Reading & Vocabulary Practice

AAncient civilizations were early complex societies that developed cities, writing, laws, trade, and organized government. Many of them began near rivers because water helped people farm, travel, and build communities. Between about 3500 BCE and 500 BCE, several great civilizations appeared in different parts of the world.

BMesopotamia is often called one of the earliest civilizations. It developed between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers around 3500 BCE. People there built cities, created irrigation systems, and used cuneiform writing. They also developed laws, including the famous Code of Hammurabi around 1750 BCE.

CAncient Egypt grew along the River Nile, where yearly floods made the soil rich for farming. The Egyptians built pyramids, temples, and tombs that still impress people today. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built around 2560 BCE and originally stood about 146 metres tall.

DThe Indus Valley Civilization developed in South Asia around 2600 BCE. Its cities, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, had planned streets, drainage systems, and strong brick buildings. Some houses had bathrooms, showing that public health and city planning were important more than 4,000 years ago.

EAncient China developed near the Yellow River and later became known for inventions, writing, and organized rule. The Shang Dynasty, which began around 1600 BCE, used bronze tools and early Chinese writing on oracle bones. These records help historians understand government, religion, and daily life.

FAncient Greece became famous for philosophy, democracy, theatre, and the Olympic Games. The first recorded Olympic Games were held in 776 BCE. Greek city-states such as Athens and Sparta had different systems of government, but their ideas influenced education, politics, and art for many centuries.

GAncient Rome began as a small city and grew into a powerful empire. By 117 CE, the Roman Empire controlled land across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. The Romans built roads, aqueducts, amphitheatres, and legal systems that influenced many later societies.

HIn conclusion, ancient civilizations shaped the modern world in many ways. Their achievements in writing, architecture, government, science, and trade still affect how people live today. Studying civilizations from 3500 BCE to 117 CE helps us understand how human societies developed over thousands of years.