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Evolution of human was characterised by series of events, this spans over thousand to millions of years. A typical family(ies) way of life is isolated living in sparsely groups; the idea of people living together in harmony and together aside family circle, tolerating each other in this larger groups with a common and general idea. This made group living and group acceptance a more acceptable way of living than isolated lifestyles.
Then real societies was birthed, and it grew into a civilized lifestyle. This is still a major topic of discussion and research works between scholars, anthropologists and History students on how humanity was able to achieve this psychology level and logics which brought developments to the entire human race.
Rama, Altantis? Lemuna, Rama, might not be myths as debunked by some scholars, this civilizations could have existed but could be also be pure fantasies, stories and legends.
In this article; I would like to discuss some of the Civilizations that had existed. Fact is that, today's civilizations metamorphosed from these old civilizations that were documented in the history of human, starting in no particular order, below are some of my selected oldest civilization recorded.
MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION 3500BC - 500BC
Between 3500 BC to 500 BC, this Civilization existed and was originally located in the North-east by the Zagros Mountains and Arabian Plateau by the South-east with its current location between Turkey, Iran and Syria. Ancient Greet is the name which means Land between Rivers and it was argued to be the first civilization on the earth since the evolution of man. Though the idea of Agriculture came around 8000 BC and Art, animals taming for food/farm work. These are part of human culture and survival instinct and not civilization like the Mesopotamians, there was no other recorded evidence of early civilization before the Mesopotamian advancement.
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION 2000BC - 1900BC
This is also as early as the Mesopotamian Civilization, the Indus Valley Civilization occured between 2600 BC to 1900 BC which was originally situated around the Indus River Basin. Present day location is North-east Afghanistan to Pakistan and North-west India. It is popular because of it's most widely spread civilization which covers 1.25KM, considered as one of the three earliest old World civilization, also named after the excavation sites where they were found; "Harappan and Mohenjo-Daro Civilization". Rich in arts and crafts with great accuracy in mass, time and length measurement, was part of the distinctive features of the Indus people based on the technologically advanced and sophisticated culture found in the remains.
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CIVLIZATION 3100 BC - 2686BC
The Civilization of this Era was characterised by the construction of Pyramids in 3100 BC to 2686 BC. The Bank of the Nile River was the original location but now in the present day Egypt and this civilization is considered to be one of the oldest and culturally rich civilizations ever recorded. The Pharaohs, The Sphinx were part of the spectacular characteristics combined with the Prodigions cultures of the then Egyptians. From conventional Egyptian Artefacts, the first Pharaoh unified lower and upper Egypt out of the history of this ancient and stable kingdom which has its periods of relatively unstable tenures in between. Pharaoh like Rameses the Great Ruled with absolute power that made other civilizations e.g Nubian Civilization subjects under it. Solar Calendars, Hieroglyphics, Mummies that preserves ancient Pharaohs to the present day were major discoveries from this Old World in the present day.
MAYAN CIVILIZATION 2600BC - 900AD
Originally located around present day Yucatan, now in current locations; Yucatan, campeche, Tabasco Quintana Roo, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador and Guatemala. Complex astronomy understanding was the major highlight of this Era that flourished in Central America from 2600 BC to 900 AD. With a booming population of about 19 Million, the Mayans already devised their way of writing and they used to create solar calendars carved in stones. According to Mayan believe, the World was created in 3114 BC August and was supposed to expire by 2012 December 21st. The collapse of such an advance civilization with such a population in the 8th to 9th Centuries remains a mystery, they built larger Pyramids than the Egyptians just like the Aztecs; showing how culturally richer compared to contemporary civilizations. Luckily, there are few surviving Mayan Descendants dispersed all over central America.
THE CHINESE CIVILIZATION 1600 BCE - 1046 BCE
This civilization that took place between 1600BCE to 1046BCE was characterised by the invention of Silk and Paper. Originally located by the Yellow River and Yangtze Region but currently located in the country of China, and it is also popularly referred to as the "Han China". They gave the world very useful inventions like the Cannon, Paper, Gun Powder, Silk, Compass, alcohol etc. The Yellow River was where the entire Chinese civilization peaked because it was the base of the earliest Chinese Dynasties. These Chinese Dynasties is another Historical Topic on its own that would be Published later on, the end of the Qimg dynasty in the year 1912AD ended over four Millennium ancient Chinese history of civilization with the Xunhai revolution.
ANCIENT GREEK CIVILIZATION 2700BC - 1500BC
This was between 2700 BC to 1500 BC and originally situated in Sicily, Italy; North Africa and far west as France with present location at Greece. This civilization was characterized by the concept of Democracy and the Senate with Arsenate Olympics and this is a civilization dubbed as the most influential civilization in the present day. Modern Physics, Geometry, Biology, Whatnot, Archimedes, Pythagoras, Alexander the Great, Aristotle, Plato Euclid were all important names in the history books; these and many more ancient Greeks came into limelight during this period. Because of the vastness of history of Civilization that had been dispersed into the history of mankind; Historians had sub categorised them into;
Classical Period; is the long period of cultural history centred on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world. It is the period in which Greek and Roman society flourished and wielded great influence throughout Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.
Archiac period; the period in Greek history lasting from the eighth century BC to the second Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC,[1] following the Greek Dark Ages and succeeded by the Classical period. The period began with a massive increase in the Greek population[2] and a series of significant changes which rendered the Greek world at the end of the eighth century as entirely unrecognisable as compared to its beginning.
Hellenistic Period; covers the period of Mediterranean history between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the emergence of the Roman Empire as signified by the Battle of Actinium in 31 BC and the subsequent conquest of Ptolemaic Egypt the following year.
PERSIAN CIVILIZATION 550 BC - 465 BC
Situated originally in the North of Turkey, West of Egypt and through the Mesopotamia to the Indus River in the East from the year 550 BC to 465 BC now in the modern day Iran. Also characterised by the concept of the Senate and Democracy in Governing the people with ancient Olympic. One a very Powerful empire in the World for a short while before it's collapse; 200 years to be precise and conquering over 2 Million Square Miles from part of East India, Parts of Greece and Southern Part of Egypt. This was achievable because of the Persian wise war plans and leaders, with military strength. Alexander the Great in the year 530BC brought the entire Persian Kingdom to its knees, dismantling its 200 years civilization and its ruthless expansion that occupied central Asia, Egypt and some part of Europe.
ROMAN CIVILIZATION 550BC - 465BC
Currently located in Rome, but originally situated in the Village of the Latini around 550 BC to 465 BC, referred to also as the most powerful ancient civilization which came into view in the 6th Century BC. It was expelled by The Barbarians in Millions from the Eastern and Northern Sides of Europe because it was too large to be under a single Rule. Rome was ruled by Kings in the early years and after just 7 years of those kings; the Roman politicians took over authority with senate rulings similar to that of the days of the Ancient Greek and Persian Civilization Democracy. Roman Civilization brought to lime light some of the greatest emperors such as Trajan, Augustus and Julius Caesar, it was said that this particular civilization was built mostly on Myth and Legend!
AZTECS CIVILIZATION 1345AD - 1521AD
This civilization came into existence somehow around 1345AD to 1521 AD. Currently located in the Mexican territories but originally found in the South-Central region of Pre-columbian Mexico. A civilization that saw Nahuatl becoming a major language, several Aztec Gold still missing/hidden in caves all over Central America when the Spanish invaded the territory to wipe out all pagan and human sacrifice of the Aztec people. Tenochtitlan was the military power of "MEXICA" in the valley of Mexico alliance that was made up of the Tlacopan, Texoco and Tenochtitlan; three rival Clans that forged a force which could not stop the Spaniards from coming to extablish their expansion plans led by "Hernan Cortes" in the year 1521 which led to the fall of the Aztec civilization and empire.
INCA CIVILIZATION 1438AD - 1532AD
Last on the list is the Inca Civilization around 1438 AD and 1532 AD which was originally in the Present day Peru and currently in between Chile, Ecuador and Peru. This civilization was characterised by its vastness as an Empire in South America during the Pre-Columbian Era, with a massive military and administrative/political power; the Civilization flourished and was well established. "Sapa Inca" was their King which means the Sun Child. Th Incas were devout Sun god followers called Inti, then an Emperor called Pachacuti established this small villages into a Puma Shaped City. The Machu Picchu and the city of Cusco is all that still stands till date which was built by the great Inca Builders
ROUNDING OFF
These are just selected civilizations, there are other civilizations that existed in history, selected on the merit of making wider impact in the history of present day advancement with their rich and impacting cultures which had influences on the present civilization in several ways.