Year's, Sunday, January 29, 9-11 PM ET/PT Professor of Chinese at the University of California Jeffrey Riegel describes bronze weaponry excavated from Emperor Chin's burial chambers. With a brief appearance by curator Yuan Zhongyi.
Top Unknown Empires
Everyone knows of some great civilizations, either from World History classes in school, such as Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt. But there are so many interesting, less well-known civilizations! Here's an admittedly biased selection of some of them and why they are not to be forgotten.
Everyone knows of some great civilizations, either from World History classes in school, such as Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt. But there are so many interesting, less well-known civilizations! Here's an admittedly biased selection of some of them and why they are not to be forgotten.
Winter Celebrations: Celebrating the Shortest Day
Celebrating when winter brings us the shortest day of the year is something we as humans do all over the planet. Here's a selection of how we all party when the days grow short.
Celebrating when winter brings us the shortest day of the year is something we as humans do all over the planet. Here's a selection of how we all party when the days grow short.