Ancient Civilisations

We will learn that a civilisation is a developed society. Civilisations share common features, including cities, inventions, language, writing, hierarchy, leadership, infrastructure, arts and culture, trade and religion. Ancient civilisations first appeared over 6000 years ago in, or near, a semi-circular area of land in the Middle East known as the Fertile Crescent. The climate, availability of water and variety of plants in the Fertile Crescent meant that nomadic hunter-gatherers could settle in one place and begin to farm for the first time.

Ancient Sumer

The first civilisation that we will find out about is Ancient Sumer.  

Ancient Sumer was the very first civilisation. It originated between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in modern Iraq. Being near a river was important for early civilisations, providing water for drinking and fertile soil for agriculture. The ancient Sumerian civilisation began c4500 BC and lasted for around 2600 years.

Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptian civilisation began on the banks of the Nile, in the Fertile Crescent. Egypt was initially split into Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north. It became one kingdom c3150 BC. The civilisation lasted for around 2970 years.