Ancient Civilizations Overview

Mesopotamia:
- Located in present-day Iraq
- Known for inventing writing (cuneiform) and the wheel
- Established the first cities (e.g. Babylon, Ur)
Ancient Egypt:
- Located in northeastern Africa
- Developed a system of hieroglyphics
- Built the Great Pyramids of Giza (circa 2580-2565 BCE)
Ancient Greece:
- Contributed to the development of democracy, theater, and philosophy
- City-states: Athens, Sparta, Corinth
- Famous figures: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
Ancient Rome:
- Founded in 753 BCE, fell in 476 CE
- Developed a system of laws and governance
- Expanded through conquests, leaving a legacy in language, architecture, and government

The Renaissance (14th-17th centuries):
- Revival of classical Greek and Roman culture
- Emergence of humanism, art, and science
- Key figures: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo
The Industrial Revolution (18th-19th centuries):
- Transition from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing
- Development of steam power, textiles, and transportation
- Impact on society, economy, and environment
World War I (1914-1918):
- Caused by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Involved multiple countries, including the Allied Powers and Central Powers
- Resulted in the Treaty of Versailles and the rise of the United States
World War II (1939-1945):
- Caused by the aggressive expansion of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan
- Involved the Axis Powers and the Allied Powers
- Resulted in the defeat of the Axis Powers, the formation of the United Nations, and the emergence of the United States and Soviet Union as superpowers

Leaders:
- Alexander the Great (conquered a vast portion of the known world)
- Julius Caesar (transformed the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire)
- Napoleon Bonaparte (transformed Europe through military conquests)
Thinkers:
- Isaac Newton (developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation)
- Charles Darwin (proposed the theory of evolution through natural selection)
- Albert Einstein (developed the theory of relativity)
Cultural Icons:
- William Shakespeare (playwright and poet)
- Leonardo da Vinci (polymath and artist)
- Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights leader)

Mesopotamia:
- Located in present-day Iraq, known for inventing writing (cuneiform) and the wheel
- Established the first cities, including Babylon and Ur
Ancient Egypt:
- Located in northeastern Africa, developed a system of hieroglyphics
- Built the Great Pyramids of Giza between 2580-2565 BCE
Ancient Greece:
- Contributed to the development of democracy, theater, and philosophy
- City-states included Athens, Sparta, and Corinth
- Famous figures include Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
Ancient Rome:
- Founded in 753 BCE, fell in 476 CE
- Developed a system of laws and governance
- Expanded through conquests, leaving a legacy in language, architecture, and government

The Renaissance:
- Revival of classical Greek and Roman culture between 14th-17th centuries
- Emergence of humanism, art, and science
- Key figures include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Galileo
The Industrial Revolution:
- Transition from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing between 18th-19th centuries
- Development of steam power, textiles, and transportation
- Impact on society, economy, and environment
World War I:
- Caused by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914
- Involved multiple countries, including the Allied Powers and Central Powers
- Resulted in the Treaty of Versailles and the rise of the United States
World War II:
- Caused by the aggressive expansion of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan in 1939
- Involved the Axis Powers and the Allied Powers
- Resulted in the defeat of the Axis Powers, the formation of the United Nations, and the emergence of the United States and Soviet Union as superpowers

Leaders:
- Alexander the Great conquered a vast portion of the known world
- Julius Caesar transformed the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire
- Napoleon Bonaparte transformed Europe through military conquests
Thinkers:
- Isaac Newton developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation
- Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution through natural selection
- Albert Einstein developed the theory of relativity
Cultural Icons:
- William Shakespeare was a playwright and poet
- Leonardo da Vinci was a polymath and artist
- Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader