Olmec civilization

Ancient EgyptKemet (km.t)

Egypt spent the fifth century BCE as a Persian province, ruled by the same empire the Greeks stopped at Marathon in 490, while Rome had only just expelled its kings.

Chavín culture

When archaeologists sent water rushing through the temple's stone canals, the roar it made suggested the priests had built them to sound like a jaguar.

Etruscan civilizationRasna

Tomb paintings show Etruscan women reclining beside men at banquets, a mixed-sex scene that scandalised Greek visitors used to keeping women separate.

Western Zhou西周

Zhou nobles cast long inscriptions inside bronze ritual vessels, recording grants of land, titles and even chariots handed down by the king.