paleoanthropology7: The oldest human civilizations (v1.0)
This is the last essay on Human Evolution. I will talk in this essay about the 10 oldest ancient civilizations that emerged across the world. After this essay/series on Human Evolution, I go far back in time focusing on major/huge evolution transitions all the way from single celled life to apes. It is a huge stretch of time. This science is called paleontology.
Mesopotamia (Iraq)
Around 10,000 BCE, some of the first fully developed Neolithic cultures began to settle in the fertile crescent, which includes Mesopotamia. Around 8,000 BCE, people in northern Mesopotamia began to cultivate barley and wheat, which they used to make beer, gruel, soup, and eventually bread.
During the time known as the Ubaid Period (c. 6,500 – 3,800 BCE), the earliest signs of civilization began as agriculture and animal husbandry were widely practiced in sedentary communities. This gave rise to the Sumerians who are credited as the first urban civilization in the world. The Sumerians flourished from 4100 to 1750 BCE.
The Sumerians were the first to develop trade and establish industries such as weaving, leatherwork, metalwork, masonry, and pottery. One of greatest achievements of ancient Mesopotamia was the invention of the wheel sometime around 3,500 BCE – evidence suggests that they were first used for making pottery and not for transportation.
Catalhoyuk (Modern-Day Turkey)
Occupied sometime between 7500 and 5700 BCE. Catalhoyuk (pronounced "Chah-tahl-hew-yook") is one of the oldest places where ancient humans would gather. An estimated 3,000 to 8,000 people lived in the area during its height of popularity.
Catalhoyuk is renowned for its large, well-preserved, and densely packed mudbrick houses. It provides valuable insights into the early development of agriculture, urbanization, and social structures. While there isn't a lot known about this ancient civilization, archeologists believe that the closeness of the rooms in the complex suggests a more communal style of living than the civilizations that followed it.
'Ain Ghazal (Modern day Amman, Jordan)
This is an ancient civilization that flourished from 7200 to 5000 BCE. It was an early farming community, and its people are known for creating some of the earliest statues of the human form. The figures are made out of plaster and consist of full statues and busts that depict men, women, and children.
In addition to creating the statues, the people of ‘Ain Ghazal were farmers who domesticated wheat, barley, peas, lentils, and chickpeas. They also hunted wild animals such as gazelle, deer, pigs, foxes, and hares. For the time period, the people of ‘Ain Ghazal had a wide variety of food.
Indus Valley Civilization (Pakistan and India)
Ancient civilizations sprung up near sources of
water, and the Indus River is one of the most prominent water sources in the
subcontinent. Dating from around 3300 to 1300 BCE in what is now Pakistan and
northwest India, this great ancient civilization was a highly advanced urban
culture known for its grid-like city planning, advanced drainage systems, and
distinctive pottery.
Elam (Iran)
Elam is another old civilization dating from 3200 to 500 BCE. Elam is not a Mesopotamian civilization, but it had regular dealings with the people between the rivers. Their language was wholly unique and unrelated to other cultures in the same region.
Elam's written script, called Elamite, was crucial in helping archeologists understand the region's complex politics during the civilization's existence. Visiting the ruins of Elam is one of the best reasons for visiting Iran, although Iran today is somewhat challenging for a westerner due to politics.
Ancient Egypt
Egypt is one of the best-known empires, as its culture has seeped into the modern day. Thriving along the Nile River from around 3150 to 332 BCE. Ancient Egypt was a remarkable civilization known for monumental pyramids, hieroglyphic writing, advanced mathematics, and complex religious beliefs.
Some scholars consider Ancient Egypt the start of classical culture and learning, and it continues to influence the modern world today. Visitors can even tour the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the last remaining survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ancient Egypt is indeed one of the greatest of all the oldest ancient civilizations in the world that ever existed, and it extends well beyond modern Egypt's borders, encompassing Sudan and parts of Libya.
Minoans Of Crete
Fans of popular culture will recognize the Minoans as the civilization that invented the Minotaur, but it's so much more than that. The Minoans were one of the world's greatest civilizations that ever existed, from about 3000 BCE to about 1400 BCE.
During their existence, Crete became a center of language, learning, and culture in the Aegean Sea. Knossos on Crete is considered Europe’s oldest city. The Minoans significantly impacted the Greek culture that came after it. While much of the Minoan civilization is lost to antiquity, visitors to Crete can still explore ruins, such as the palaces of Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, and Agia Triada.
The Mycenaean Civilization that came later (Ancient Greek) drew its inspiration from the Minoans but had its own style and class. This civilization only existed for a few centuries between 1700 and 1100 BCE and was heavily influenced by the Minoans who came before them.
Jiahu civilization of China
The Jiahu are an extremely ancient civilization that flourished from 7000 BCE to 5700 BCE. It was a settlement located in the central plain of ancient China and the people who lived there developed some of the earliest aspects of Chinese culture. The Jiahu culture is often mentioned with the Peiligang culture, as archaeologists cannot agree whether or not the Jiahu people were a part of the larger group of Peiligang.
However, there is evidence that they were two seperate cultures that developed around the same time. For example, the people of Jiahu cultivated rice while the Peiligang did not and the Jiahu settlement existed for several hundred years before the first Peiligang settlements popped up.
The Jiahu are also known for producing the world's oldest wine, some of the earliest playable music (lots of flutes have been found at Jiahu), and perhaps the earliest example of Chinese writing.
Norte Chico Or Caral-Supe (South America)
While many people may know about the top ancient civilizations around the world mentioned previously on the list, the Caral Supe or Norte Chico people might be new.
Between 4000 and 1800 BCE, this pre-Columbian civilization thrived on the north coast of Peru and parts of Chile. The civilization featured complex societies with monumental architecture, including pyramids and plazas, and advanced agricultural practices, making it a significant archeological discovery. The civilization was so influential that the Incans, who came several centuries later, still paid homage to the Norte Chico in their fabrics, culture, and style of worship.
Today, archeologists are still working to uncover the secrets of the oldest civilization in the New World. The Incas left behind many ancient sites for visitors to explore today, but without the Norte Chico, there would be no Inca.
The Olmecs of Mesoamerica
The Olmecs were a significant power in Central America, although their civilization was short-lived compared to others. They existed from 1200 to 400 BCE. No one is really sure why their culture went into decline, but they left behind marvelous works (like the fabled colossal heads in Mexico) to remind modern humans who they were.
The Olmecs were meticulous builders, and the cities of La Venta, San Lorenzo, and Laguna de los Cerros all had symmetry built into their construction, making them look like half a city reflected on itself.
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