Major Empires and Ancient Civilizations

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)

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)

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

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)

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).

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.

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.

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).