Major Empires and Ancient Civilizations

History

• Ancient Civilizations:
  • Mesopotamia: Founded by Sumerians, known for invention of wheel and writing (c. 4500 BCE)
  • Ancient Egypt: Pyramids of Giza, mummies, and pharaohs (c. 3100 BCE)
  • Ancient Greece: Democracy, philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), and Olympics (c. 8th century BCE)
• Major Empires:
  • Roman Empire: Expanded across Europe, North Africa, and Asia (27 BCE - 476 CE)
  • Mongol Empire: Largest contiguous empire in history, stretched from China to Eastern Europe (1206 - 1368)
  • British Empire: Colonized a quarter of the world's land area (1583 - 1997)
• World Wars:
  • World War I: Allied Powers (France, UK, US) vs. Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) (1914 - 1918)
  • World War II: Allied Powers (France, UK, US, USSR) vs. Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) (1939 - 1945)

Science

• Physics:
  • Laws of Motion: Newton's three laws (1687)
  • Theory of Relativity: Einstein's concept of time and space (1905, 1915)
  • Quantum Mechanics: Wave-particle duality, Schrödinger's equation (1900s - 1920s)
• Biology:
  • Cell Theory: Cells as basic units of life (1839)
  • Evolution: Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection (1859)
  • Human Body: Organ systems, DNA, and genetic code (1950s - 1960s)
• Astronomy:
  • Solar System: Eight planets, dwarf planets, and Pluto's reclassification (2006)
  • Stars and Galaxies: Life cycles, black holes, and the universe's expansion (1920s - present)

Geography

• Continents:
  • Seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America
  • Oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern
• Mountains and Rivers:
  • Highest peaks: Mount Everest (Nepal/China), K2 (Pakistan), Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
  • Longest rivers: Nile (Egypt/Sudan), Amazon (South America), Yangtze (China)
• Deserts and Islands:
  • Largest deserts: Sahara (Africa), Gobi (Asia), Mojave (North America)
  • Island nations: Japan, UK, Iceland, and Indonesia

Culture

• Art and Literature:
  • Renaissance Art: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael (14th - 17th centuries)
  • Famous Authors: William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and J.K. Rowling
• Music and Dance:
  • Classical Music: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin
  • Popular Genres: Rock, Jazz, Blues, Hip-Hop, and Electronic
  • Traditional Dances: Ballet, Salsa, Tango, and Bollywood
• Holidays and Celebrations:
  • Christmas (December 25), Halloween (October 31), and New Year's Eve (December 31)
  • Cultural festivals: Diwali (India), Chinese New Year, and Carnaval (Brazil)

History

• Ancient Mesopotamia was founded by Sumerians around 4500 BCE, known for inventing the wheel and writing.
• Ancient Egypt, established around 3100 BCE, is famous for its pyramids of Giza, mummies, and pharaohs.
• Ancient Greece, which emerged around the 8th century BCE, is known for its democracy, philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), and the Olympics.
• The Roman Empire expanded across Europe, North Africa, and Asia from 27 BCE to 476 CE.
• The Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history, stretched from China to Eastern Europe from 1206 to 1368.
• The British Empire, which colonized a quarter of the world's land area, lasted from 1583 to 1997.
• World War I took place from 1914 to 1918 between the Allied Powers (France, UK, US) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary).
• World War II occurred from 1939 to 1945 between the Allied Powers (France, UK, US, USSR) and the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan).

Science

• Newton's three Laws of Motion were introduced in 1687.
• Einstein's Theory of Relativity, which redefined time and space, was introduced in 1905 and 1915.
• Quantum Mechanics, which explores wave-particle duality and Schrödinger's equation, developed in the 1900s and 1920s.
• The Cell Theory, which states that cells are the basic units of life, was introduced in 1839.
• Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution, which explains natural selection, was introduced in 1859.
• The Human Body's organ systems, DNA, and genetic code were discovered in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Our Solar System consists of eight planets, dwarf planets, and Pluto, which was reclassified in 2006.
• Stars and Galaxies have life cycles, black holes, and the universe is expanding, as discovered from the 1920s to present.

Geography

• The seven continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
• The five oceans are Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern.
• The highest peaks are Mount Everest (Nepal/China), K2 (Pakistan), and Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania).
• The longest rivers are the Nile (Egypt/Sudan), Amazon (South America), and Yangtze (China).
• The largest deserts are the Sahara (Africa), Gobi (Asia), and Mojave (North America).
• Japan, UK, Iceland, and Indonesia are island nations.

Culture

• Renaissance Art flourished in the 14th to 17th centuries with Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
• William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and J.K. Rowling are famous authors.
• Classical Music is associated with Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin.
• Popular music genres include Rock, Jazz, Blues, Hip-Hop, and Electronic.
• Traditional dances include Ballet, Salsa, Tango, and Bollywood.
• Christmas (December 25), Halloween (October 31), and New Year's Eve (December 31) are widely celebrated holidays.
• Cultural festivals include Diwali (India), Chinese New Year, and Carnaval (Brazil).