The Americas
China was not the only civilization to rise during the “Crisis of the Known World”. While the three civilizations of the Near East were collapsing, the first complex societies were also arising in Mesoamerica (the Olmecs) and South America (the Chavín). By 2000 BC people began to settle permanently in river basins draining the western slopes of the Peruvian Andes and the Tuxtla Mountains in Mesoamerica. By 1000 BC, the Chavín of Peru and the Olmecs of Mesoamerica had built massive ceremonial centers and their warriors were spreading their influence through their respective territories.
China was not the only civilization to rise during the “Crisis of the Known World”. While the three civilizations of the Near East were collapsing, the first complex societies were also arising in Mesoamerica (the Olmecs) and South America (the Chavín). By 2000 BC people began to settle permanently in river basins draining the western slopes of the Peruvian Andes and the Tuxtla Mountains in Mesoamerica. By 1000 BC, the Chavín of Peru and the Olmecs of Mesoamerica had built massive ceremonial centers and their warriors were spreading their influence through their respective territories.
The Second Group of “First” Civilizations (Note again – along rivers!)
But then in 900 BC the Chavín were ravaged by floods and starvation and there was revolt among the Olmecs. By 200 BC the civilizations of the Chavin and the Olmec were just a memory.
Like before, but in reverse, while China was racked by constant warfare and the first civilizations of the Americas were dissolving, in the Mediterranean, civilizations were growing --- again. This time Greece and Rome were on the rise.
Like before, but in reverse, while China was racked by constant warfare and the first civilizations of the Americas were dissolving, in the Mediterranean, civilizations were growing --- again. This time Greece and Rome were on the rise.
Again look at the climate graph in the second post. What was happening with the global temperature? It was rising back up to where it was when agriculture was first invented and the very first civilizations arose. With the increase in global temperature civilization in the Mediterranean gets back on its feet only to crash again. The decline of the Western Roman Empire happened between 200 and 600 AD.
Notice, the global temperature fell again. Interesting! What is going on??
To understand what was going on you need to have some understanding of how weather and climate work on our Earth.
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