Ancient Civilizations
Empires of antiquity shaped the modern world, establishing regional networks of administration and commerce that persisted for thousands of years. Explore empires, from Ancient Rome and Persia to India and China. Discover the epic battles, subtle political maneuvering, and historical currents that shaped the ancient world.
Are you a teacher? Click here to view the Teaching Tools for this topic
Featured Materials
The Roman Empire
Article
The Roman Empire
The Romans built a huge empire that lasted for almost a thousand years. While Rome eventually fell, its impact on the world continues.
Empire Autopsy
Activity
Empire Autopsy
Think you can figure out why empires fall? Time to conduct an autopsy on some of the world’s earliest empires.
Babatha (Graphic Biography)
Article
Babatha (Graphic Biography)
Babatha was a Jewish woman living in the Roman Empire who disputed custody of her son and ownership of property under Jewish and Roman law.
Lessons
Lesson 5.4
Empires
As civilizations grew in complexity, they also grew in physical size, and that meant they started meeting their neighbors. It’s time to talk conflict, conquest, and empire.
View Lesson
Lesson 4.4
Comparing Ancient Empires
Empires rise and fall. Dive into a selection of the ancient world’s great empires, comparing what made them unique and identifying similarities in what caused their growth and collapse.
View Lesson
Lesson 5.2
Why Do Empires Collapse?
What causes empires to collapse? Explore some of history’s greatest collapses to uncover what went wrong—and what these turning points reveal about the past, present, and future.
View Lesson
Materials
Rise of Empires: Akkadians and Assyrians
Article
Rise of Empires: Akkadians and Assyrians
The Akkadian and Assyrian empires were two of the world’s first empires. Their conquests reshaped Mesopotamia. Later empires had much in common with these originals.
What is an Empire?
Article
What is an Empire?
Empires have been one of the most common features of human societies throughout history. But what are they? This article gives a basic definition and highlights several important features common to empires.
The Macedonian Empire
Article
The Macedonian Empire
Alexander the Great conquered the Greeks and Persians and built a vast empire. His conquests shaped culture, trade, and politics across Afro-Eurasia.
Han Dynasty China
Article
Han Dynasty China
The history of China’s dynasties extends for more than 3,500 years. How did the Han Dynasty become so powerful but ultimately fall?
Worlds Collide: Persians and Greeks
Article
Worlds Collide: Persians and Greeks
The Persians created a vast overland empire while the Greeks organized themselves in independent city-states. How did their contacts and conflicts shape our world?
Teaching This Topic
Reading Strategies
Help students dig into a variety of texts as they learn about ancient civilizations.
PD Event: Rediscovering Ancient Ways
Learn from the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, whose educators will share glimpses of what life was like for ancient peoples in West Asia and North Africa.
Blog Post: You Can Thank the Ancients
Help your students understand the legacies of ancient civilizations that reach beyond the ruins—think concrete, calendars, and democracy!
Community Forum: What Did the Ancients Give Us?
Check out teachers’ ideas about analyzing how ancient societies impact the world today.