Usually, when we think about the achievements of ancient civilizations, we have great structures in our heads, such as pyramids and other megalithic structures. However, the people of those days had achievements in other areas as well, not only in erecting stately buildings. They developed a number of amazing things that we use widely today.
Settlements
Primitive people led a nomadic lifestyle. They inhabited caves, often moving from place to place, thus settling all known corners of the world. Our ancestors moved in search of new, more abundant hunting grounds and places full of edible plants. Eventually, however, they discovered something else.
It turned out that you can lead a different lifestyle and you don’t have to constantly move around. This discovery was made about 15,000 years ago independently in the Middle East and in northern China, where small settlements and villages began to emerge.
Today, according to UN data, most of the Earth’s population lives in cities and more and more people are moving into them. Rarely do we realize that the development of our estates is due to the discovery of our ancestors, who saw the many benefits of living in communities, rather than constantly moving in search of better fisheries. This “invention” completely changed the face of the world and contributed to the rapid development of civilization.
Cultivation and breeding
Gathering and hunting have been the basis of the “economy” of humans for millennia. It has survived to this day in a rudimentary form. We still have many avid hunters, mushroom pickers and anglers. However, two revolutionary discoveries made by our ancestors in antiquity changed everything.
The first was agriculture. Traces of crops date back to 20,000 years ago. However, researchers assume that agriculture became the domain of humans about 12,000 years ago. This revolutionary change made it possible to feed more people, which in turn led to the development of society and culture, architecture, religion, etc.
Animals helped to develop agriculture. People thousands of years ago noticed that some species could be domesticated. Young wolves could be trained — and so from 17 thousand. years old known to us breeds of dogs have been created. Goats and sheep were bred 11,000 years ago. The auricles, from which modern cattle comes, have been domesticated about 8 thousand. years ago, wild horses surrendered to man 5,000 years ago. These breakthrough discoveries for people of that time often took place independently in different parts of the world. And they completely changed the face of the Earth, paving the way for the civilization we live in today.
Circle
The wheel is undoubtedly one of the most revolutionary discoveries in the history of mankind. It is commonly believed that people started using them around 5,200 years ago. There is no need to convince anyone of the importance of the invention. The circle contributed to the development of pottery and transport, and thus trade and the entire civilization. To this day, we use them widely, without even thinking about the importance of this discovery, made by our ancestors. Few of us are also aware that the oldest evidence of vehicle use was found in Poland. It is about the so-called a vase from Bronocice, a town about 50 km north-east of Krakow. Thanks to radiocarbon dating, it is estimated to be 3635–3370 BC. The oldest image of a wheeled vehicle in the world is depicted on a clay vessel. It was probably a four-wheeled car that was drawn in turns.
Writing
Another key invention of the ancient world was writing, a system of graphic signs that reflects what we say and think. Originally, people shared information with the help of drawings, iconography, knots on ropes, or cuts on sticks.
Gradually, pictographic writing developed, and in Egypt, hieroglyphic and hieratic writing. About 15,000 years ago, the Phoenicians invented the writing, which later became the basis of the Greek alphabet and all the Western alphabets known today.
The journal was created independently in many places of the world and in many cultures. Some of its types still remain unread and pose a mystery to scientists. Thanks to writing, mankind was able to develop philosophical systems, order trade, impart history, develop science. Today we cannot imagine life without letters and words that surround us on every side. We owe this discovery to our ancestors.
Religion and Science
Through the development of agriculture and livestock, ancient people gained something priceless: more time. They could use it to create more abstract concepts that in turn contributed to the development of society and culture.
With the development of scripture, ancient religions gained new weapons. Oral belief systems since the dawn of mankind may have been written. It was mainly Judaism and the derived Christianity that benefited from it. There is a reason why the Bible is referred to as the Holy Bible. We owe the development of the great religions, which still have the most followers today, to people from antiquity.
The same applies to philosophy, mathematics and law, and thus to modern science. We owe its beginnings to our ancestors who, using social and civilization development, had to dismore time and resources to make further discoveries and conduct fundamental considerations about the world around us.
Buildings
The progressive development of agriculture and breeding forced the ancients to invent effective methods of irrigating farmland and to develop such innovations as sewage systems. These great structures are often forgotten, but meanwhile they have allowed for a sharp increase in yields, which in turn has led to an increase in population and allowed the further development of societies.
However, ancient people were also able to build much grander and more magnificent buildings. It is enough to mention the wonders of the ancient world with the pyramids at the top, great temples, road systems, fortified and mighty cities. The remains of these buildings still surprise scientists with their vastness and beauty. The more that they were created in different parts of the world and in different civilizations independently.
Civilization
Finally, the most important discoveries of antiquity. The transition to a sedentary lifestyle, farming and breeding animals, using the wheel and writing, dealing with religion, science and building more and more sophisticated constructions, the development of trade, new methods of transport, including maritime transport, as well as the need to defend against external threats ultimately led to the creation of the first civilizations, societies and states.
This process was long and consisted of many factors. The effects of the emergence of civilization were different. On the one hand, people lived better, although social stratification was progressing. Crafts and trade flourished, and the need for defense or profit led to an increase in violence and wars, often on religious grounds. The costs of erecting huge buildings impoverished the society. The exhaustion of the land led to famines and great migrations of people.
The civilization progress that took place in antiquity cannot be overestimated. We use many miracles of antiquity to this day. However, it’s worth remembering that progress always comes at a cost.
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