Where did the world's first civilization appear?

[Saint Marcus]

There are various theories about where the first "civilized" culture appeared in the world.

There are lots of theories on it. The two most popular are that the first "civilizations" appeared in the Middle East or India. Some more recent theories suggest the first "civilization" might have been located in south or meso america.

[laurentius]

Hey, wheres the Atlantis option?

[KrazyHorse]

Some more recent theories suggest the first "civilization" might have been located in south or meso america

a) Which theories would those be?

b) The first civilisation is usually ascribed to the eastern Mediterranean region, but not to the Middle East.

[Guynemer]

There's currently a lot of speculation about some enigmatic structures at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, around 50 miles off the coast of India, about 50 feet down. Whatever is there (if anything), it appears to date from at least 7000 BC.

And then, there are the theories that the Sphinx is much, much older than the rest of the Giza momuments--it's erosion pattern suggests water erosion, meaning rainfall. To get enough rainfall to produce that much erosion, it would have to date to 7500 BC at the very earliest, and most likely to around 10,000 BC.

So, long story short, we have no idea, and probably won't for a while.

[Saint Marcus]

Which theories would those be?

The Tiahuanaco theory, for one.

The first civilisation is usually ascribed to the eastern Mediterranean region, but not to the Middle East.

Eastern Mediterranean is part of the middle east. Plus, many textbooks refer to sumeria as the world's first civilization, which certainly was located in the middle east.

[KrazyHorse]

Greece &co. will be glad to hear that they're part of the ME.

[Saint Marcus]

Greece &co. will be glad to hear that they're part of the ME.

east med means israel and neighbours. and cyprus is considered to be part of asia, and not europe.

anyway, I don't think you could possible claim greece (incl. crete) to be the first civilization on earth.

[KrazyHorse]

Crete is among the first 3, at least.

[ranskaldan]

Middle East, of course.

Though I find it bizarre that there's a "south america" option but no "east asia" option.

[Saint Marcus]

Crete is among the first 3, at least.

true enough, but this thread isn't about the first 3.

Though I find it bizarre that there's a "south america" option but no "east asia" option.

That's cause I haven't heard of any (semi)valid theories that there are east asian civilizations predating indian or middle eastern civilizations. If you know of any, please post them here.

[ranskaldan]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus


That's cause I haven't heard of any (semi)valid theories that there are east asian civilizations predating indian or middle eastern civilizations. If you know of any, please post them here.

I don't.
But for that matter, I don't know any for New World civilizations either, which is why I found it bizarre that New World civs are a choice and East Asian ones aren't.

[Kyle]

I'm going to stick with Iraq/fertile crescent area right now. Though from what I've been reading in recent years, it seems Egypt and/or Indus Valley may have some plausable claims.

[KrazyHorse]

The Tiahuanaco theory seems to be based around some assumptions about both the intent and precision of the builders of that city. Reasonable archaeologists still date it to the first few centuries AD.

[Caesar the Great]

no southeast asia nor egypt options....

[Berzerker]

To quote the title of a book by Samual Noah Kramer, "History Begins At Sumer".

But Turkey (Catal Huyuk) seems to be quite old too...