Buzz
When people think of ancient civilizations, they often associate them with Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia, China, and other great empires. Many are familiar with how Ancient Greece birthed western philosophy, theater, democracy, and the Olympic Games. They know the Chinese invented paper and gunpowder, and that Rome built one of the largest and most powerful empires in history.
However, popular culture tends to overlook many other intriguing facts about the ancient world—facts that continue to impact our daily lives even today.
The purpose of this list is to ignite the curiosity of readers, with each point offering a potentially new and exciting revelation.
10. Feta Cheese: The Oldest Known Cheese in History
Feta cheese, crafted from sheep and goat milk, is Greece's iconic national cheese and remains one of the most beloved cheeses worldwide. What many may not know is that feta has ancient roots; it is even mentioned in several classical Greek texts. For example, in Homer’s The Odyssey, the Cyclops is shown making cheese from sheep's milk, which is believed to be a form of feta.
9. The Celts Were Not Savages
Classical Greco-Roman writers often portrayed the Celts as uncultured barbarians. Numerous historical accounts detail the Celtic practices of human and animal sacrifice, adding to the reputation of their 'barbarism'.
Despite their supposed cultural refinement, both the Ancient Greeks and Romans routinely sacrificed animals—and even humans—long before the Celts engaged in similar practices. For instance, King Agamemnon is infamous for offering his daughter, Iphigenia, as a sacrifice. The Greeks also held brutal combat games where humans fought to the death for the crowd’s amusement, and it is well-documented that Romans forced prisoners to battle each other—or face wild, vicious animals—within grand public arenas. So, what gives the Greeks and Romans the right to criticize the Celts for being barbaric?
In reality, Celtic religious sacrifices were far less brutal and savage than many of the atrocities committed by the Romans.
8. Ancient China Created the First Seismograph
Most people assume that the seismograph was a Western invention, but that’s not true. In A.D. 130, Zhang Heng, a Chinese astronomer and literary figure, created the first device designed to monitor earthquakes. This early instrument could detect seismic activity and even determine the general location of a quake. In essence, Zhang Heng is the forefather of the modern Seismograph, though his contributions are often overlooked.
7. Cappuccinos Get Their Name From a Crypt in Rome
The Capuchin Crypt in Rome is made up of five chapels and a 200-foot (60m) corridor, all adorned with the bones of 4,000 deceased monks. The Catholic order maintains that the display isn’t intended to be grim, but serves as a quiet reminder of the fragility of human life. The popular coffee drink Cappuccino derives its name from these monks, known for wearing hoods, or cappucio, as part of their robes.
6. India Has Deep Historical Connections With The West
Contrary to what many believe, India was introduced to Western culture long before the colonial era. Alexander the Great was one of the first major figures to connect India with the West, particularly with Greek civilization. After his death, it wasn’t until Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived in Calicut, India, in 1498 that a true bridge was formed between Europe and the East.
5. The Persians Were the True “Aryans”
Though popular culture often depicts the Persians as non-Caucasian, the Persians themselves have always considered themselves the original Aryans. In fact, the word “Iran” in Persian literally means “Land of the Aryans.”
The Medes were of Aryan descent and were the first to unite Iran around the sixth century B.C. One of their tribes, the Magi, were powerful Zoroastrian priests. The most famous of these Magi are the Three Wise Men from the Christian Nativity story, who brought gifts to the newborn Christ.
4. The Tradition of Toasting Began in Ancient Greece
When we raise a glass at modern-day dinner parties, many of us have little knowledge of the origins of this tradition. In Ancient Greece, however, the dinner host would always take the first sip of wine to reassure guests that the drink was not poisoned—thus the saying “drinking to one’s health.”
The toasting custom continued in Ancient Rome, but with an added touch that gave rise to its current name: Romans would drop a piece of toasted bread into each wine glass to mellow out unpleasant flavors or excessive acidity. So while we toast to happiness today, in ancient times it was literally a matter of life or death!
3. The People of Mesopotamia Were the First to Master Nature's Forces
Mesopotamia, which corresponds roughly to modern-day Iraq, derives its name from the Greek term meaning “the land between the rivers.” Often referred to as the “cradle of civilization,” it is considered the birthplace of the world’s first true civilization.
One of the greatest technological breakthroughs in Mesopotamia was the Sumerians’ ability to control the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. By learning how to construct levees, they no longer relied on unpredictable floods and instead developed a reliable year-round food supply. This was a key factor in the establishment of the first civilization, as it allowed people to settle permanently rather than remaining nomadic.
2. Rome Was the Birthplace of the Shopping Mall
The world’s first shopping mall was created by Emperor Trajan in the heart of Rome. This multi-level complex housed over 150 shops, selling everything from food and beverages to clothing and spices. Known as Trajan’s Market, it can be considered the first “modernized” mall, at least when it comes to the concept of a centralized retail space.
1. The Birth of Tragedy and Comedy
It’s widely known that both comedy and tragedy have their roots in ancient Greece. What many don’t realize, however, is how these terms came to be. The word “tragedy” originates from the Greek term for “goat-song,” as early Greek tragedies were performed in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine, with actors wearing goatskins. Tragedies typically told noble tales involving gods, kings, and heroes. On the other hand, comedies, or “revels,” were often centered around lower-class characters and their humorous adventures.
