The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations (Penguin Historical Atlas)

This new historical atlas - richly illustrated with photographs, artwork recreations and full-colour maps - explores the world's earliest civilisations from the first farming settlements of Mesopotamia, via Egypt, Greece and Rome, to the civilisations of the Far East, Europe and America. Informatively written, and ideal for both students and the general reader, it plots the rise and fall of empires, the nature of different societies and the evolution of technology. The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations explores the world's earliest cultures, from the farming settlements of Mesopotamia to the Americas and Polynesia, via the birth of Greek city states and the foundation of Rome. It examines the development of civilizations in the Near East -- Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian -- as well as those in Europe -- the Minoans, Etruscans and Celts. Across the continents of Africa, Asia and America, it covers such subjects as Egypt from its pre-dynastic roots to the age of the Pharaohs, China during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and the great cities of the Incas and Aztecs. Vivid descriptions of civilizations are complemented by discussion of such key topics as colonization, agriculture and technology, and the rise of empires and city states. Richly illustrated with timelines, photographs, artwork re-creations and full-colour maps, this is an illuminating and multi-faceted one-volume introduction to early peoples and the worlds they created. - Back cover.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations explores the world's earliest cultures, from the farming settlements of Mesopotamia to the foundation of Rome. Examining the development of civilizations around the globe, it covers such subjects as the roots of the Egyptian pharaohs, China's long-lived dynasties, and the great cities of the Incas and Aztecs. Richly illustrated with photographs, artwork re-creations, and full-color maps, this is an illuminating and multifaceted one-volume introduction to early peoples and the world they created.

An broad-based survey of the world's earliest human cultures ranges from the ancient farming settlements of Mesopotamia to the founding of Rome, utilizing photographs, artwork, reproductions, and full-color maps to highlight a look at such topics as the origins of the Egyptian pharaohs, China's dynasties, and the great cities of the Inca and Aztec. Original. Introduction : What is civilization? Timelines Part one : The ancient Near East Part two : The African civilizations Part three : The first civilizations of Asia Part four : The first European civilizations Part five : The ancient Americas Further reading For over 3000 years the Near Eastern civilizations were the most advanced in the world, providing impetus and inspiration for younger neighbouring civilizations, which later overshadowed them.