Ancient Civilizations Reference Library Vol 1 Almanac

459 Pages·1999·7.92 MB·English

by  Judson Knight

AC-Almnc.V2.tpgs 10/28/99 3:36 PM Page 1
Ancient
Civilizations
Almanac
AC-Almnc.V1tpgs 10/28/99 3:34 PM Page 3
E1Egypt–India
M
U
L
O
V
Ancient
Civilizations
Almanac
Judson Knight
Stacy A. McConnell and
Lawrence W. Baker, Editors
AC-Almnc.V2.tpgs 10/28/99 3:36 PM Page 3
E2China–Rome
M
U
L
O
V
Ancient
Civilizations
Almanac
Judson Knight
Stacy A. McConnell and
Lawrence W. Baker, Editors
AncAlm.FM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:13 PM Page iv
Judson Knight
c
a Staff
n
Stacy A. McConnell, Lawrence W. Baker, U•X•L Editors
a Carol DeKane Nagel, U•X•L Managing Editor
m Tom Romig, U•X•L Publisher
l Rita Wimberley, Senior Buyer
A
Evi Seoud, AssistantProduction Manager
Mary Beth Trimper, Composition Manager
:
s
Margaret A. Chamberlain, Permissions Specialist (pictures)
n
o Martha Schiebold and Michelle DiMercurio, Senior Cover Art Directors
i Pamela A.E. Galbreath, Senior Page Art Director
t
Cynthia Baldwin, Product Design Manager
a
Barbara J. Yarrow, Graphic Services Supervisor
z
i Linda Mahoney, LM Design, Typesetting
l
i
v Front cover: (top photo) The Parthenon. Reproduced by permission of
i Susan D. Rock. (bottom photo) Terra cotta statues from the tomb of
C
Shih-huang-ti. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.

t
n Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
e
Knight, Judson
i
c Ancient Civilizations: Almanac / Judson Knight; edited by Stacy A.
n McConnell and Lawrence W. Baker
p. cm.
A
Includes biographical references and index.
Summary: Provides historical information and interpretation on
ancient civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, China,
Africa, Israel, and elsewhere.
ISBN 0-7876-3982-6 (set), —- ISBN 0-7876-3983-4 (v. 1). —- ISBN
0-7876-3894-2 (v. 2);
Civilization, Ancient-Juvenile literature. 2. Civilization,
Ancient-Miscellanea-Juvenile literature. [1. Civilization, Ancient.] I.
McConnell, Stacy A. II. Title
CB311 .K594 1999
930-dc21 99-046791
[B]-DC21 CIP
This publication is a creative work copyrighted by U•X•L and fully
protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by misappropriation,
trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws. The authors
and editors of this work have added value to the underlying factual
material herein through one or more of the following: unique and original
selection, coordination, expression, arrangement, and classification of the
information. All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended.
Copyright © 2000 U•X•L, an imprint of the Gale Group
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in
any form.
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
iv
AncAlm.FM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:13 PM Page v
To Tyler, from her ancient daddy;
and to Deidre, from her modern husband.
AncAlm.FM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:13 PM Page vii
Contents
Advisory Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Reader’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Words to Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
Pronunciation Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xix
Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxi
Research and Activity Ideas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . xliii
Egyptian workers depicted
on a frieze. (Archive Photos.
Reproduced by permission.)
Volume 1
Chapter 1: Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 2: Mesopotamia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Chapter 3: Israel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Chapter 4: Phoenicia, Syria, and Arabia . . . . . . . . 117
Chapter 5: Asia Minor and the Black Sea Region . . . 137
vii
AncAlm.FM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:13 PM Page viii
Chapter 6: Persia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Chapter 7: India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Volume 2
Chapter 8: China. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Chapter 9: The Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Chapter 10: Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Chapter 11: Greece. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Chapter 12: Rome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Where to Learn More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xlix
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . liii
viii Ancient Civilizations: Almanac
AncAlm.FM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:13 PM Page ix
Advisory Board
Special thanks are due to U•X•L’s Ancient Civilizations Ref-
erence Library advisors for their invaluable comments and
suggestions:
• Jonathan Betz-Zall, Children’s Librarian, Sno-Isle Regional
Library, Edmonds, Washington
• Nancy Guidry, Young Adult Librarian, Santa Monica Pub-
lic Library, Santa Monica, California
• Karen Shugrue, Junior High Media Specialist, Agawam
Junior High School, Feeding Hills, Massachusetts.
ix
AncAlm.FM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:13 PM Page xi
Reader’s Guide
Reader’s Guide
Civilization in its purest form is universal, something
available to all people. The wisdom that went into the build-
ing of the Egyptian pyramids, the creation of Greek democ-
racy, or the construction of the Mesoamerican metropolis
Teotihuacán does not belong to any race or nation: it is a part
of the human legacy, something all people can appreciate
regardless of their heritage. Ancient Civilizations: Almanac
focuses on twelve civilizations and cultures, beginning with
the ancient Egyptians and covering the Sumerians of
Mesopotamia, the Shang of China, the Olmec of the Americas,
and the Minoan of ancient Greece, among others, and con-
cludes with the rise and fall in A.D.476 of the Roman Empire.
While concentrating on each culture’s unique history and cus-
toms, Ancient Civilizations: Almanac also highlights the simi-
larities between cultures that existed thousands of years—and
sometimes thousands of miles—apart from each other.
Arranged into chapters by geographic region, Ancient
Civilizations: Almanacfeatures more than 110 black-and-white
photographs that help bring the civilizations to life. Maps in
xi
AncAlm.FM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:13 PM Page xii
each chapter place the civilization in a geographic context as
well as highlight landmarks relating to that civilization.
Numerous sidebar boxes provide lists of words to know or in-
depth coverage of topics of high interest, such as the legacy of
Saharan rock art. Cross references point the user to related
information, while a “For More Information” section con-
cludes each chapter. Ancient Civilizations: Almanacalso features
a glossary of terms used throughout the volumes, a timeline
containing significant milestones from each civilization, and
an index covering the people, places, and events discussed
throughout Ancient Civilizations: Almanac.
Comments and Suggestions
We welcome your comments on Ancient Civilizations:
Almanac,as well as your suggestions for persons to be featured
in future editions. Please write, Editors, Ancient Civilizations:
Almanac, U•X•L, 27500 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, Michi-
gan, 48331-3535; call toll-free: 1-800-877-4253; fax to 248-
414-5043; or send e-mail via http://www.galegroup.com.
xii Ancient Civilizations:Almanac