The Native Americans

“Native Americans are considered an ancient civilization, as archaeological and genetic evidence shows that people have inhabited the Americas for at least 20,000 years, with their ancestors migrating across the Bering Strait land bridge from Asia, establishing diverse cultures across North and South America before European contact.

• Early arrival:

  The first Native American ancestors, known as Paleo-Indians, arrived in the Americas around 30,000 years ago. 
• Wide distribution:

  Over time, these early peoples spread throughout the continents, developing diverse cultures and societies across different regions. 
• Complex societies:

  Some Native American groups, like the Maya, Inca, and Aztec, developed highly complex civilizations with advanced agriculture, architecture, and social structures. 

Imge Credit: Detail of a Map from the Student Bible Atlas by Tim Dowley:

On the above map, Mesopotamia is the upper area that is colored dark yellow. Most scholars believe that Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden were located in the Mesopotamian area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

1. Mesopotamia, 4000-3500 B.C.

“Meaning “between two rivers” in Greek, Mesopotamia (located in modern-day Iraq, Kuwait and Syria) is considered the birthplace of civilization. The culture that grew up between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is noted for important advancements in literacy, astronomy, agriculture, law, mathematics, architecture and more, despite near-constant warfare. Mesopotamia was also home to the world’s first urban cities, including Babylon, Ashur and Akkad.

“‘Mesopotamia is the earliest urban literate civilization on the globe—and the Sumerians, who established the civilization, established the ground rules,” says Kenneth Harl, author, consultant and professor emeritus of history at Tulane University. “Those who know how to research and write run the civilization and everyone [else] does the grunt work.”

“The cuneiform writing system, used to establish the Code of Hammurabi, is among the most famous Mesopotamian advancements. They also created the base 60 numeric system, which led to the 60-second minute, 60-minute hour and 360-degree circle. And it was Babylonian astronomy that first divided the year into 12 periods named after constellations—what the Greeks would later evolve into the zodiac.

Mesopotamia in Bible History – The Idols – The Ancient Mesopotamians Worshipped

2. Ancient Egypt, 3100 B.C.

“Perhaps the most romanticized of past civilizations, ancient Egypt stood as one of history’s most powerful empires for more than 3,000 years. Set along the fertile Nile River and at one time extending from today’s Syria to Sudan, the civilization is most known for its pyramids, tombs and mausoleums and the practice of mummification to prepare corpses for the afterlife.

“Harl, author of the forthcoming book, Empires of the Steppes: How the Steppe Nomads Forged the Modern World, says Egypt’s use of labor to undertake architectural projects—such as the pyramids—was unrivaled. “The ability to amass 100,000 men to assemble the great pyramid in 2600 B.C. is just not matched anywhere,” he says.

“The Egyptians also proved extremely skilled at agriculture and medicine, he adds. And they developed exquisite sculpture and painting traditions, as well.

“The ancient Egyptians also left a legacy of monumental writing and mathematics systems. The cubit, a measure of length roughly the span of a forearm, was key to designing the pyramids and other structures. They developed the 24-hour day and 365-day calendar during this time. And they established the hieroglyphic pictorial writing system, followed by the hieroglyphic system that used ink on papyrus paper. The civilization came to an end in 332 B.C. when it was conquered by Alexander the Great.

Periods of Ancient Egyptian History

3. Ancient India, 3300 B.C.

“In ancient India, where Hinduism was founded, religion held great importance, Harl says, along with great literary traditions and incredible architecture. The Upanishads, or sacred Hindu texts, include the ideas of reincarnation and the caste system based on birthright, both of which have endured into modern times.

“Unlike other ancient civilizations, the Indus River Valley Civilization, built in the Indus River Valley (modern-day India, Afghanistan and Pakistan) does not appear to have been war-torn. Historians and archaeologists instead point to sophisticated, organized city planning, complete with uniform baked-brick homes, a grid structure and drainage, sewage and water supply systems.

“The collapse of the Indus Valley, around 1700 B.C., is often credited to migration prompted by climate change or possible tectonic movement that caused the Saraswati River to dry out. Others cite a great flood.

4. Ancient China, 2000 B.C.

“Protected by the Himalayan Mountains, Pacific Ocean and Gobi Desert, and situated between the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, the earliest Chinese civilizations flourished in isolation from invaders and other foreigners for centuries. To stop Mongols from the north, they built barriers seen by some as early precursors to the Great Wall of China, built later in 220 B.C.

“Generally divided into four dynasties—Xia, Shang, Zhou and Qin—ancient China was ruled by a succession of emperors. The civilization is credited with developing the decimal system, abacus and sundial, as well as the printing press, which allowed for the publication and distribution of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, still relevant more than 2,500 years later.

“Like the Egyptians, the ancient Chinese were able to mobilize populations to build massive infrastructure projects. The construction of the 5th century-era Grand Canal, which links the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, for example, allowed vast numbers of military forces and goods to move across the country.

“China is perhaps the most successful centralized state in human history,” Harl says. “And at several points in human history is without a doubt the greatest civilization that stayed on the globe.”

5. Ancient Peru, 1200 B.C.

“Peru served as the cradle of civilization to a number of cultures, including the Chavín, Paracas, Nazca, Huari, Moche and Inca. Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of metallurgy, ceramics and advanced medical and agricultural practices from within these groups.

“The civilization culminated with the great Inca Empire, which stretched from today’s Colombia to Chile and is noted for the Andean city of Machu Picchu, with its elaborate urban grid.

“The Incas did not develop a writing system; instead they used pictures and symbols. But they did use a knot-based accounting system, built paved roads on rugged terrain connecting towns and settlements and created sophisticated agricultural and architectural innovations.

“Smallpox and other diseases, introduced to South America by the Spaniards, ravaged the Inca populations, Harl says, causing an internal weakening that helped the Francisco Pizarro-led conquest of 1532. “So many people were being carried off by disease—they had no immunity,” he says. “So rather than the state itself weakening in any significant way, it was disease introduced by the outside that helped prepare for the Inca toppling of civilization in Peru.”

6. Ancient Mesoamerica, 1200 B.C.

“What Tenochtitlan may have looked like in the 14th century. Today it is the site of Mexico City.

Parts of today’s Mexico and Central America were once home to a number of Indigenous cultures, beginning with the Olmec around 1200 B.C., followed by the Zapotec, Maya, Toltec and, ultimately, the Aztecs.

“Fertile farmland led to agricultural advances, with corn, beans, vanilla, avocado, peppers, squashes and cotton becoming important crops. Pyramid-style temples, intricate pottery, stone monuments, turquoise jewelry and other fine arts have been uncovered. Scholars believe the Zapotec developed Mesoamerica’s first written calendar and writing system, while the Mayans are noted for their advancements in mathematics, hieroglyphics, architecture and astronomy.

“The nomadic Aztecs founded Tenochtitlan (today’s Mexico City) in 1325 on small islands in Lake Texcoco, and the city became a booming market for trade. The Aztecs used a 365-solar calendar along with a 260-day ritual calendar, practiced human sacrifice and bloodletting, used a form of picture writing and created works of art with terracotta, feathers, mosaics and stone.

“The Hernán Cortéz-led 1519 Spanish invasion, aided by Mesoamerican foes of the Aztecs, brought the Aztec civilization to an end by 1521. “When Cortez showed up, the Aztecs were having great difficulty maintaining control over their subject tribes,” Harl says. “They were greatly hated, and Cortez gave enough advantage to all those disadvantaged subjects to topple the Aztec Empire.” Kennedy, Lesley. an article on History.com

7. Ancient Greece, 1200 B.C.

Image Credit: Pu Eble Rino – Not A Verified Site

“ancient Greek civilization, the period following Mycenaean civilization, which ended about 1200 bce, to the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 bce. It was a period of political, philosophical, artistic, and scientific achievements that formed a legacy with unparalleled influence. The larger historical period spanning from the output of ancient Greek author Homer in the 8th century bce to the decline of the Roman Empire in the 5th century ce is known as “Classical antiquity,” encompassing Greco-Roman culture, playing a major role in the Mediterranean sphere of influence and in the creation of Western civilization, and shaping areas as diverse as law, architecture, art, language, poetry, rhetoric, politics, and philosophy.” Britannica

8. Ancient Celts, 1200 B.C.

The ancient Celts were a collection of tribes that shared a common language, culture, religion, and traditions, but they were not a single unified state. The Celts were a civilization that left a lasting mark on history, and their influence spread across Europe over the centuries. 

	Information about the ancient Celts
Origins	The Celts originated in central Europe, and their culture is believed to have begun to evolve around 1200 B.C.
Location	The Celts lived in parts of western and central Europe, including Britain, Ireland, France, and Spain
Language	The Celts shared a common language
Religion	The Celts had a shared religious belief system
Government	The Celts had a complex government that evolved from a monarchy to confederations of tribal chiefs
Society	The Celts had a binding system where powerful individuals provided food, shelter, and protection to others in exchange for service
Legacy	The Celts’ legacy is most prominent in Ireland and Great Britain, where their language and culture are still evident today

Google ai

Celts ‑ Definition, Origin & Language | HISTORY

Nov 30, 2017 — The Celts were a collection of tribes with origins in central Europe that shared a similar language, religious beliefs…

History.com

9. The Vikings, 800 CE

“The Vikings were an ancient civilization that lived during the Viking Age, which lasted from roughly 800–1050 CE” Google aiViking, member of the Scandinavian seafaring warriors who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the 9th to the 11th century and whose disruptive influence profoundly affected European history. These pagan Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish warriors were probably prompted to undertake their raids by a combination of factors ranging from overpopulation at home to the relative helplessness of victims abroad.

	Vikings
Origin	Scandinavia, which is now Denmark, Norway, and Sweden
Known for	Raiding, trading, settling, and exploring
Impact	Profoundly impacted the early medieval history of many regions, including Scandinavia, the British Isles, France, Estonia, and Kievan Rus’
Religion	Practiced the pagan and polytheistic Old Norse religion
Other characteristics	Skilled warriors, masters of trade, and expert navigators

“The Viking Age is often considered part of prehistory in Scandinavia because of the lack of contemporary written sources. In western Europe, the Viking Age is sometimes considered part of the “Dark Ages” because of the scarcity of historical records. 

“The Vikings were made up of landowning chieftains and clan heads, their retainers, freemen, and any energetic young clan members who sought adventure and booty overseas. At home these Scandinavians were independent farmers, but at sea they were raiders and pillagers. During the Viking period the Scandinavian countries seem to have possessed a practically inexhaustible surplus of manpower, and leaders of ability, who could organize groups of warriors into conquering bands and armies, were seldom lacking. These bands would negotiate the seas in their longships and mount hit-and-run raids at cities and towns along the coasts of Europe. Their burning, plundering, and killing earned them the name víkingr, meaning “pirate” in the early Scandinavian languages.

“The Vikings’ original religion was the pagan and polytheistic Old Norse religion, which can be traced back to about 500 BCE” Britannica