Ancient Civilization Research Paper

The term civilization basically means the level of development at which people live together peacefully in communities. Ancient civilization refers specifically to the first settled and stable communities that became the basis for later states, nations, and empires. The study of ancient civilization is concerned with the earliest segments of the much broader subject called ancient history. The span of ancient history began with the invention of writing in about 3100 BC and lasted for more than 35 centuries. Mankind existed long before the written word, but writing made the keeping of a historical record possible and previous civilizations have had a major impact on the modern world especially on agriculture, machineries, science, and literature
Egyptians invented mathematics, which was greatly required for agriculture, making roads. They also invented geometry, as they needed to dig up canals and even astrology, medication. The Sumerians contributed to the development of metalworking, wheeled carts, and potter's wheels and Assyrians even added some practical knowledge in Chemistry, in the making of glass, and in the preparation of ores. In Greek Civilization, which is one of the biggest and can be called an empire contributed to a lot of things. In Hellenic period the accomplishments may be application of levers, cranks, and screws cogwheels in ancient Greek industries, popular entertainment by marionettes in automatic theatres, war machines operated. Schools of the Hellenistic Age were supported by the state, and at the Alexandrian Museum were lectures on astronomy, geography, physics, mathematics, botany, zoology, anatomy and medicine, where research by vivisection was done on animals. In their laboratories the Alexandrians discovered the nerves and learned that the brain controlled the limbs, a fact already known to the ancient Egyptians. When the Romans came on the scene, companies were organized to build roads, bridges and aqueducts, which had shares daily sold to the public as in a modern stock exchange. Apartment living became common. The more fortunate merchants and bankers decorated their houses with the finest furniture, carpets and hangings, and had ornate bronze utensils, baths and sanitary conveniences. A more elaborate house would have tile pipes for conducting hot air to living rooms. The Hebrews (Israel) played a big role in inventing the color purple, which during that period was used for making clothes for the Aristocrats and played a big part in