Ancient Civilizations

Ancient Civilizations

• Mesopotamia:
  • Cradle of civilization (3500 BCE)
  • Inventions: wheel, writing (cuneiform), laws (Code of Hammurabi)
  • Empires: Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians
• Ancient Egypt:
  • Pyramids (Giza, 2580 BCE), mummification, hieroglyphics
  • Pharaonic dynasties (Old, Middle, New Kingdoms)
  • Contributions: medicine, architecture, mathematics
• Ancient Greece:
  • City-states: Athens, Sparta, Corinth
  • Philosophy: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
  • Contributions: democracy, theater, Olympics
• Ancient Rome:
  • Republic (509 BCE) and Empire (27 BCE)
  • Laws: Twelve Tables, Justinian Code
  • Contributions: architecture, engineering, Latin language

Medieval Period

• Fall of the Roman Empire:
  • 5th century CE, decline and fragmentation
  • Rise of barbarian kingdoms, feudalism
• Christianity:
  • Spread throughout Europe, monasteries, Crusades
  • Papal authority, schisms (East-West)
• Feudalism:
  • Social hierarchy: kings, lords, vassals, peasants
  • Obligations: military service, loyalty, taxes
• Trade and Commerce:
  • Revival of trade routes, emergence of cities
  • Guilds, merchant classes, and early capitalism

Renaissance

• Humanism:
  • Revival of classical Greek and Roman culture
  • Focus on individualism, education, and human potential
• Art and Architecture:
  • Renaissance art: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael
  • Renaissance architecture: St. Peter's Basilica, Florence Cathedral
• Science and Exploration:
  • Revival of scientific inquiry, Copernicus, Galileo
  • Age of Exploration, Columbus, Vasco da Gama
• Politics and Religion:
  • Rise of nation-states, monarchies, and city-states
  • Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, John Calvin

Industrial Revolution

• Causes:
  • Agricultural Revolution, population growth
  • Scientific discoveries, technological innovations
• Key Innovations:
  • Steam engine (James Watt), textile machines
  • Factory system, mass production, and division of labor
• Consequences:
  • Urbanization, growth of cities, and social changes
  • Rise of capitalism, industrialization, and imperialism

Modern Era

• World Wars:
  • World War I (1914-1918), rise of nationalism
  • World War II (1939-1945), ideologies (fascism, communism)
• Cold War:
  • Bipolar world, capitalist and communist blocs
  • Proxy wars, nuclear arms race, and détente
• Globalization:
  • Rise of international trade, economic integration
  • Multinational corporations, global governance
• ** Contemporary Issues**:
  • Environmental concerns, climate change
  • Human rights, social justice, and global inequality

Ancient Civilizations

• Mesopotamia: cradle of civilization (3500 BCE), invented wheel, writing (cuneiform), and laws (Code of Hammurabi), had empires of Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians
• Ancient Egypt: built pyramids (Giza, 2580 BCE), practiced mummification, and used hieroglyphics, had pharaonic dynasties (Old, Middle, New Kingdoms), contributed to medicine, architecture, and mathematics
• Ancient Greece: had city-states (Athens, Sparta, Corinth), was home to philosophers (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), contributed to democracy, theater, and Olympics

Medieval Period

• Fall of the Roman Empire: occurred in 5th century CE, led to decline and fragmentation, rise of barbarian kingdoms, and feudalism
• Christianity: spread throughout Europe, established monasteries, and had Crusades, had papal authority, and schisms (East-West)
• Feudalism: was a social hierarchy of kings, lords, vassals, and peasants, involved obligations of military service, loyalty, and taxes
• Trade and Commerce: saw revival of trade routes, emergence of cities, guilds, merchant classes, and early capitalism

Renaissance

• Humanism: revived classical Greek and Roman culture, focused on individualism, education, and human potential
• Art and Architecture: featured Renaissance art (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael), and Renaissance architecture (St. Peter's Basilica, Florence Cathedral)
• Science and Exploration: saw revival of scientific inquiry, featured Copernicus and Galileo, was marked by Age of Exploration, and explorers like Columbus and Vasco da Gama
• Politics and Religion: saw rise of nation-states, monarchies, and city-states, and Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther and John Calvin

Industrial Revolution

• Causes: were Agricultural Revolution, population growth, scientific discoveries, and technological innovations
• Key Innovations: included steam engine (James Watt), textile machines, factory system, mass production, and division of labor
• Consequences: led to urbanization, growth of cities, and social changes, rise of capitalism, industrialization, and imperialism

Modern Era

• World Wars: included World War I (1914-1918), rise of nationalism, and World War II (1939-1945), ideologies (fascism, communism)
• Cold War: was a bipolar world, with capitalist and communist blocs, proxy wars, nuclear arms race, and détente
• Globalization: is characterized by rise of international trade, economic integration, multinational corporations, and global governance
• Contemporary Issues: include environmental concerns, climate change, human rights, social justice, and global inequality