Ancient World
Discovery of metal led to human civilisation becoming highly evolved. Copper was the first metal used by human beings; the cultures based on use of both copper and stone are called Chalcolithic Cultures.
Human civilisation has evolved through various phases - each phase contributing something unique. The Stone Age was followed by the Metal Ages - Copper, Bronze and Iron. Town based civilisations came in the Bronze Age. The art of writing was developed during the Bronze Age Civilisations.
An alloy of copper and tin i.e. bronze which replaced stone, wood and bones to some extent for making weapons and implements. Town based civilization came up for first time in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China.
Mesopotamia
River valley: Between Tigris and Euphrates
Modern city: Iraq
Script and language: Cuneiform
Religion: Worshipped sky Sun, Moon
Egypt
River valley: Nile
Modern city: Egypt
Script and language: Hieroglyphics
Religion: Temples dedicated to particular Gods in each town
China
River valley: Hwang Ho
Modern city: North China
Script and language: Common Chinese language
Religion: Worshipped number of deities, ancestors nature and spirits
India
The Indus Valley Civilisation was known for its town planning, crafts and culture.
River valley: Indus
Modern city: Harappa (West Punjab), Sindh, Gujarat, Rajasthan
Script and language: Harappan script (Not deciphered yet)
Religion: Mother Goddess, lingam worship
Iron Age
The Iron Age brought radical changes in the social and economic life of the people in different countries at different times. Significant contributions were made in various fields such as polity, philosophy, art, architecture and sculpture by the Greeks, Romans, Persians and Indians.