Introduction to Ancient Civilisations

Practice flashcards covering the definition, features, and key contributions of ancient civilisations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Greece, and Rome, as well as the importance of archaeological conservation.

Civilisation

A complex human society, often urban, with organised government, social classes, art, technology, and writing.

Descriptive Definition of Civilisation

A purely descriptive term designating a society with cities and states, which does not imply judgment, superiority, or inferiority.

Cities

Large population centres that serve as a key feature of civilisations.

Organized Government

A system of leaders and laws used to manage a human society.

Job Specialisation

A social structure where people perform different roles, such as farmers, builders, and soldiers.

Public Works

Infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and irrigation systems.

Ancient Mesopotamia

A civilisation located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (modern-day Iraq) that existed from approximately $c.3500\,BCE$ to $539\,CE$.

Cuneiform

One of the first systems of writing, developed by the Mesopotamians.

Ziggurats

Large temple structures originating from Ancient Mesopotamia.

Hammurabi's Code

One of the first known written law codes.

Ancient Egypt

A civilisation developed along the Nile River in Africa, ruled by pharaohs from approximately $c.3100\,BCE$ to $30\,CE$.

Hieroglyphics

A picture-based writing system used by Ancient Egyptians.

Papyrus

An early form of paper made from reeds, developed in Ancient Egypt.

Ancient India

A civilisation (c. $2500\,BCE$ - $1200\,CE$) located along the Indus River, famous for planned cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.

Indus Valley City Planning

Advancements including grid streets, drainage systems, and public baths.

Ancient China

A civilisation (c. $2070\,BCE$ - $220\,CE$) that began along the Yellow River (Huang He) and was ruled by dynasties.

Silk Road

A famous trade route created as a result of Chinese silk production.

Ancient Greece

A civilisation (c. $800\,BCE$ - $600\,CE$) located on a peninsula and islands in the Mediterranean Sea, known for city-states like Athens and Sparta.

Democracy

The idea of government by the people, a key contribution from Ancient Greece.

Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian

The three types of columns used in Ancient Greek architecture.

Ancient Rome

A civilisation (c. $753\,BCE$ - $476\,CE$) that grew from a small city in Italy into a huge empire known for engineering and the Latin language.

Roman Law

A legal system that influenced law codes around the world.

Cultural Heritage

The legacy of physical artefacts and intangible attributes of a group or society inherited from past generations.

Archaeological Investigation

A science and method of protecting and preserving cultural heritage to learn from the past while enhancing the present and future.

Conservation

The practice of protecting ancient sites from damage caused by looting, tourism, war, and development to preserve historical knowledge.