What civilizations are there in the world? Five of the most highly developed ancient civilizations on earth that everyone should know about

The history of mankind can be compared to the biography of one family - over time, some members of the household leave, others are born, and everyone lives life in their own way, leaving certain memories of themselves. In the case of the global “family” of homo sapiens, entire civilizations act as its members - some of them manage to exist for thousands of years, and some are not allowed to last even several centuries, but one way or another, the place of the lost civilization is immediately taken by the next one - in This is the great justice and the great meaning of History.

1. Olmec civilization

The Olmecs are one of the oldest civilizations in Central America, with an outstanding culture and an unusually high level of development of science and technology for its time.

The “calling card” of the Olmecs are considered to be giant sculptures in the form of heads, located in modern Mexico. The heyday of the Olmec state occurred between 1500 and 400 BC; according to historians, this people achieved impressive successes in architecture, agriculture, medicine, writing and other branches of knowledge. The Olmecs had a fairly accurate calendar and a mathematical system that used the number “0,” which can be considered a real breakthrough.

Having existed for more than a thousand years, the Olmec civilization, for reasons still unclear, fell into decline, but other states arose on its ruins, such as...

2. Aztec Empire

The “Golden Age” of Aztec civilization is considered to be the period between 1428 and 1521 - at this time the empire covered vast territories where, according to some estimates, about 5 million people lived, while the population of its capital, Tenochtitlan, was located on the site of modern Mexico City was approximately 200 thousand.

The Aztecs borrowed a lot from the Olmec civilization, including religious beliefs, ritual games, traditions of human sacrifice, language, calendar and some achievements of science and culture. The Aztec Empire was one of the richest and most highly developed states of pre-Columbian America - it is enough to mention at least the complex aqueducts they built, designed to irrigate the famous floating gardens.

The isolation of the Aztec state from the rest of the world, and at the same time the state itself, was ended when the detachment of the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes was allowed to enter Tenochtitlan. One can imagine the surprise of the Spaniards, who were expecting a meeting with the “primitive barbarians” - a huge, rich city with wide streets and stunningly beautiful architecture appeared before their eyes.

Probably, greed, the envy of the Spaniards for the wealth of the townspeople, as well as European diseases and the modern weapons of the conquistadors led to the destruction

the Aztec state and the genocide of a great people, and just a few years later another Indian civilization fell victim to European invaders...

3. Inca Empire

The Inca state, which occupied the territory of modern Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador, existed for more than three centuries - from the beginning of the 13th to the end of the 16th, when the conquistadors came to the country under the command of the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro.

The capital of the Inca Empire was located in the mountains, on the site of the modern city of Cusco. Thanks to the unusually high level of technological development at that time, the Incas were able to build an effective agricultural system, turning mountain slopes into fertile fields and developing technologies for their irrigation. The highest skill of the Inca architects is evidenced by the buildings of the city of Machu Picchu and other structures that have survived to this day. Based on astronomical observations and their mathematical system, the Incas created an accurate calendar, they developed their own writing, and achieved notable successes in medicine and other sciences. Scientists are still puzzling how a people who did not have modern tools and devices managed to build architectural and engineering masterpieces.

Acquaintance with European civilization became a real tragedy for the Incas (as well as for other indigenous peoples of the American continent) - most of the population was destroyed by European diseases, the weapons of the conquistadors and the outbreak of civil strife between various tribes, and their cities were plundered.

This is the sad fate of a once powerful country, the size of which was comparable to the largest Eurasian states, for example, what we call...

4. Persian Empire

For several centuries, the Persian Empire was one of the main players on the world political stage. Possessing outstanding technologies and knowledge, the Persians built a network of roads unique in its branching and quality that connected the most developed cities of the empire, developed a sewerage system that had no analogues, and created an alphabet and numbers. They were the first to use the assimilation of conquered peoples instead of their extermination, trying to make the religious and cultural traditions of foreigners part of their culture, thanks to which they managed to create one of the largest and most influential states on the planet, such examples in the history of mankind are quite rare and one of them...

5. Macedonian Empire

This state, by and large, owes its existence to one person - Alexander the Great. His empire covered parts of modern Greece and Egypt, the territory of the former Achaemenid power and part of India. Alexander managed to subjugate many countries thanks to his talent as a commander and the high level of training of his troops. An important role in the creation of the empire was also played by the assimilation of the peoples of the occupied territories - marriages between soldiers of the Macedonian army and representatives of the local population.

After the death of Alexander the Great, the empire lasted for about three centuries. As a result of numerous conflicts between the heirs of the legendary conqueror, the country fell apart and most of it became part of another great state called...

6. Roman Empire

Roman civilization originated in city-states on the territory of modern Italy, the main of which was, of course, Rome. The empire was formed under the strong influence of Greek civilization - the Romans borrowed from the Greeks many ideas of state and social structure, which they were able to successfully implement.

knowledge, as a result of which one of the greatest empires in human history appeared on the world map. Under the rule of the Caesars, the disparate regions of Italy united, and due to the successes of Roman military leaders, the young state gradually turned into the most influential empire in the world, which included modern Italy, Spain, Greece, France, large parts of Germany and Great Britain, regions in North Africa (including - Egypt) and vast territories in the Middle East.

The Romans' victorious march around the world was hindered by the collapse of the empire into western and eastern parts. The history of the Western Roman Empire ended in 476, the Eastern Roman Empire, which is also called the Byzantine Empire, lasted almost a thousand years longer - until 1453.

The united Roman Empire was one of the largest states in the entire history of mankind; only a few giants surpassed it in size, for example...

7. Mongol Empire

The state, which covered the most extensive contiguous territory in history, was born at the behest of the great Mongol commander, whose name became practically synonymous with a successful policy of conquest. The history of Genghis Khan's empire lasted just over a century and a half, from 1206 to 1368 - during this time, the territories of modern Russia, India, China and some countries of Eastern Europe came under the rule of the first great khan and his successors, a total area of occupied lands was about 33 million km2. The military successes of the Mongols are explained, first of all, by the widespread use of cavalry - their opponents simply did not have a chance to cope with countless hordes of skilled horsemen who appeared as if from nowhere and smashed the infantry to smithereens.

The death of the Great Khan Ogedei, the third son of Genghis Khan, kept the Mongols from continuing their aggressive policy. Who knows - if not for a coincidence, perhaps Western Europe would have become acquainted with all the “delights” of the Mongol invasion. During the power struggle of several Mongol political leaders, the empire split into four states - the Golden Horde, the Ilkhanate in the Middle East, the Yuan Empire in China and the Chagatai ulus in Central Asia.

It is worth noting that the Mongols were not the brainless barbarians that Western historians often try to present them in their works. In the occupied territories, they introduced laws that were quite humane in relation to the indigenous population - for example, it was strictly forbidden to persecute local residents for their religious beliefs. So progressive domestic policy It would be worth learning, for example, from the elite of such a state as...

8. Ancient Egypt

Located in the Nile River valley, the state existed in various forms for more than 4 thousand years. Stories Egyptian civilization Countless studies, thousands of books, feature films and documentaries have been devoted, but scientists continue to argue about the technology and knowledge of the ancient Egyptians, which allowed them to create, for example, the famous pyramids of Giza and other wonders of architectural thought.

The heyday of Ancient Egypt is characterized by the highest level of development traditional religion, Egyptian language, medicine, architecture, agricultural technology, mathematics and various arts. Egypt is one of the three most ancient states on the planet, including Sumerian and

Indus civilization, the latter is also called...

9. Harappan civilization

The Indus civilization is not nearly as famous as Ancient Egypt, although both states were formed at approximately the same time - in the middle of the fourth millennium BC. The period of existence of the civilization, located on the territory of modern Pakistan, covers more than one and a half thousand years.

One of the distinctive features of the Harappan civilization can be considered the peaceful, creative policy of the authorities, both internal and external.

While the rulers of other countries waged wars and intimidated their own citizens, considering violence to be the main tool for strengthening power, the top officials of the Harappan state directed all their efforts to developing society, strengthening the economy and improving technology.

Archaeologists claim that during the study of the settlements of the Indus civilization, they discovered only a small amount of weapons, while there were completely no human remains with signs of violent death, which allows us to conclude that the Indus state was peaceful.

The Harappans lived in clean, well-planned cities with sewerage and water supply systems, and almost every house had a bathroom and toilet. Unfortunately, we know little about the Indus civilization, but the available information indicates that it was one of the most progressive countries of that era.

Goodwill and peacefulness were also characteristic of the people who created the state on the Caribbean islands - we know them under the name ...

10. Arawak

Arawak is the collective name for a whole group of peoples who inhabited the islands of the Caribbean Sea and the northern part of South America. It was the Arawaks who were the first Indian tribes to meet Christopher Columbus upon his arrival in the New World. According to various estimates, during the first expedition

Columbus, the number of island Arawaks ranged from 300 to 400 thousand people, although some sources give other figures - up to several million.

Possessing a developed culture, the Arawaks were very friendly to each other and to strangers - according to the testimony of expedition members, the aborigines shouted to European ships approaching their islands: “Tainos!”, which translated from the local dialect means “peace.” This is where the second common name for the island Arawak tribes came from - Taino.

The Tainos were engaged in trade, agriculture, fishing and hunting; unlike many other Indian tribes, they practically did not participate in military conflicts. The only people with whom the Arawaks were at enmity were the cannibals who lived in the territory of the modern state of Puerto Rico.

Arawak civilization is characterized by a highly organized structure of society, its hierarchy, as well as the population’s commitment to universal human values - for example, Arawak women had the right to refuse a man to marry, which was unheard of for the Indians, as well as for many Europeans of that time.

With the arrival of the conquerors, the Arawakan state quickly fell into decline - the population decreased significantly due to the lack of immunity to diseases of the Old World and armed conflicts with the Spaniards. Currently, the Tainos are considered extinct, although on some islands of the Caribbean the remains of the culture of this once highly developed civilization have been preserved.

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According to scientists, civilization is a stage of a social system, characterized by the development of agriculture and crafts, the existence of cities, social classes, writing, as well as the progressive and rational thinking of the population. The history of mankind dates back thousands of years, and during this period of time more than one highly developed and powerful civilization was born and died. What were the most ancient civilizations on Earth, how did they develop, what did they achieve and how did they influence modern world, you can find out from this article.

Sumer

The Sumerian civilization arose at the turn of 4 - 3 thousand BC. e. in the area between the Middle Eastern rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Here the Sumerians built several fortified cities, the economy of which was based on the cultivation of fertile lands irrigated by a network of irrigation canals.

Each Sumerian city was a separate independent state, with its own ruler and patron deity. 50-60 thousand people could live in them. A kind of capital was the city of Nippur, in which the sanctuary of Enlil, the main god of the Sumerian religion, was located.

Already in those distant times, the Sumerians:

built high stone walls and monumental buildings;
mined and used copper;
were familiar with the wheel and used it;
had advanced knowledge in the field of astronomy;
kept a historical chronicle.

But their main achievement is considered to be the invention of cuneiform - the earliest form of writing, the oldest example of which is a clay tablet, approximately dating back to 3.5 thousand BC. e. And, although the Sumerian civilization ceased to exist in the 24th century BC, conquered by the Babylonian kingdom, the memory of it was preserved in the circle of the zodiac, known to this day, as well as the division of the day into hours, minutes and seconds, and the year into seasons and months.

Ancient Egypt is the name of the historical region and cultural ancient civilization that stretched along the banks of the Nile in its lower part. Its history goes back 40 centuries. The development of civilization was ensured by annual river floods, leaving fertile silt on the soil, and a system of irrigation canals. They made it possible to grow grain crops in abundance on these lands, which made it possible to provide food not only for their own population, but also to establish trade with the Mediterranean countries.

In addition to agriculture, Egypt's fame was ensured by its then advanced construction technologies. They made it possible to organize the collective construction of huge structures that have survived centuries and become symbols of modern Egypt:

pyramids and Sphinx;
temple and palace complexes with monumental statues and colorful wall paintings.

Other achievements of the ancient Egyptians included an original writing system, achievements in mathematics, astronomy and practical medicine. The unique and mysterious culture of Egypt attracted people in ancient times, and it is still popular today.

The Indus or Harappan civilization existed on Earth in the 33-13th century BC. It developed in the Indus River valley and had the largest area of all then existing civilizations with a population of approximately 5 million people.

The fertility of the soil, plant diversity and natural moisture of the area contributed to the development of the main occupation of the Harrapans - agriculture. They lived in fortified cities, which were distinguished by proper planning, the presence of water supply and sewerage.

Already at that time the ancient Indians:

used copper and bronze tools and weapons;
knew how to make persistent mineral and vegetable dyes, aromatic substances and poisons;
made glass and artificial precious stones.

The most important achievements of the Harrapan civilization were the invention of one of the most convenient and widespread number systems - decimal - and the beginning of the recording of the Vedas - the most ancient known collection of sacred texts.

Chinese civilization has a long and interesting story, and its peculiarity is that it developed separately from other centers of ancient civilizations. The territory of this country has always been densely populated, and there were many warring kingdoms replacing each other.

But the history of the most powerful Chinese state began in the 3rd century BC. e., when the ruler of the kingdom of Qin united the 7 strongest kingdoms into a single empire and carried out radical reforms that affected all spheres of society. This time was marked by the development of agriculture and crafts, the creation of great philosophical, romantic, historical and religious works.

In subsequent centuries, China was still ruled by many local and alien dynasties, and periods of imperial power were more than once followed by periods of decline. However, the country always emerged from each crisis with dignity, managing to preserve its national identity and increase its cultural wealth.

Ancient China, like no other ancient civilization, gave the world many technologies and inventions that we still use today:

silk;
porcelain;
paper;
powder;
typography,

as well as dozens of other equally important inventions, without which the modern world would not have become what it is now.

This ancient country occupied a narrow strip of land on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, delimited from the rest of the land by the Lebanese Mountains. The very first settlements appeared on it approximately 3 thousand years BC. e.

Within a few centuries, cities stood in their place - Ugarid and Arvad in the northern part, Tire and Sidon in the southern, Byblos in the center. They were fortified with powerful walls and built with 2-story adobe or brick houses. Local residents did the following:

kept sheep and cows;
they grew grapes, olives and dates;
they traded olive oil, wine and wood from the famous Lebanese cedars, cypresses and oaks;
they made purple dye and dyed fabrics with it, which was popular among the nobility of all neighboring states.

The Phoenicians gave the world an alphabet, which became the ancestor of many modern alphabetic systems, as well as some other writing systems.

Modern humanity owes a lot to this ancient civilization, located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and on the islands of the Aegean Sea. Little Ancient Greece during its heyday stood out even among the powerful powers of its time - Egypt, Babylonia and Persia - and, above all, not for its conquests, but for its cultural influence on its contemporaries.

It was here that the fundamental concepts of philosophy, politics, social order, medicine, sports, literature, art and education arose precisely in the meaning as they are commonly understood today. Any sphere of modern arts (theater, architecture, painting, music, literature) or science, one way or another, experienced the influence of this enlightened state.

Ancient Greece in the minds of modern people is inextricably linked with:

majestic marble temples and statues;
fascinating mythology;
theater;
original frescoes and ceramics;
Olympic Games.

All this does Ancient Greece one of the most interesting and attractive ancient civilizations that ever existed on Earth. The progenitor of arts and science, she still attracts the attention of those who are passionate about the history of mankind.

The list of the world's most ancient civilizations would not be complete without the majestic ancient Rome. This is one of the largest empires in the entire history of the world, reaching the peak of its power in the 2nd century AD. e. and leaving a memorable mark in all the lands where her victorious legions were able to visit. These are stone fortifications and roads, aqueducts and bridges spanning local rivers. The construction of all these structures became possible after the Romans invented concrete and the arch as the main architectural detail.

There is something to see in the Eternal City itself. These are the famous ones:

The Colosseum and circuses where gladiator fights took place;
the Roman Forum, which was once the center of public life in the city;
The Pantheon, distinguished by the largest dome that ancient buildings had;
The Palatine is the most famous and largest hill of Rome, where its history began;
the huge baths of Caracalla and Diocletian and much more.

The heritage of Ancient Rome is well known - this is Roman law and the Latin language, as well as Christianity, which originated on the territory of the Roman Empire.

This is the most ancient civilization that arose on the South American continent. Its formation began in the 20th century BC. e., but it reached its greatest development in the classical period, which lasted from the 3rd to the 10th century AD. e. The heyday of Mayan culture did not last long - by the time the Spanish conquerors arrived, it was in complete decline.

On the territory of the Mayan Empire there were about 1 thousand populous cities with luxurious stone palaces, wide squares, and huge stepped pyramid temples. The cities were connected by a network of well-maintained paved roads with road stations and inns, some of which still exist today.

The most famous Mayan cities:

Chichen Itza;
Palenque;
Tikal;
Uxmal;
Copan;
Quirigua.

The ancient Mayans were excellent mathematicians and astronomers, as evidenced by the creation of the famous solar calendar. But the main gift that this ancient Indian civilization and those that followed it presented to the world were the plants used by the local population for food (corn, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, pumpkin, capsicum and vegetable peppers), as well as tobacco.

Video

What secrets do lost civilizations keep? Do we need answers to these mysteries? The Eternal Stones are reluctant to reveal their secrets. Will they help us figure out who we are now and who we will be tomorrow?
By presenting information about ten disappeared ancient civilizations, we hope that they will help.

1 Hyperborea (Country beyond the north wind - Boreas)

Mentions of a mysterious country beyond the North Pole go back centuries, to the seventh century BC. The purity of the Aryans' thoughts, their peacefulness and diligence were approved by higher powers, which taught the Hyperboreans to be able to do almost everything. Flying machines, beautiful buildings decorated with golden pyramids, communication with the gods made life long and happy.
They are looking for Hyperborea, trying to find the secrets of immortality and acquire supernatural abilities and knowledge. Whoever honors the book of knowledge of the Hyperboreans will rule the Universe. According to rumors, in 1920, a Russian expedition found evidence of the existence of the ancient civilization of the Hyperboreans on the Kola Peninsula. However, humanity never learned about the results of the research: all members of the expedition were destroyed by the NKVD. The materials of another, but already German, expedition to the North Pole were classified and then disappeared.
Where did Hyperborea go? Researchers are talking about a planetary catastrophe - an impact from space destroyed it. The survivors had to leave their native land. They moved south, bringing their knowledge to the world.

2 Atlantis (an island that sunk into eternity, 9 thousand 500 BC)

lives in history for about two thousand years. “Atlantis is not a fiction, but a real state of demigods,” said Plato. Since then, 50 points of the supposed site of the island's flooding have been plotted on the world map. According to Plato’s dialogues, the six-meter Atlanteans created a civilization that was too modern for its time. They knew how to melt metal, process any materials, and rise beyond the atmosphere in aircraft.
Why did Atlantis disappear? Gradually, the greed and pride of the Atlanteans reached their peak - the point of no return. The demigods began to degenerate. An angry Zeus decided to “nullify” the existence program of these demigods - the abyss of the sea became a way to solve the problem.
There are several versions that not all Atlanteans died. Some researchers are convinced that some of the inexplicable discoveries on Earth belong to the surviving Atlanteans, others are confident that the Atlanteans turned into dolphins, who today have received the status of individuals. The search continues.

3 Shambhala

Researchers are looking for another mythical country described in the legends of many peoples - Shambhala.
Some oriental scholars are confident in the existence of such a state back in the 3rd-2nd centuries. BC. People have lost their spirituality, Shambhala has ceased to be visible to them, but has not disappeared. Residents of a country of high civilization have enormous knowledge. They secretly help the best representatives of humanity to move the development of the planet in the right direction. Expeditions different countries looking for a mysterious country in the Himalayas. Finding the entrance to it means gaining the knowledge of the ancients, touching the wisdom of the creator, moving to a new stage of development. If the “City of the Gods” is found, the door to Shambhala will also be found. Researcher Ernst Muldashev claims the discovery of the “City of the Gods” in Tibet. The “door” into it looks very much like a human DNA molecule. Scientists called the find the “matrix of life.” According to legend, the door to Shambhala will be opened when humanity cleanses itself of material dependence, becomes selfless and spiritually enlightened - that is, ready to meet a higher civilization.

An unknown people appeared in 4 thousand BC in the Southern Mesopotamia on the lands of ancient Mesopotamia. Nobody knew where these people came from and where their historical roots were. They brought with them extraordinary knowledge in the field of arithmetic and geometry, and had writing using cuneiform. The Sumerians had a deep understanding of the structure of the solar system and artificial insemination. Legends and myths of other peoples are based on Sumerian mythology. They had knowledge and technology that came much later with the advent of computers. The Sumerians knew about the existence of the planet Nubiru, a hidden planet in the solar system. Linguists cannot identify a language that has common roots with Sumerian. Researcher Zecharia Sitchin, who deciphered the Sumerian language, is convinced that the Sumerians came to Earth from the planet Nubiru in search of gold. The best part of those who arrived returned to Nubiru, the rest stood at the origins of the emergence of civilization.
What happened to the Sumerians? It's a big mystery. About 2 million people disappeared overnight without leaving any traces behind. Where did the ancient Sumerians disappear to? Most likely, they mixed with other ethnic groups and formed a new people, the Babylonians, the Sumerians disappeared, leaving knowledge to people.

One of the first civilizations in Europe. It appeared several centuries earlier than the first settlements of Egypt and Mesopotamia. It existed in 6-3 thousand BC. on the territory of the Danube-Dnieper interfluve on the site of modern Ukraine, Romania and Moldova.
A well-functioning economic mechanism and the production of unique painted pottery were combined with high spirituality, adherence to traditions, and a passion for magic.
This ancient civilization is interesting for its strange custom of burning its own villages every 60-80 years. Excavations of ancient settlements showed that every family had a set of magical symbols: swastikas, crosses, spirals. Yin-Yang symbols were also found. Scientists cannot yet explain how these symbols could be used if the existence of China in Europe was learned only several thousand years later. Civilization ceased to exist in 3 thousand BC. All versions of the possible disappearance are not supported by evidence.

Central America - from here in the 2nd century. BC. The Mayan peoples began to descend onto the plains and created a Great Empire. Temples, pyramids, writing, a perfect calendar, knowledge of astronomy, developed agriculture are the main achievements of the Mayan people known to us. This civilization is one of the most mysterious on the planet. Perfect scientific discoveries have survived to this day as predictions, which, however, have a real basis. The highest flowering of civilization was its golden age of the 7th-10th centuries. However, the Mayans mysteriously left the cities forever, where the Mayans disappeared is unknown. The next stage for the remainder of the Mayan civilization was the arrival of Europeans, and everyone knows how it ended.

The powerful Hittite state existed in the 7th-8th century BC. in Asia Minor. Historical sources contain information that the Hittites came from the Balkan Peninsula, founding several city-states. They began to develop crafts, build roads, etc. According to another version, people from the Balkans were warlike conquerors who conquered the state of the Hatti peoples that already existed in that territory and took its name. At the peak of its power, the Hittite state retreated from the political arena. The unexpected disappearance of a strong state still causes a lot of assumptions and hypotheses among experts. Another mystery was added in 1963. In Turkey, the largest underground city to date was accidentally discovered in one of the villages. Its construction began by the Hittites. This metropolis amazes with its thoughtfulness and scale. 12 floors of the city could simultaneously accommodate 50 thousand. Human.
How could the underground civilization of the Hittites exist undetected? What other mysteries will this unsolved mystery present to scientists?

Only a satellite can see 700 geometric shapes, 30 images of animals and birds, thirteen thousand stripes and lines left to us by an ancient vanished civilization. The time of its existence is the period from 300 AD. to 800 AD
On google maps it looks like this
How were drawings made on the ground of such impressive size that do not disappear over time? For what purpose, by whom and to whom was the information transmitted in such an amazing way? From a scientific point of view, these questions remain unanswered to this day. The Nazca civilization disappeared in the eighth century. The reason for the disappearance is unknown. The alien version of the existence and disappearance of civilization is indirectly confirmed by a strange phenomenon - scientists have recorded the release of energies of an unknown nature in the form of a cosmic ray, descending up to five times a year onto a pattern of a spiral twisted in different directions. Added to this is another mystery: pyramids were found in the soil of the Nazca desert, which cannot be studied, because... Excavations are temporarily prohibited here.

Appeared in the Gulf of Mexico 3000 years ago. No traces of the origins of this civilization have been found. The Olmecs did not leave any information about their language, race, or religion. Only the ruins of pyramids, majestic sculptures, children's toys and huge stone heads of representatives of the Negroid race on the plateau were discovered. They are the main mystery of the Olmec civilization.

A sensational discovery in South Africa could redefine the entire history of mankind. The remains of a metropolis have been discovered, which testify to the existence of a civilization, perhaps the oldest on earth. Until now, it was believed that there were no developed ancient civilizations in Africa - only savages and cannibals lived there. Radiocarbon dating studies of stones indicated that the age of the buildings was from 160 thousand to 200 thousand years BC. In these places, ancient gold mines were previously found in large quantities, which in itself indicated the possibility of the existence of an ancient civilization here. But the found metropolis removed all doubts - the oldest civilization of Africa and, apparently, the world was found.

Traces of disappeared civilizations appear in different places on the planet. Any reports of new discoveries of ancient civilizations give humanity a chance to change the future by studying and understanding its past.

To judge ancient civilizations, it is necessary to know the framework of this historical period of human life on the Planet. And also what previous generations prepared for this transition. The framework of the Ancient World opens from the prehistoric period (primitive communal system) to the beginning of the Middle Ages in Europe. In India and China they were different.

So, Europe (Greek and Roman history) in classical antiquity or antiquity. It began in 776 BC (another version is based on the founding of Rome in 753). The end of antiquity is the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD), by other standards - from the advent of the religion of Islam (622), or the beginning of the reign of Charlemagne (742 or 748). At least, from his name the word “king” began to circulate around the world - from the Latin Carolus.

Prehistoric time was not barren in the geopolitical sense, the improvement of tools. The process received powerful development in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Let us remember that the Persian empire was “forged” by the Iron Age. Below we present it, as well as the most ancient civilizations of the world (list). But first, let’s get acquainted with the concept of “empire”.

What is an empire?

Any public education is built according to a certain model, which must meet a number of important points. The presence of a capital (titular) people or nation, the boundaries of a territory, the main governing bodies of all life, structures capable of reliably protecting the people.

A country may have an emperor in power, but that does not make it an empire. A state, even a very large one, is different from an empire. An empire must be multinational and unite many cultures, the advantages of a separate part being applied throughout the empire, even if they are at different stages of human development.

Yes, empires also have a negative character. But history shows that it is precisely such supranational formations that give a gigantic impetus to progress. Even in the Middle Ages. In such cases, all the achievements of the minds of many peoples of the empire are multiplied, and they are “head and shoulders” higher than in those countries that are limited by their territory.

Persia: the oldest civilized empire

And in the 21st century, Persia is synonymous with the state of Iran. In general, the word “Iran” is the modern name of Ariana, the country of the Aryans. This was the second name of the Persians. In the six hundred years BC, few people knew about the Persian tribes. Even where they were - in the Middle East, and where they thoroughly created their ethnic home. At the same time, the most ancient civilizations of the world remained a mystery for a long time for historiographers of all times, the list of which is as follows:

Civilizations of Mesoamerica: Mayans, Aztecs;
Civilizations of South America: Chivnu, Nazca, Incas;
Creto-Mycenaean (Minoan);
Ancient India;
Ancient Phenicia;
Ancient China;
Celtic, Scythian;
Ancient Assyria;
Babylonian Kingdom;
Hittite;
Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

But let's return to the story about Persia. Sources characterized the Aryans as almost gigantic people, with great physical strength and endurance. After all, they constantly had to fight both with a wild climate and with wild peoples who did not give them peace. This forced the Persians to constantly migrate across the mountains and steppes.

Persipolis is the capital of Ancient Persia. Open-air museum

But as soon as they united as a people, left their nomadism and began to create a state, those qualities awakened in them that prevailed throughout the Middle Ages throughout the civilized world. Luxury in clothes, jewelry in jewelry, food from the nobility is overseas in the literal sense of the word. Fish was brought from distant seas, fruits from the territories of what is now Syria and Iraq.

Polygamy and even marriage to close relatives and concubines were developed, as was the case in Ancient Egypt.

Soon the Persians, who rose from their knees, embarked on the path of conquest. This was the beginning of the creation of the Persian Empire - one of the oldest unstable state entities. The territories from the Araks to Elbrus were the first to be captured; the Median peoples living there submitted under hostile pressure. They were followed by campaigns and the expansion of new lands. The Persian king Cyrus II was able to create a powerful army for those times and prepared it to seize Babylonian territory.

Already before this campaign in the Middle East, everyone saw a new military force that had claims to be changing the geopolitical structure of this already troubled region.

In order to repel the Persians, the quarrelsome Babylonians and Egyptians reconciled. They understood the emerging danger for both countries. Babylonia and Egypt began to prepare to repel the aggression of their closest neighbor. But this did not help: Babylon was quickly captured. Cyrus went further to the Asian steppes, where he died.

His two successors - Cambyses and Darius - continued the work begun. They annexed Egypt, which became a military-administrative province of the Persians (satrapy). Most likely, following the example of the Persians both in Rome and in Ottoman Empires such captured territories became vassal provinces.

The Persian monopoly extended over thousands of kilometers from west to east. Almost the entire world of civilization came under its leadership by the 4th century BC. According to modern names, these were the Middle East, all post-Soviet Asian states, Balkan countries, and part of the Caucasus. The only place the Persians could not reach was Russia. Their mighty empire was broken by Alexander the Great (Iskandar). Once upon a time the Persians captured and burned Greek Athens, now the commander took revenge on the Iranians for this: he burned their Persepolis.

Cultural heritage of the empire

The Iranians benefited from the capture of Babylonia by adopting the achievements of Mesopotamian civilization. Craftsmen quickly mastered the methods of processing bronze and making various items from it for the army and everyday life. Archaeologists excavated ancient cities, studied artifacts and appreciated the contents.

The Greco-Roman conquest of Persia was a disaster for her. The Empire is used to ruling, not bowing. The cities built by the conquerors became alien to the Persians both in architecture and religion. But even after the expulsion of the Greeks by the Parthians, Greek motives continued to operate. The same thing was built as it was under the Greeks. Coins were minted with Greek inscriptions. The traditions of local culture are forgotten.

Just like the commandment of the Iranian priest and prophet Zarathushtra: do not worship idols, but only the symbol of deity - the unquenchable flame. Later Greek architecture here was called "Dragon buildings".

The Greeks, having become familiar with the rules of the administrative structure and government of the Persian empire, were amazed by their ability to provide for everything and make it convenient. The organization was considered a high achievement of the Persian monarchy.

The empire was divided into provinces and satrapies. Everything was subordinated to the collection of taxes in the occupied territories. She existed on the funds received. But at the same time, the national and other characteristics of the country were taken into account. The rule of local kings and the presence of special people were allowed, to whom entire cities were given for lifelong control and ownership. Local rules, measurement systems, languages, and cultural principles continued to apply.

Only the Sassanid dynasty tried to revive what was lost. But it turned out the other way around. It was all theological through and through, and everything good from the Greeks was destroyed. Fire altars appear to replace the broken Athenian sculptures.

But there were also useful beginnings. Palaces and royal parks are being built. The Greeks called parks “paradis” - paradise. Monumental architecture and decorations appeared, which became the predecessors of Muslim ornament. Iran and the adjacent imperial provinces were dotted with amazing roads for those times - in the mountains, in the valleys. They even laid it to Sinop (northern Türkiye), crossing all of Asia Minor. The Persians adopted coin circulation from the annexed Lydia.

Oddly enough, the Persians made the capital of their empire the city of Ctesiphon, built by other tribes near the fallen Babylon (present-day Iraq).

Irrigation is being improved: many kilometers of water pipelines made of durable clay pipes (“karizas”) are laid underground. A dozen steps along this line, wells were installed to clean the water pipeline from silt. This raised the level of agriculture, and the cultivation of cotton and sugar cane, fruits and berries began. Several types of fabrics were produced that were in demand outside the empire.

The second, Sasanian, empire lasted longer than the first, but on a reduced territory. And she also lost strength in the fight against the Romans and Byzantines. The attacking Arabs, the spreaders of Islam, brought an end to the empire.

Age of Axial Civilizations

It originates at the border of the second - first millennia BC. The circuit completed the collapse of one of the most powerful civilizations of the Middle Ages - the Roman Empire.

Or the era of the New Kingdom of Egypt. The pharaohs crossed the borders of their country and conquered the nearest tribal territories, individual cities and even the Libyan desert. Nubia was an independent territory and supplied slaves to the north before joining Egypt. The conquerors included it in their normal economy. The Nubians, residents of Ethiopia, became familiar with Egyptian culture.

Both the Roman, Egyptian, and Byzantine civilizations at the beginning of their inception were located on a wide coastal strip from Gibraltar to the Yellow Sea and on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. It was not because of natural barriers that they did not go deeper. On the strip lay the ancient civilizations of Crete and Mycenae, Egypt, Indus and Junguo (China). Here were all the conditions for the existence of future empires: ancient but stable logistics both along the coast and by sea, administration, military formations. It was a treasury of all human achievements. Use them, then a state will arise and develop with everything necessary for its further civilization.

Empires, like states and people, went through the same path: birth, development and death. Not a single empire became immortal. They died from the sum of significant factors. For example, the Roman Empire was threatened by the Ottomans, who were strong at that time. Hundreds of historians have proven various reasons for the fall of this civilization: from barbarian tribes to the ruling elite, which was rotting in its preferences and destroyed the commanders. But she died... from mosquitoes. It was a strong and terrible enemy of the empire, which knew no defeat.

Itchy and unknown enemy

Only modern doctors, biologists, botanists, physiologists, with the help of DNA, revealed the terrible imperial secret. The enemy is the malaria mosquito, which carries the deadly microbe Plasmodium Falciparum. But a mosquito itself without bacilli is harmless, but a bacillus without a carrier will die. Only when a female mosquito drinks the blood of a malaria patient does it become a carrier of the infection.

Paradox: the troops of both Roman empires were already collapsing from tropical fever. And the Romans, who knew about the danger, did not know how to recover from it. The wetlands bred “interventionists” daily and hourly.

At the dawn of mankind, the southern part of Mesopotamia, which in the classical era was called Babylonia, was inhabited by the very first civilization on Earth. Nowadays this is the territory of modern Iraq, stretching from Baghdad to the Persian Gulf, with a total area of about 26 thousand square meters. km.

The place has a very dry and hot climate with scorched and weathered, low-fertility soils. A river plain devoid of stones and minerals, swamps covered with reeds, a complete absence of wood - this is exactly what this land was like more than three thousand years ago. But the people who inhabited this territory and were known throughout the world as the Sumerians were endowed with a decisive and enterprising disposition and an extraordinary mind. He turned a lifeless plain into a blooming garden and created what would later be called nothing less than “the first civilization on Earth.”

Origin of the Sumerians

There is no reliable information about the origin of the Sumerians. Until now, it is difficult for historians and archaeologists to say whether they were the indigenous inhabitants of Mesopotamia or came to these lands from outside. The second option is considered the most likely. Presumably the representatives came from the Zagros mountains, or even Hindustan. The Sumerians themselves did not write anything about their origins. In 1964, a proposal was first made to consider this issue from various aspects: linguistic, racial, ethnic. After this, the search for truth finally deepened into linguistics, into elucidating the genetic connections of the Sumerian language, which is currently considered isolated.

The Sumerians, who founded the first civilization on Earth, never called themselves that. In fact, this word denotes the territory, the south of Mesopotamia, while the Sumerians called themselves “black-headed”.

Sumerian language

Linguists define Sumerian as an agglutinative language. This means that the formation of forms and derivatives occurs by adding unambiguous affixes. The Sumerian language consisted mainly of monosyllabic words, so it’s hard to even imagine how many there were, sounding the same, but differing in meaning. In ancient sources, according to scientists, there are about three thousand of them. Moreover, more than 100 words are used only 1-2 times, and the most frequently used are only 23.

As already mentioned, one of the main features of the language is the abundance of homonyms. Most likely, there was a rich system of tones and laryngeal sounds, which is difficult to read in the graphics of clay tablets. In addition, the first civilization on Earth had two dialects. Literary language(eme-gir) was used most widely, and the priests spoke a secret dialect (eme-sal), inherited from their ancestors and, most likely, not a tone one.

Sumerian was the intermediary language and was used throughout southern Mesopotamia. Therefore, its bearer was not necessarily an ethnic representative of this ancient people.

Writing

The question of whether the Sumerians created writing remains controversial. However, the fact is that they improved it and transformed it into cuneiform. They greatly valued the art of writing and attribute its appearance to the very beginning of the creation of their civilization. It is likely that at the dawn of the history of writing, it was not clay that was used, but another, more easily destroyed material. Therefore, a lot of information is lost.

The very first civilization on earth BC, to be fair, created its own writing system. The process was long and complex. Is the gazelle depicted by an ancient artist art or a message? If he did this on a stone, in places where there are many animals, then this will be a valid message for his comrades. It says: “There are a lot of gazelles here,” which means there will be a good hunt. The message could well include several drawings. For example, add a lion, and the warning already sounds: “There are many gazelles here, but there is danger.” This historical stage is considered the first step towards the creation of writing. Gradually, the drawings were transformed, simplified and began to be schematic in nature. In the picture you see how this transformation took place. People have noticed that it is easier to make impressions on clay with a reed stick rather than paint. All the curves are gone.

The ancient Sumerians - the first civilization on earth that found its own - consisted of several hundred signs, with 300 being the most used. Most of them had several similar meanings. Cuneiform was used in Mesopotamia for almost 3,000 years.

Religion of the people

The work of the pantheon of Sumerian gods can be compared to an assembly, headed by a supreme “king”. Such a meeting was further divided into groups. The main one is known as the “Great Gods” and consisted of 50 deities. It was she, according to the Sumerians, who decided the destinies of people.

According to mythology, it was created from clay mixed with the blood of the gods. The universe consisted of two worlds (upper and lower), separated by earth. It is interesting that already in those days the Sumerians had a myth about the global flood. In addition, a poem has reached us that tells about the creation of the world, individual episodes of which very closely intersect with the main Christian shrine - the Bible. For example, the sequence of events, in particular the creation of man on the sixth day. There are heated debates about such a connection between pagan religion and Christianity.

Culture

Sumerian culture is one of the most interesting and vibrant among the other peoples who inhabited Mesopotamia. By the third millennium it had reached its peak. People lived during this period and were actively engaged in cattle breeding, farming, and fishing. Gradually, exclusively agriculture replaced handicrafts: pottery, foundry, weaving and stone-cutting industries developed.

The characteristic features of the architecture are: the erection of buildings on artificial embankments, the distribution of rooms around the courtyard, the division of walls with vertical niches and the introduction of color. Two of the most striking monuments of monumental construction of 4 thousand BC. e. - temples in Uruk.

Archaeologists have found quite a lot of art objects: sculptures, remains of images on stone walls, vessels, metal products. All of them are made with great skill. What is the magnificent helmet made of pure gold worth (pictured)! One of the most interesting inventions of the Sumerians is printing. They depicted people, animals, and scenes from everyday life.

Early Dynastic period: Stage 1

This is the time when genuine cuneiform was already created - 2750-2600 BC. e. This period is characterized by the existence of a large number of city-states, the center of which was a large temple economy. Outside them there were large family communities. The main productive labor lay with the so-called temple clients, who were deprived of property rights. The spiritual and political elite of society already existed - the military leader and priest and, accordingly, their immediate circle.

The ancient people had an extraordinary mind and a certain inventive talent. In those distant times, people had already come to the idea of irrigation, having studied the possibility of collecting and directing the muddy waters of the Euphrates and Tigris in the right direction. By enriching the soil in the fields and gardens with organic matter, they increased its productivity. But large-scale work, as you know, requires a large workforce. The first civilization on earth was familiar with slavery, moreover, it was legalized.

It is reliably known about the existence of 14 Sumerian cities during this period. Moreover, the most developed, prosperous and cultic place was Nippur, where the temple of the main god, Enlil, was located.

Early Dynastic period: Stage 2

This period (2600-2500 BC) is characterized by military conflicts. The century began with the defeat of the ruler of the city of Kish, which supposedly caused the invasion of the Elamites - the inhabitants of the ancient state on the territory of modern Iran. In the south, a number of city-nomes united into a military alliance. There was a tendency towards centralization of power.

Early Dynastic period: Stage 3

At the third stage of the Early Dynastic period, 500 years after the moment when the first civilization appeared on Earth (according to archaeologists), the growth and development of city-states occurs, and stratification and increasing social contradictions are observed in society. On this basis, the struggle of the rulers of the nomes for power intensifies. One military conflict followed another in pursuit of the hegemony of one city over all. In one of the ancient Sumerian epics, dating back to 2600 BC. e., talks about the unification of Sumer under the rule of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk. After another two hundred years, most of the state was conquered by the king of Akkad.

The growing Babylonian Empire absorbed Sumer by the middle of the second millennium BC. e., and Sumerian lost its status as a spoken language even earlier. However, for several thousand years it was preserved as a literary text. This is the approximate time when the Sumerian civilization ceased to exist as a political integral formation.

Very often you can find information that the mythical Atlantis is the first civilization on earth. The Atlanteans who inhabited it are the ancestors of modern people. However, most of the scientific world calls this fact nothing more than fiction, a beautiful story. Indeed, every year information about the mysterious continent acquires new details, but at the same time does not have any historical support by facts or archaeological excavations.

In this regard, the opinion is increasingly heard that the first civilization on earth arose in the fourth millennium BC, and these were the Sumerians.