You know abt the Four Great Civilizations? None of them were white
“The Four Great Ancient Civilizations—Mesopotamia, Egypt, India (Indus Valley), and China—are recognized as the cradles of human civilization. These foundational societies emerged independently along major river valleys (Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, Yellow River), developing distinct writing systems, agricultural practices, and social structures, forming the basis for continuous cultural evolution in their respective regions.
This video explains what a civilization is and introduces the four major ancient civilizations:
The Four Great Ancient Civilizations
- Mesopotamia (c. 4500–1900 BCE):Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern Iraq), often cited as the earliest, developing cuneiform and city-states like Sumer.
- Ancient Egypt (c. 3100–30 BCE):Thrived along the Nile River, known for its pyramids, pharaohs, and hieroglyphic writing.
- Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1300 BCE): Flourished around the Indus River (modern Pakistan/India), recognized for advanced urban planning, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
- Ancient China (c. 2000 BCE–Present):Developed along the Yellow River, with enduring cultural traditions that have continued for millennia.
While some interpretations, such as in the BBC series, "Civilisations: Rise and Fall", sometimes highlight other major societies like Rome or the Aztecs, the "Four Great Ancient Civilizations" (四大文明古国) is a foundational concept in Chinese and Japanese historical studies, emphasizing the earliest, sustained human settlements.”