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Top 10 Oldest Empire in the World – Ancient civilizations are the bedrock of human history, offering invaluable insights into the development of societies, cultures, and technologies. These civilizations emerged thousands of years ago and laid the foundation for modern human civilization. From the Nile Valley to Mesopotamia, from the Indus Valley to Mesoamerica, ancient civilizations thrived across diverse geographical regions, leaving behind legacies that continue to shape our world today.
The ancient Egyptians, with their awe-inspiring pyramids, intricate hieroglyphic writing, and sophisticated irrigation systems, are among the most iconic of ancient civilizations. Their society was deeply rooted in religion, with pharaohs believed to be divine rulers and a complex pantheon of gods influencing every aspect of life. The Nile River, with its annual floods, provided fertile land for agriculture, enabling the Egyptians to develop a prosperous and enduring civilization that lasted for millennia.
In Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians created some of the earliest known urban societies. They invented writing, the wheel, and advanced systems of mathematics and astronomy. The Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest known legal codes, reflects their sophisticated legal system.
The ancient Indus Valley civilization, centered around present-day Pakistan and northwest India, flourished around the same time as Egypt and Mesopotamia. Remarkably well-planned cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa boasted advanced sanitation systems and standardized weights and measures. The script of the Indus Valley civilization remains undeciphered, adding an air of mystery to their legacy.
In Mesoamerica, civilizations like the Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs built remarkable cities, temples, and pyramids. The Maya, in particular, developed a complex writing system, precise calendar systems, and made significant advancements in mathematics and astronomy. Their cities, abandoned long before the arrival of Europeans, are a testament to their architectural and engineering prowess.
Each of these ancient civilizations faced challenges such as environmental changes, warfare, and political instability. Despite these challenges, they thrived for centuries, leaving behind enduring legacies in art, architecture, religion, science, and governance. Studying these civilizations provides valuable insights into the human experience and reminds us of our shared heritage and the resilience of the human spirit across time and space.
Top 10 Oldest Empire in the World
Sumer Civilization
Era – 5300 BCE – 1940 BCE (3360 years)
Continent – Middle East Asia
Capital City – Ur
1st King – Alulim
Last King – King Sin-magir
Approx. Population – 1.5 Million
Modern Day – Iraq
Notable Achievements – Arithmetic, beer, chariots, cuneiform script, geometry, harpoons, irrigation, sandals, saws and other tools, urban planning, wheel
Mesopotamia Civilization
Era – 4500 BCE – 1500 BCE (3000 years)
Continent – South West Asia
Capital City – Uruk
1st King – Sargon of Akkad
Last King – Nabonidus
Approx. Population – 4 Million
Modern Day – Iraq
Notable Achievements – Cuneiform writing, flood control, glass and lamp making, irrigation, legal codes, metal and copper-working, monumental architecture, textile weaving, water storage
Indus Valley Civilization
Era – 3300 BCE – 1300 BCE (2000 years)
Continent – North America
Capital City – Harappa and Mohenjo-daro
1st King – N/A
Last King – N/A
Approx. Population – 5 Million
Modern Day – Afghanistan, Pakistan
Notable Achievements – Drainage systems, sculpture, seals and pottery, standardized weights, transportation technology
Egyptian Civilization
Era – 3100 BCE – 30 BCE (3070 years)
Continent – South Asia
Capital City – Memphis
1st King – Menes
Last King – Nectanebo II
Approx. Population – 3 Million
Modern Day – Eastern Africa
Notable Achievements – Agriculture, architecture, engineering, fermentation, hieroglyphic writing, medicine, mummification, pyramids
Assyrian Civilization
Era – 2600 BCE – 609 BCE (1991 years)
Continent – South West Asia
Capital City – Nineveh
1st King – Ashur-uballit I
Last King – Ashurbanipal
Approx. Population – 1 Million
Modern Day – Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey
Notable Achievements – Clock, developing paved roads, library collections, military prowess, writing and literature
Maya Civilization
Era – 1800 BCE – 250 CE (1550 years)
Continent – Central America
Capital City – Tikal
1st King – Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ
Last King – Kʼinich Janaab Pakal I
Approx. Population – 2 Million
Modern Day – Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador
Notable Achievements – Calendar, ceremonial architecture, chocolate, hieroglyphic writing, palaces, pyramids, rubber, science of astronomy, temples
Shang Civilization
Era – 1600 BCE – 1046 BCE (554 years)
Continent – North Asia
Capital City – Zhengzhou
1st King – Cheng Tang
Last King – King Zhou
Approx. Population – 13 Million
Modern Day – Shandong, Hebei, Henan
Notable Achievements – Bronze metallurgy, jade ornamental, military technology, oracle bone inscriptions, stratified government, writing
Ancient Greek Civilization
Era – 1200 BCE – 323 BCE (877 years)
Continent – Europe
Capital City – Athens
1st King – Minos
Last King – Codrus
Approx. Population – 10 Million
Modern Day – Greece, Turkey
Notable Achievements – Architecture, astronomy, latitude-longitude navigation system, literature and theatre, mathematics, medicine, modern drama, olympic games, philosophy, politics, sophisticated sculpture, theorems for geometry & trigonometry
Carthaginian Civilization
Era – 650 BCE – 146 BCE (504 years)
Continent – Africa
Capital City – Carthage
1st King – Elissa
Last King – Gelimer
Approx. Population – 5 Million
Modern Day – Tunisia
Notable Achievements – Maritime trade, military strategy
Roman Civilization
Era – 625 BCE – 476 CE (149 years)
Continent – Europe
Capital City – Rome
1st King – Romulus
Last King – Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
Approx. Population – 75 Million
Modern Day – Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, The United Kingdom, Romania, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Tunisia
Notable Achievements – Aqueducts, bound books, cement, colosseum, concrete, elements of surgery, elements of the modern legal system, engineering, entire cities, julian calendar, mines and mills, newspapers, road network, roman arches, roman numerals, sanitation, sewers, social care and welfare
Inca Civilization
Era – 1438 CE – 1533 CE (95 years)
Continent – Central America
Capital City – Cusco
1st King – Manco Cápac
Last King – Atahualpa
Approx. Population – 10 Million
Modern Day – Peru, Chile
Notable Achievements – Agricultural terracing, communication system, machu picchu, religion, roads and bridges, sacred valley, stone structures, suspension bridges
Aztec Civilization
Era – 1300 CE – 1521 CE (221 years)
Continent – North America
Capital City – Tenochtitlan
1st King – Acamapichtli
Last King – Cuauhtémoc
Approx. Population – 6 Million
Modern Day – Mexico City
Notable Achievements – Chinampas, city of tenochtitlan, techniques of agriculture, temple-pyramids
