The great civilizations of the distant past never cease to impress us with their spectacular achievements. Ideas, myths, works of art, architecture, and literature speak to us across the millennia with an amazing freshness and immediacy. This book presents a vivid and comprehensive portrait of these achievements, set within their historical context, and tells the captivating stories of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, China, and Pre-Columbian America. The Ancient World is a wide-ranging guide to the spiritual, cultural, technological, and artistic innovation that was the hallmark of these complex and fascinating societies. Organized thematically, the text makes use of the latest research and evidence about the ancient world. Detailed coverage is given to symbols, sacred texts, religious ceremonies, gods and goddesses, visions of the cosmos, and sacred sites-from the glories of the Pyramids and the Parthenon to the towering majesty of Machu Picchu; from the establishment of Rome to the foundation of modern China; and from the earliest stirrings of civilized life in Sumeria in 3500 BC to the bloody demise of the Incas and the Aztecs in the 16th and 17th centuries. The ten chapters in the book are devoted to the most illustrious and influential civilizations of world history, complete with maps, timelines, dynastic lists, and fascinating discussions on everything from ancient tomb robbers to hieroglyphic writings. Packed with information, The Ancient World is an