Classical
Civilizations
500 BC – 500 AD
The Greeks
 Geography – Mountains and islands divide the Greeks
 City-states- had own government and way of life
 Sparta – Military
 Athens – Democracy (first)
 Alexander the Great – Hellenistic culture
 Philosophy – Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
The Roman Empire
 Geography – Italy
 Peninsula - Mediterranean
Sea
 Government – Republic
 Twelve Tables of Roman
Law
 Christianity – Roman
Catholic Church
The Persian Empire
 Largest empire in the
world
 Zoroastrianism – good
vs. evil
 Great road systems
India
 Empires rise after the Indus River people disappear
 Aryan invaders take over India
 The Mauryan Empire
 The Gupta Empire – Hindu Golden Age
 Math (zero, infinity)
 Caste system (social classes)
 Hinduism  Buddhism
China
 Dynasties Zhou Dynasty
 Qin Dynasty
 Han Dynasty
 Mandate of Heaven – ruler is chosen by God
 Great Wall of China
 Silk Road