197 questions and answers in this section

History and Culture » Ancient Civilizations

Explain why ancient Chinese practiced calligraphy.

Explain why ancient Chinese practiced calligraphy.

For the ancient Chinese, calligraphy was much more than writing; it was a true form of visual art. Through ink and brush, they could express...

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Explain why the first inhabitants of the island of Crete built the palace of Knossos with a complex labyrinth.

Explain why the first inhabitants of the island of Crete built the palace of Knossos with a complex labyrinth.

The labyrinth of the Palace of Knossos clearly symbolizes the religious and mythological importance among the Minoans. According to Greek myths, this complex maze was...

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Explain why the ruins of Pompeii offer a unique insight into ancient Roman life?

Explain why the ruins of Pompeii offer a unique insight into ancient Roman life?

In the year 79 AD, the eruption of Vesuvius literally stopped time in Pompeii. Burning ashes, toxic gases, and volcanic fragments buried the city in...

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Explain why the early civilizations used obelisks to mark important locations.

Explain why the early civilizations used obelisks to mark important locations.

Ancient civilizations, notably the Egyptians, saw obelisks as a direct way to display the prestige of their rulers. When a pharaoh or an emperor erected...

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Explain why the Incas used stepped agricultural terraces to cultivate their lands.

Explain why the Incas used stepped agricultural terraces to cultivate their lands.

The Andes mountain range has a steep relief, with strong slopes and narrow valleys not exactly ideal for easy cultivation. The natural flat areas, rare...

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Explain why the ancient Egyptians mummified their dead before burying them?

Explain why the ancient Egyptians mummified their dead before burying them?

The Egyptians believed that in order to fully enjoy eternal life, the soul of the deceased needed to recognize and rejoin its body after death. Mummification provided...

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Explain why the ancient Egyptians mummified their pharaohs for the afterlife.

Explain why the ancient Egyptians mummified their pharaohs for the afterlife.

The ancient Egyptians believed that after death, the deceased would pursue an eternal life in the afterlife. However, in order to reach it, the spirit...

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Explain why Mesopotamian cuneiform writings were engraved on clay tablets?

Explain why Mesopotamian cuneiform writings were engraved on clay tablets?

In Mesopotamia, in the region between the Tigris and the Euphrates, clay was an abundant and easily accessible raw material. The regular floods and inundations...

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Explain why the Vikings used runes to communicate.

Explain why the Vikings used runes to communicate.

Vikings often chose runes because they were easy to carve on different materials, such as wood, bone, or stone. Their simple shapes made of straight...

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Explain why Egyptian hieroglyphs are so complex to decipher?

Explain why Egyptian hieroglyphs are so complex to decipher?

Each hieroglyph can have multiple meanings depending on its context. For example, the sun symbol can refer to the sun itself, the solar god Ra, or an...

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