There is evidence that history has been studied for as long as humans have been engaged in making it. The study of ancient civilizations puts into perspective where people came from in relation to who we are today. Studied at a young age, knowledge of ancient civilizations foster an understanding of the evolving nature of human intelligence, of which we are part, and develop a respect for ancient achievements th

Lessons from the Past
A study of ancient civilizations reveals lessons that modern man can learn from. Cycles of events, weather patterns and astronomical observations offer a guide as what to expect in the future. The ancient Mayan civilization declined rather mysteriously, with insufficient archaeological evidence left behind to form a concrete theory--though some believe that a cataclysmic event may have played a role. New evidence and technological advances promise to open up this area for study, perhaps with lessons for our civilization.

Appreciation of History
Ancient civilizations that left literature and art works that have survived to modern times offer a rare glimpse into an entire way of life. Pottery often depicted fashions, social customs and religious rituals as also did frescoes and other art. Architectural remains of great civilizations offer an insight into engineering and building skills, mathematics, culture, and intellectual life. The very feat of building a pyramid without machines and cranes is a great achievement that took the greatest minds, scientists and mathematicians of the times to achieve.

Why Do Civilizations Come and Go?
So many ancient civilizations grew to great heights, with advanced city-states, an organized social order and a developed system of law, but then fell. Many things can cause a civilization to decline, including famine, plague, political unrest, war and economic collapse. Modern scholarship seeks to learn about likely outcomes for our own future from studying the decline and fall of past cultures.

Lasting Contributions
Studying how ancient societies developed points out many lasting contributions that are part of life in modern society. It shows how technology can develop from a primitive handmade tool, to a sophisticated engineered mechanism and finally a digital device. Printing is an example of an idea which has taken this course, from stone tablets to digital printing, in a few thousand years. The study of the development of everyday tools and implements for farming, cooking and hunting provide important clues about ancient culture, customs, agriculture, textiles and handcrafts. Understanding the origins of many modern concepts offers a deeper understanding of human evolution and where we are heading as a race.