This course explores the rise of civilizations in the Old World through archaeology and history. The course examines theories of civilization and state formation and case studies that demonstrate how states arose. Concentrates on regions that produced some of the earliest and most complex societies on the planet: Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, China, and Europe. Comparing and contrasting these great societies will show how each was influenced by its unique social, cultural, and environmental surroundings. The course also examines the origins of agriculture, writing, art, trade, mathematics, astronomy, and religion in Africa, Asia, and Europe.