Includes index

Ancient worlds -- Civilizations through time -- The pyramid builders town -- A thriving community -- Honoring the moon god -- Ocean explorers -- New Year festival -- A day in the agora -- A clash of mighty armies -- A royal burial -- Port city under attack -- Soldiers and traders -- A day at the races -- A prince comes of age -- Piecing together the past

"Ancient Worlds is a tour through history's most influential civilizations between 3000 BCE and 750 CE, capturing moments that reveal the culture and technology that made them great. From Sumer, the world's earliest civilization, to the heyday of the Mayan Empire, the tour crosses every continent, taking in developments in urban planning, art and architecture, religion, warfare, trade, and cultural exchange. Discover how deep knowledge of the Sun, sea, and stars enabled ancient seafarers to navigate the Pacific Ocean; witness the highs and lows of a thrilling chariot race in the Roman Empire's greatest hippodrome; and marvel at the military might of the Mauryan Empire and its 9,000 war elephants"--Provided by the publisher