Cradles of Civilization
This river in Egypt gave life to one of the world’s earliest civilizations.
The Nile
In Hawaiian legend, this demigod used his magical fishhook to pull islands up from the sea.
Maui
This Roman general became “dictator for life” before being assassinated in 44 BCE.
Julius Ceaser
These massive tombs in Giza are among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Pyramids
The Romans famously gathered in this large arena, to watch gladiator fights.
The world’s first known writing system, cuneiform, was developed here.
In Greek myth, this messenger god wore winged sandals.
Hermes
He was the young Macedonian king who conquered the Persian Empire, stopping just short of India
Alexander the Great
This giant statue of a reclining lion with a human head, guards the pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
The (Great) Sphinx
This fermented beverage, made from barley, was a daily staple in Mesopotamia.
Beer
This ancient civilization flourished along the Indus River.
Harappan (or Indus Valley) civilization
The Sumerians worshiped Inanna, goddess of this force that shapes human hearts.
Love (or fertility)
This Indian emperor of the Mauryan Empire converted to Buddhism after the bloody Kalinga War.
Ashoka
This hanging structure was said to have been built by Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon
The Hanging Gardens
This ancient Indian text contains hymns, rituals, and philosophical ideas, forming the basis of Hinduism.
The Vedas
Early Chinese civilization grew along this river, nicknamed the “River of Sorrows.”
Yellow River (Huang River or Huang He)
This Norse goddess of love and beauty lent her name to the day of the week that became “Friday.”
Freya
This ancient empire built a massive road network known as the Royal Road.
Persian Empire
This stone circle in England is thought to have been used for astronomical or ritual purposes.
Stonehenge
In ancient Rome, this garment, worn by citizens and often dyed or trimmed to show status, was a symbol of citizenship.
Toga
The Rosetta Stone, key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, contained the same text written in hieroglyphic, demotic, and this third ancient script.
Greek
This Egyptian god of mummification and the afterlife is often depicted with the head of a jackal.
Anubis
This 13th-century conqueror, famous for his horseback riding archers, created the largest contiguous land empire in history
Genghis Khan
This massive stone structure in Peru was built by the Inca and remains an architectural marvel of the Andes.
Machu Picchu
Ancient Egyptians used this plant to make an early form of paper
Papyrus