Thousands of years ago, ancient civilizations around the world developed cultures whose impacts are still felt today. From codes of law and religious practices to cuisine and language, these long-ago societies have shaped the course of human history. Readers will discover innovative contributions made by ancient peoples: the engineering marvel of the Great Wall of China; the development of democracy in ancient Greece; the Maya civilization’s astute observations of the moon and planets; and many more. - Gives historical perspective, showing how many advancements were made by civilizations long ago - Sidebars highlight the most interesting aspects of each culture and its enduring impact - Key social studies domain-specific vocabulary words are defined in the glossary to help readers effectively explain the text - Complex yet engaging informational text that explains historical events and presents information in a sequential manner that clearly outlines the cause-and-effect dynamic of history