Prominent Ancient Cities , 3

Explore the information in this article and you will learn of the city that brought us mathematics and the Olympics; one of the most well known of ancient cities to this day; an African city that built structures that puzzled the Europeans; and a city that saw its fair share of many different empires.

Athens , Unforgettable Ancient Achievements

The capital of ancient Greece is well known for the many accomplishments and achievements that have touched the lives of people living today. Athens is known for democracy, great strides in philosophy, mathematics, and the Olympics. With numerous great battles under their belt , the triumphs they earned both on land and at sea , aided their quest to become the leader of all the Aegean city-states by the time the early part of the 5th century BC rolled around.

When victories became a reality , Athenians would erect imposing temples (for example the Parthenon), which would grow into an unforgettable icon for art and architecture in ancient Greek times. However, it is believed that a plague (most likely the infamous typhoid fever) would send the empire to its knees.

One of the Most Known of Ancient Cities , Rome

Modern Rome offers just a slight glimpse into the greatness once shared amongst the ancient peoples, who created great legacies, such as the Pantheon, Colosseum, and the Forum. In the past, the empire consisted of 2.5 million square miles, stretching across three different continents, and supported close to 100 million people. The height of its greatness is calculated at around 117 AD when the emperor Trajan was in charge of the city and the glory of achievement were rewarded with gladiator games that lasted for months at a time. Sadly, the Roman Empire would decline in the 5th century AD.

The lack of balance within the internal structure of the city coupled by outside attacks , the different parts of Rome would disband and form other great destinations. The western part of the empire (Hispania, Gaul, and Italy) would separate into independent kingdoms. The eastern part of the empire (which was governed in Constantinople) was unharmed by the crisis and would prosper for another millennium , before eventually turning into the Ottoman Empire.

What is Great Zimbabwe?

The history of the 1,800 acres of land that doesn’t seem like much at first, but has accomplished great things over the years. The creation of Great Zimbabwe stumped the early European colonists who came to the complicated system that became known as the only one of its kind in the continent of Africa. The sub-Saharan people constructed structures beginning after 1200 AD and were inhabited by close to 20,000 Shona cattlemen.

Constantinople , The Mother of All Empires

Nowadays, the ancient city of Constantinople is a part of two different continents, as some areas are linked to the Turkish city of Istanbul. Rome also laid claim to the land. Throughout the Middle Ages, the city gained a reputation for being the largest and wealthiest city in the world. It would recharge the Roman Empire , establishing a center for prosperity to blossom. Later, the Byzantine Empire and lastly , the Ottoman Empire , would reap the benefits of the city. Education and art became very important about the land, as the number of cathedrals and universities only continued to increase through the years.