The Ancient World, CER-DAH
The modern world may look very different from the world that existed in the time of ancient civilizations, but our modern-day life continues to show the influence of cultures, traditions, ideas, and innovations from hundreds of years ago. Learn more about important historical civilizations, sites, people, and events.
The Ancient World Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Cerro Sechín, pre-Columbian temple site in the present-day Casma Valley, of the north central coast of Peru, known......
Chalcedon, ancient maritime town on the eastern shore of the Bosporus, opposite modern Istanbul, Turkey. A Megarian......
Jean-François Champollion was a French historian and linguist who founded scientific Egyptology and played a major......
Chan Chan, great ruined and abandoned city, the capital of the Chimú kingdom (c. 1100–1470 ce) and the largest......
Chanakya was a Hindu statesman and philosopher who wrote a classic treatise on polity, Artha-shastra (“The Science......
Chandra Gupta I, was the king of India (reigned 320 to c. 330 ce) and founder of the Gupta empire. He was the grandson......
Chandragupta was the founder of the Mauryan dynasty (reigned c. 321–c. 297 bce) and the first emperor to unify......
Chandragupta II, was a powerful emperor (reigned c. 380–c. 415 ce) of northern India. He was the son of Samudra......
Chang’an, ancient site, north-central China. Formerly the capital of the Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties, it is located......
Chankillo, archaeological site erected between 200 and 300 bce in the desert of the Sechín River basin in the Ancash......
Claude-Joseph-Désiré Charnay was a French explorer and archaeologist, noted for his pioneering investigations of......
Chavín, earliest highly developed culture in pre-Columbian Peru, which flourished between about 900 and 200 bc.......
Chavín de Huántar, site of temple ruins, west-central Peru. The ruins belong to the Chavín pre-Columbian culture,......
Chellean industry, an early Stone Age industry characterized by crudely worked hand axes. The implements from Chelles......
Chichén Itzá, ruined ancient Maya city occupying an area of 4 square miles (10 square km) in south-central Yucatán......
Chimú, South American Indians who maintained the largest and most important political system in Peru before the......
China, country of East Asia. It is the largest of all Asian countries. Occupying nearly the entire East Asian landmass,......
- Introduction
- Mountains, Plateaus, Rivers
- Eastern Region, Geography, Culture
- Sichuan Basin, Agriculture, Population
- Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, Gobi Desert
- Soil Types, Climate, Erosion
- Climate, Temperature, Variation
- Rainfall, Monsoon, Climate
- Wildlife, Mammals, Birds
- Sino-Tibetan, Ethnic Groups, Geography
- Altaic, Ethnic Groups, Geography
- Urbanization, Megacities, Population
- Population, Geography, Regions
- Government, Economy, Politics
- Economic Reforms, Growth, Trade
- Farming, Crops, Fisheries
- Minerals, Resources, Mining
- Manufacturing, Industry, Exports
- Trade, Silk Road, Manufacturing
- Railways, Expansion, Network
- Rivers, Canals, Lakes
- Posts, Telecommunications, Infrastructure
- Constitution, Government, Politics
- Administration, Regions, Provinces
- Health, Welfare, Population
- Education, Literacy, Schools
- Culture, Traditions, History
- Art, Sculpture, Painting
- Cultural Institutions
- Dynasties, Revolution, Communism
- Ancient Sites, Dynasties, Artifacts
- Ancient History, Dynasties, Civilization
- Religion, Social Structure
- Shang Dynasty, Oracle Bones, Bronze Age
- Divination, Religion, Shang
- Ancient Dynasties, Rituals, Oracle Bones
- Feudalism, Zhou Dynasty, Confucianism
- Cultural, Political, Social Changes
- Dynasties, Emperors, Civilization
- Qin Empire, 221-207 BCE
- Han Dynasty, Silk Road, Confucianism
- Ancient Dynasties, Silk Road, Confucianism
- Dynasties, Emperors, History
- Dynasties, Culture, Economy
- Provincial Government, Autonomy, Regions
- Government, Politics, Bureaucracy
- Relations, Peoples, Trade
- Dynasties, Art, Religion
- Six Dynasties, Han, Tang
- Shiliuguo, Sixteen Kingdoms, 303-439
- Daoism, Philosophy, Religion
- Sui Dynasty, Grand Canal, Reunification
- Foreign Affairs, Yangdi, Expansion
- Administration, Politics, Regions
- Dynasties, Reforms, Economy
- Empress Wuhou, Tang Dynasty, Unification
- Economic Growth, Reforms, Infrastructure
- Provincial Separatism
- Central Authority, Dynasties, Warlords
- Arts, Culture, Traditions
- Migration, Urbanization, Ruralization
- Five Dynasties, Ten Kingdoms
- Tangut, Khitan, Juchen
- Song Dynasty, Economy, Culture
- Consolidation, Expansion, Revolution
- Decline, Fall, Qing Dynasty
- Survival, Consolidation, Reforms
- Juchen Relations, Dynasties, Trade
- Dynasties, Emperors, Rulers
- Bureaucracy, Imperialism, Dynasties
- Neo-Confucianism, Philosophy, Education
- Song Culture, Art, Economy
- Yuan Dynasty, Mongol Rule, Silk Road
- Invasion, Song, Dynasty
- Mongol Empire, Yuan Dynasty, Expansion
- Manufacturing, Exports, Imports
- Buddhism, Monasteries, Philosophy
- Ancient, Poetry, Novels
- Trade, Expansion, Mongols
- Mongol Rule, Dynasties, Imperialism
- Dynastic Succession, History, Culture
- Government, Administration, Politics
- Innovations, Technology, Economy
- Relations, Diplomacy, Trade
- Economic Reforms, Growth, Trade
- Coinage, Currency, Mints
- Literature, Scholarship, Classics
- Manchu Dynasty, Expansion, Cultural Revolution
- Economic Reform, Industrialization, Urbanization
- Dynastic Rule, Social Hierarchy, Confucianism
- Population, Economy, Culture
- Opium War, Aftermath, Treaty
- Uprising, Revolution, Democracy
- Muslim Rebellions
- Foreign Relations, 1860s
- Tibet, Nepal, Himalayas
- Japan, Ryukyu, Islands
- Reform, 1898, Dynasty
- Reform, Revolution, Dynasty
- Revolution, 1911-12, Republic
- WWI, Neutrality, Treaty
- Civil War, Nationalists, Communists
- Riots, Protests, Repression
- Communist, Nationalist, Cooperation
- Reorganization, KMT, Politics
- Northern Expedition, Warlord Era, Kuomintang
- Nationalist, 1928-1937
- Civil War, Nationalists, Communists
- Stagnation, Reforms, Economy
- U.S. Aid, Relations, Trade
- Nationalism, Deterioration, Revolution
- Civil War, Revolution, Mao Zedong
- Civil War, Revolution, Communism
- Land Reform, Revolution, Economy
- Revolution, Communism, Mao
- Reconstruction, Consolidation, 1949-52
- Socialism, Transition, Revolution
- Politics, Reforms, Revolution
- Reforms, Modernization, Industrialization
- Cultural Revolution, Maoism, Communism
- Cultural Revolution, Mao, Communism
- Political Repression, Cultural Revolution, Maoism
- Urbanization, Reforms, Industrialization
- Struggle, Premiership, Politics
- Consequences, Revolution, Impact
- Economic Reforms, Marketization, Privatization
- Education, Cultural Reforms, Policies
- Leaders, 1949, PRC
The naval defeat of Philip V of Macedon at the Battle of Chios in 201 bce was the last large-scale naval battle......
Choghā Zanbīl, ruined palace and temple complex of the ancient Elamite city of Dur Untashi (Dur Untash), near Susa......
Chol, Mayan Indians of northern Chiapas in southeastern Mexico. The Chol language is closely related to Chontal,......
Chopper chopping-tool industry, certain stone tool traditions of Asia, probably of later Pleistocene age, characterized......
Chortí, Mayan Indians of eastern Guatemala and Honduras and formerly of adjoining parts of El Salvador. The Chortí......
Choukoutienian industry, tool assemblage discovered along with cultural remains at the Chou-k’ou-tien (Pinyin Zhoukoudian)......
Chu, one of the most important of the small states contending for power in China between 770 and 223 bce. Originally......
Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, and writer who vainly tried to uphold republican principles in the......
Ciceronian period, first great age of Latin literature, from approximately 70 to 43 bc; together with the following......
Cilicia, ancient district of southern Anatolia, bounded on the north and west by the Taurus Mountain Range, on......
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was a Roman statesman who gained fame for his selfless devotion to the republic in......
Lucius Cornelius Cinna was a leader of the Marian party in Rome who opposed Lucius Cornelius Sulla. After serving......
Circus Maximus, largest of the Roman hippodromes and one of the largest sports arenas ever built. A U-shaped structure......
Citium, principal Phoenician city in Cyprus, situated on the southeast coast near modern Larnaca. The earliest......
Gaius Julius Civilis was a Batavi chieftain and a Roman army officer who led a rebellion on the Rhine frontier......
civitas, citizenship in ancient Rome. Roman citizenship was acquired by birth if both parents were Roman citizens......
Clactonian industry, early flake tool tradition of Europe. Rather primitive tools were made by striking flakes......
Classical antiquity, historical period spanning from the output of ancient Greek author Homer in the 8th century......
classicism, aesthetic attitude and art style based on or reiterating themes, techniques, and subjects of art from......
Claudius was a Roman emperor (41–54 ce), who extended Roman rule in North Africa and made Britain a province. The......
Appius Claudius Caecus was an outstanding statesman, legal expert, and author of early Rome who was one of the......
Claudius II Gothicus was a Roman emperor in 268–270, whose major achievement was the decisive defeat of the Gothic......
Appius Claudius Pulcher was a Roman politician, a leading member of the senatorial party opposed to the powerful......
Appius Claudius Pulcher was a Roman politician, father-in-law of the agrarian reformer Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus.......
Publius Claudius Pulcher was the son of Appius Claudius Caecus and commander of the fleet that suffered the only......
Appius Claudius Sabinus Inregillensis was the traditional founder of the Claudii, one of the most distinguished......
Cleon was the first prominent representative of the commercial class in Athenian politics, he became leader of......
Cleopatra was an Egyptian queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty, famous in history and drama as the lover of Julius Caesar......
Cleophon was an Athenian statesman, one of the dominant figures in Athenian politics until the end of the Peloponnesian......
Charles Clermont-Ganneau was a French archaeologist who contributed to biblical studies and also exposed a number......
cleruchy, in ancient Greece, body of Athenian citizens in a dependent country holding grants of land awarded by......
Cloaca Maxima, ancient Roman sewer, one of the oldest monuments in the Roman Forum. Originally an open channel......
Publius Clodius Pulcher was a disruptive politician, head of a band of political thugs, and bitter enemy of Cicero......
Clovis complex, ancient culture that was widely distributed throughout North America. It is named for the first......
Clusium, ancient Etruscan town on the site of modern Chiusi, in Tuscany regione, north-central Italy. Clusium was......
Cnidus, ancient Greek city on the Carian Chersonese, on the southwest coast of Anatolia. The city was an important......
Cobá, ancient Mayan city on the Yucatán Peninsula, now in northeastern Quintana Roo, Mexico. The site is the nexus......
Cochise culture, an ancient North American Indian culture that existed perhaps 9,000 to 2,000 years ago, known......
colony, in Roman antiquity, a Roman settlement in conquered territory. The earliest colonies were coast-guard communities,......
comitia, in ancient Republican Rome, a legal assembly of the people. Comitia met on an appropriate site (comitium)......
Comitia Centuriata, Ancient Roman military assembly, instituted c. 450 bc. It decided on war and peace, passed......
Commodus was a Roman emperor from 177 to 192 (sole emperor after 180). His brutal misrule precipitated civil strife......
Confucianism, the way of life propagated by Confucius in the 6th–5th century bce and followed by the Chinese people......
Conon was an Athenian admiral notable for his overwhelming victory over the Spartan fleet off Cnidus (the southwestern......
Constans I was a Roman emperor from 337 to 350. The youngest son of Constantine the Great (reigned 306–337), Constans......
Constantine I was the first Roman emperor to profess Christianity. He not only initiated the evolution of the empire......
Constantine II was a Roman emperor from 337 to 340. The second son of Constantine the Great (ruled 306–337), he......
Basilica of Constantine, large, roofed hall in Rome, begun by the emperor Maxentius and finished by Constantine......
Constantius I was a Roman emperor and father of Constantine I the Great. As a member of a four-man ruling body......
Constantius II was a Roman emperor from ad 337 to 361, who at first shared power with his two brothers, Constantine......
Constantius III was a Roman emperor in 421. Constantius came from Naissus (modern Niš, Serbia) in the province......
consul, in ancient Rome, either of the two highest of the ordinary magistracies in the ancient Roman Republic.......
Consus, ancient Italian deity, cult partner of the goddess of abundance, Ops. His name was derived from condere......
Carleton S. Coon was an American anthropologist who made notable contributions to cultural and physical anthropology......
Copán, ruined ancient Maya city, in extreme western Honduras near the Guatemalan border. It lies on the west bank......
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo was a Roman general who restored Roman control over Armenia. In ad 47 Corbulo was victorious......
Corinth, an ancient and a modern city of the Peloponnese, in south-central Greece. The remains of the ancient city......
League of Corinth, offensive and defensive alliance of all the Greek states except Sparta, organized in 337 bce......
Gnaeus Marcius Coriolanus, legendary Roman hero of patrician descent who was said to have lived in the late 6th......
Cottius was the king and then prefect of the Ligurian tribes living in the area now called the Cottian Alps, centred......
Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus was a Roman politician who supported the agrarian reforms of the tribune......
Lucius Licinius Crassus was a lawyer and politician who is usually considered to be one of the two greatest Roman......
Marcus Licinius Crassus was a politician who in the last years of the Roman Republic formed the so-called First......
Crispus was the eldest son of Constantine the Great who was executed under mysterious circumstances on his father’s......
crowns of Egypt, part of the sovereign regalia of the kings of ancient Egypt. The crown of Upper Egypt was white......
Battle of Ctesiphon, clash of June 26–27, 363 ce, during the realm of Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, who had......
Cueva de las Manos, archaeological site comprising a stunning collection of cave art, perhaps best known for featuring......
Franz Cumont was a Belgian archaeologist and philologist who strongly influenced the modern Protestant school of......
cuneiform, system of writing used in the ancient Middle East. The name, a coinage from Latin and Middle French......
Sir Alexander Cunningham was a British army officer and archaeologist who excavated many sites in India, including......
curia, in ancient Rome, a political division of the people. According to tradition Romulus, the city’s founder,......
Gaius Scribonius Curio was a Roman statesman and orator, father of a noted politician of the same name. Curio opposed......
Gaius Scribonius Curio was a Roman politician, partisan of Julius Caesar against Pompey. He was the son of a statesman......
Ernst Curtius was a German archaeologist and historian who directed the excavation of Olympia, the most opulent......
Marcus Curtius, a legendary hero of ancient Rome. According to legend, in 362 bc a deep chasm opened in the Roman......
curule chair, a style of chair reserved in ancient Rome for the use of the highest government dignitaries and usually......
Battle of Cynoscephalae, (197 bce), conclusive engagement of the Second Macedonian War, in which Roman general......
St. Cyprian was an early Christian theologian and bishop of Carthage who led the Christians of North Africa during......
Cyprus, island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea renowned since ancient times for its mineral wealth, superb wines......
- Introduction
- Greek, Turkish, Mediterranean
- Economy, Tourism, Agriculture
- Manufacturing, Textiles, Food
- Politics, Divisions, EU
- Culture, Religion, Cuisine
- Mediterranean, Conflict, Independence
- Turkey, Greece, Conflict
- Byzantine Empire, Mediterranean, Divided Island
- Ottoman Rule, Conflict, Divisions
- Mediterranean, Divided, Island
- Reunification, Negotiations, Conflict
Cyrus the Great was a conqueror who founded the Achaemenian empire, centred on Persia and comprising the Near East......
Cyrus The Younger was the younger son of the Achaemenian king Darius II and his wife, Parysatis. Cyrus was the......
Da Yu, in Chinese mythology, the Tamer of the Flood, a saviour-hero and reputed founder of China’s oldest dynasty,......
Dahshūr, ancient pyramid site just south of Ṣaqqārah, northern Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile River. Dahshūr......