Early groups of hunter-gatherers inhabited France's Lascaux Cave, pictured here,
about 17,000 years ago. From Europe to western Asia, archaeological remains
tell us about hunting, tool manufacture, and artistic expression. Many of the
foundations of "western" cultures developed in these regions. The
inventions and practices of the ancient eastern Mediterranean encompassed early
writing systems in Mesopotamia, complex religious and funeral rites in Egypt,
and a tradition of competitive athletics in Greece. Along with other ancient
cultures, these formed the basis for western philosophy, traditions of worship,
and institutions of law and government.
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| Mesopotamian Writing |
Egyptian Mummy Coffins |
Greek Athletics |
