Early Civilization

The earliest civilizations, according to the most recent records, happened in the Middle East. The people of the Middle East developed the world’s earliest true civilization some 5,000 years ago. 

Going way back in time, around 1100 B.C, the Phoenicians were known as the most powerful traders and their empire spread across the Mediterranean. Their empire included wealthy city-states that competed with each other about many ideas and tragedies. Trading was a very useful system in this time period and the Phoenicians had the largest trading business. They traded wine, weapons, ivory, and slaves; as well as ideas, religious beliefs, art, and ways of living. Their most important influence on the world today has been their Alphabet. Their writing arrangement incorporated symbols to represent sounds and they shared this alphabet with traders throughout the world. 

Another large empire was acquired by the Assyrians around 850 B.C. They are widely known for their highly advanced military organization and up to date weaponry. Because of the constant wars, kings built an empire that stretched from east to north of the Tigris River all the way to central Egypt. The most popular king was King Sennacherib who destroyed 89 cities, 820 villages, burned Babylon, and ordered most inhabitants killed. What made their military special was that they were highly equipped with stiff leather and metal armor, and were prepared with iron swords and iron-pointed spears. The Assyrian System of having local governors report to a central authority became the fundamental system of government management. 

The civilization the defeated the Assyrians and made a civilization for themselves is the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans recreated Babylon, a city that was destroyed by the Assyrians, as their capital. This culture was notorious for the astronomy that was discovered and still acknowledged in our world today. The Astronomers kept detailed records of how stars and planets would change positions. This is the concept of the solar system as we call it. The Chaldean civilization was the basis for both astronomy and astrology. 

“The true civilization is where every man gives to every other every right that he claims for himself” (Robert Ingersoll). Each of these empires have contributed and influenced the society we live in such as our market, military, government, and even sciences that we study. The cultures, in the Middle East, some 5,000 years ago developed the world’s earliest true civilization.