Early civilisations: Mesopotamia, Indus and China

In short: The first advanced civilisations arose along great rivers: in Mesopotamia (Euphrates and Tigris), on the Indus, the Nile and the Yellow River. They developed writing, cities, law and administration.

In more detail: Irrigation allowed agriculture with surpluses. That let craftsmen, priests and rulers flourish.

In detail

• Mesopotamia: Sumerians invented cuneiform around 3300 BC. The Code of Hammurabi (about 1750 BC) is an early collection of laws.
• Indus civilisation: Cities such as Mohenjo-Daro with planned streets, drainage and uniform weights. Its script is still undeciphered.
• China: Dynasties such as Shang and Zhou; oracle bone script; later the empire from 221 BC.
• Inventions: Wheel, plough, number systems (the Sumerians counted in base 60, hence 60 minutes), paper and compass in China.
• Egypt: The civilisation on the Nile (altes-aegypten-und-die-pharaonen).
• Legacy: Writing and law influenced later cultures.