They also established a numerical system that they used to build from calendars to pyramids. Sumer was the first society with an organized system of recording facts or events by developing a writing system. This type of writing was denominated cuneiform because it consisted of impressions made in a clay tablet with a wedge tipped stick or stylus. The writing system over the years became more complex and sophisticated. New specialized classes of citizens, the scribes, were in charge of keeping records on official matters such as taxation, crop management and historical events.
Papyrus made it easier for the Egyptians to write. As the Egyptian civilization grew, their way of life expanded based on their achievements. Like Egypt, the Indus River Valley was another great civilization. In the Indus River Valley they found artifacts such as clay, wooden children’s toys, pottery, small statues, and seals used to mark trade items. One of their most remarkable achievements was their city planning.
The ancient Egyptians believed that it was important to record and communicate information about the religion and government. Therefore, they invented written scripts that could be use to hold and record this information. The most famous Egyptian script was hieroglyphic, however throughout the three thousand years of history, at least three other scripts were used for different objectives. The scripts were tools for scribes, so that they were able to preserve the beliefs, history, and ideas of ancient Egypt on papyrus scrolls. One of the most unique traits of the Egyptians was their architectural innovation for building pyramids.
The first similarity one will notice about both of the monuments is that they are both located on the west bank of the Nile, in a region called the Necropolis. The Necropolis, which in Greek translates literally into the city of the dead was a separate place where the important people of ancient Egypt were buried. The tombs in the Necropolis were only to be visited by the family of the pharaohs and by the priests so they could continue to perform rituals. Being that they both in the Necropolis, this gives away that both the Stepped Pyramid and The Great Pyramids are examples of monumental funerary architecture. This meaning that they were both used to house the dead bodies of important figures and in this case, like most, the buried were deceased pharaohs.
The law was well known for its "an eye for an eye" method. The laws were written in Rosetta stone so they could be preserved and passed on to future generations. The 282 laws are known as the first set of written laws. The Law of the Twelve Tables originated in Rome in 450B.C. The leaders separated the laws into sections so the people would have a better understanding of the law.
Sumerian kings built many towers to please and worship their gods. The towers were made of brick plat forms with shrines at the top. A Ziggurat was an ancient Mesopotamian tower with staircases outside and a shrine at the top.
The Ancient Cities of Petra and Palmyra: How Architecture Depicts Religion Over the course of history, few cities have had the ability capture the imagination of mankind like the ruins of the ancient caravan cities of Petra and Palmyra. Hundreds of years ago, these 2 cities were main centers of commerce and religious mixing along the Silk Road. Traders, merchants, soldiers, and many others would find themselves walking along Petra’s or Palmyra’s streets, surrounded by glorious structures and magnificent buildings whose architecture of both was uniquely indicative of the cultures and religions housed within the city walls and, through the massive temples representative of Palmyra and simple betyls and extravagant burial tombs typical of Petra, demonstrated each cities various religious views. Today, the architectural design of these mysterious cities offers historians and archaeologists a glimpse into the prosperously bustling centers of spirituality they once were. Ultimately, the caravan cities of Petra and Palmyra, were once great and imposing centers of trade that architecturally displayed their religious beliefs; Petra through its betyls and burial tombs, and Palmyra through the Great Temple of Bel.
Babylonia - one of the most widely renowned ancient civilisations to have ever existed. Known for its impressive walls and buildings and its reputation as a great seat of learning and culture the unique lifestyle and cultural beliefs of the Babylonians still interest historians and compel the world to this day, with their vast legacy still standing over 3000 years onwards. In the 2nd millennium BC, Mesopotamia (an ancient cultural region where Babylonia once stood) was known as the ‘Cradle of Civilisation’. Framed by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, and the fertile land surrounding, Mesopotamia was a key area for change and development in the ancient Middle East. It included many historically important city states, including Assyria to the north, Elam to the south-east and Babylonia towards the centre.
Ancient Civilizations and Their Inventions Ancient cultures have shaped who we are today. A lot of the inventions they created thousands of years ago we still use today in our everyday lives. By being aware of the lives and the creations of our ancestors, we can better understand our place in the world. What we would do without these inventions is unimaginable. Three of the major ancient civilizations that created important inventions are the Sumerians, the Chinese, and the Egyptians.
Author: James E. Packer Title: The Forum of Trajan in Rome, A Study of the Monuments in Brief Publication Information: ©2001, University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London Marcus Ulpius Traianus was a Roman Emperor in AD 98-117, known as the Roman Emperor of Trajan. Because of the militaristic skill that he showed, Nerva chose him to be his successor on the Imperial throne. Trajan was praised in his time by the Romans because he built roads and aqueducts. Trajan’s forum was an elaborate one and was made of polished marble, bronze and gold. The two main elements of the new Forum of Trajan were that it had an open piazza as well as a basilica, both of which were very large.