Ancient Civilizations

Ancient civilizations and how they functioned throughout society.

The three main civilizations I am going to be covering today are Egyptian civilization, Mesopotamian civilization, and Harappan Civilization. On the map below you can start to get a better layout on where these civilizations are as well as see different major cities of these ancient civilizations.

Ancient Civilizations in North Africa and Southwest Asia

The first civilization I want to talk about is the Egyptian ancient civilization. Ancient Egyptian civilization is some of the oldest in the world. It was originally formed around 3100 BC along the Nile river (depicted in map) in North Africa. Egyptian civilization lasted over 3000 years until the conquest of Alexander the Great. Historians have split ancient Egypt into five different periods: Early Dynastic Period, Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, and finally the Late Period.

Ancient Egyptians were typically ruled by kings called Pharaohs; these Pharaohs were seen as divine embodiments of gods. Religion played a big rule in Egyptian everyday life and culture, they would worship many different types of God's and Goddesses. Some of the well-known deities include Ra, Osiris, Isis, and Anubis.

The decline of Ancient Egypt was a gradual process influenced by factors such as foreign invasions, internal strife, economic challenges, and changes in the political landscape.

Ancient Egypt

The next civilization we are going to be talking about is the ancient Mesopotamian civilization. Mesopotamian civilization was located between the Tigris and the Euphrates river in what is now modern day Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, and parts of Iran and Turkey. Mesopotamia was formed around 3500 BC and was made up by many city-states each with their own ruling government body. The Sumerians were among the earliest inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and they developed the first known writing system, cuneiform. Later, the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, conquered Sumer and formed the Akkadian Empire, creating one of the first multiethnic empires in history. Mesopotamians practiced a polytheistic religion where each city-state got their own patron deity. The civilization eventually faced challenges such as invasions, internal conflicts, and environmental changes. This would lead to its downfallThe region was conquered by various empires, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians.

The legacy of ancient Mesopotamia is profound, influencing many other civilizations in the region and beyond. The achievements in governance, law, writing, and other areas laid the foundation for future developments in the broader history of human civilization.

Ancient Mesopotamia

The final civilization we are going to talk about is the ancient Harappan civilization. The Harappan civilization, also know as the Indus Valley civilization, was formed around 2600 BC but settlement in this area is believed to have started around 7000 BC. Harappan civilization is separated into three phases: The Early Harappan Phase (3300-2600BC), the Mature Harappan Phase (2600-1900BC), and the Late Harappan Phase (1900-1300BC). The Harappan people were engaged in extensive trade, both within the civilization and with other contemporary cultures. Archaeological evidence suggests trade connections with Mesopotamia and other parts of the ancient world. They traded in a variety of goods, including textiles, pottery, metals, and possibly even exotic items like ivory. The reasons for the decline and eventual disappearance of the Harappan Civilization remain a subject of scholarly debate. Some proposed factors include environmental changes, such as the drying up of the Sarasvati River, natural disasters, or invasions by external groups. The civilization entered a period of decline around 1900 BCE.

Despite the decline the Harappan civilization left a lasting legacy on Indian tradition and culture. The Harappan laid out the base for many culture of that reason.

Ancient Harappan

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Mesopotamia

Ancient Harappan