Ancient History/Contents

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Introduction

The study of ancient history covers the period between the origins of human beings's ancestors, and either the fall of Rome and Han-dynasty China, or the rise of Islam.

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Chapter 1 - World Geography

One of the most difficult part of ancient history to study is that the physical geography of the planet is largely the same. However, the political boundaries are unfamiliar to many who are learning for the first time.

A map of the eastern hemisphere in 323 CE.
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Chapter 2 - Human Evolution

Before there were cities or writing, human beings lived on Earth. How they lived, and how they got to be human, are matters of intense, passionate debate. This chapter examines the scientific perspective on the origins of human beings in the deep past, between three million years and ten thousand years before the present-day.

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Chapter 3 - The Ancient Near East

The Ancient Near East is considered the cradle of civilization. It was the first to practice intensive year-round agriculture; it produced the first writing system, invented the potter's wheel and then the vehicular- and mill wheels, created the first centralized governments, law codes and empires, as well as introducing social stratification, slavery and organized warfare, and it laid the foundation for the fields of astronomy and mathematics.

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Chapter 4 - Egypt

From 5000BCE up till modern times, explore the history of the pyramids.

The Great Pyramid at Giza
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Chapter 5 - China

See how the country of over 1 billion people began.

Terra cotta soldiers of Xi'an
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Chapter 6 - Ancient India

Giving rise to Hinduism and Buddhism.....

An artifact known as the "Priest-King," unearthed at Mohenjo-daro.
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Chapter 7 - Ancient Greece

Western civilization today views the culture of ancient Greece as one of its early ancestors. From the Greeks come ideas about democracy and freedom, theater, literature, science and ethics still considered important in the Western world today. The truth may be more complicated.

The Athenian Parthenon.
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Chapter 8 - Ancient Rome

From a small village to one of the most powerful empires and through the eventual collapse.

The façade of the Flavian Amphitheatre (also called the Colosseum)
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Chapter 9 - Iran

Insert summary here

Angro Mainyus devoring the Sacred Gayomaretan.
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Chapter 10 - Islam

Borrowing from the civilizations that went before, while adding new religious and cultural elements on top of them, Islam sprung from the Arabian peninsula in the early 8th century CE, to create a culture that served as a bridge between China, India, Africa and Europe.

The Great Mosque of Damascus.
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Chapter 11 - The Americas

North and South America were not barren. In Central America, the Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs established proud civilizations that endured through successive periods of challenge and change. The Mound-Builder culture of central North America is just coming to light, while the Inca and other civilizations of South America show an intensive effort to use and manage the landscape.

The Aztec calendar.
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Chapter 12 - Africa

Though often derided as the "dark continent", Africa developed several important civilizations of its own, even discounting Egypt. Mali, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zimbabwe all hold the cradles of ancient civilizations within them.

The ruins of Great Zimbabwe.
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Chapter 13 - Polynesia

As people spread out across the Pacific to the islands both small and great, they carried with them foods, technology and culture that diversified and changed, even as it continued to unite across thousands of miles of open water.

Moai statues of Easter Island.
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References

Glossary, Bibliography, Atlas, Gazeteer, selected biographies... Everything necessary to help make your understand of ancient history more complete.


[edit] Modules not worked into TOC

[edit] Asia

[edit] East Asia

[edit] South East Asia

[edit] Europe