This course is intended to acquaint students with the varied contributions of ancient human civilizations. These distant empires and peoples may have been driving forces in human history thousands of years ago, but today’s students often possess little understanding of their lasting impact, upon which the modern world has been formed. Students will develop an appreciation of the notable personalities, the pivotal military events, the daily lives of people from various social classes, the technological and scientific advances, the political organizations, the religious ideologies, and the artistic innovations of the ancients. The class will emphasize the ancient Egyptian civilization, the Sumerian civilization, the Indus Valley civilization, the ancient Chinese civilization, and the Aegean civilization.