The cradle of civilization is a possible birthplace of civilization .
Usually this term is applied to the cultures of the Copper Age era, originated in the ancient Middle East - this is, in particular, El-Obeid culture and Nakada culture , which gave rise to the Sumerian and ancient Egyptian civilizations, respectively. The territories of the Fertile Crescent ( Mesopotamia and the Levant ), Armenia , the Iranian Highlands (ancient Elam and Aratta ), Central and Eastern Anatolia [1] are generally considered the first cradle of civilization.
In addition, this term is used in relation to some other Asian cultures located along the valleys of major rivers, such as the Indus River ( Indus Civilization ) on the Indian subcontinent [2] and the Yellow River ( Shang Dynasty ) in China [3] , as well as the oldest cultures in other early centers of civilization: in Greece ( Cycladic civilization , Minoan civilization ), Peru ( North-Chico culture with the city of Caral ) and Mesoamerica ( Olmec civilization ).
Speculations around the “cradle of civilization” are characteristic of pseudo-historical and esoteric literature on “lost civilizations and continents”, sometimes painted in nationalistic tones (proclaiming Taiwan , Arkaim , Tripoli , etc.).
Notes
- ↑ The Near East: Archaeology in the Cradle of Civilization , Charles Keith Maisels, Routledge 1993, ISBN 0415047420
- ↑ Indus River Valley Civilizations . history-world.org. The appeal date is June 10, 2008. Archived June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Ancient China: The Yellow River Culture (inaccessible link) . www.wsu.edu. The appeal date is June 10, 2008. Archived November 17, 1999.