When you think of the Ancient world, you probably think of Egypt, Babylon, various Chinese dynasties, and of course Greece and Rome. But the Ancient world was a lot bigger, and longer lasting, than you might be aware. Let’s take a look at some of the other ancient peoples that deserve a lot more recognition than they typically get. 

10. Muisca Confederation

Located in modern-day Colombia, the Muisca Confederation was a group of chieftains in the central Andean highlands, active during the period leading up to the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century. Unlike centralized empires like the Incas, the Muisca didn’t have a single ruler but were rather a collection of various chiefdoms, each governed by its own chieftain, or “zipa.”

Economically, they were reknown for their expertise in metallurgy, especially in crafting intricate gold and tumbaga objects. This craftsmanship led to the legend of El Dorado, which you’re almost certainly more familiar with. It’s believed the legend was inspired by the Muisca ritual of the new zipa covering himself in gold dust and diving into Lake Guatavita, offering treasures to the gods.

Agriculture was also vital, as it was with everyone, with the Muisca cultivating crops such as maize, potatoes, and beans in terraced fields. They traded extensively with neighboring groups, making their lands an important regional hub. Sadly, with the arrival of the Spanish in the 1530s, the Muisca Confederation faced diseases, conquest, and cultural disruption. They weren’t the only ones to endure that, of course – but they never received as much attention as the Aztecs, Incas, or Mayans. 

9. Dilmun Civilization

The Dilmun Civilization is one of the ancient world’s more enigmatic and lesser-known cultures, flourishing between the 3rd and 1st millennia BCE. Often referred to as the “Land of the Living” in Sumerian writings, Dilmun was strategically situated along trade routes in the Persian Gulf, primarily corresponding to present-day Bahrain and parts of eastern Saudi Arabia.

Acting as a vital trade conduit between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, the Dilmun thrived on commerce and played a significant role in the distribution of goods such as copper, ivory, and precious stones. The civilization’s prosperity is evident in its cities, marked by well-planned urban centers, advanced irrigation systems, and impressive temples. Yet despite this, they’ve been largely swept under the rug while other ancient Middle Eastern civilizations are still referenced and studied. 

Religiously, Dilmun was considered sacred in the ancient Sumerian myth of Enki and Ninhursag, portraying it as a paradise where sickness and death were unknown. Additionally, archaeological evidence indicates that the region had extensive burial mounds, suggesting that Dilmun was a significant burial and ceremonial site for the broader region.

8. Elam

The Elamite civilization, simply known as Elam, was one of the earliest established cultures of the ancient Near East. Nestled primarily in what is present-day southwestern Iran, the history of Elam stretches back to around 3000 BCE, making it a contemporary of early Mesopotamian civilizations.

The Elamites had their own language, Elamite, but its origins and affiliations remain something of a mystery, as it’s strangely unrelated to surrounding Semitic and Indo-European languages. Over its long history, Elam had periods of power and prominence, especially during its conflicts and interactions with the neighboring Mesopotamian powers, such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians. They even succeeded in sacking the great city of Ur in 2004 BCE.

Although Elam faced numerous invasions and periods of domination by powers like the Assyrians and Persians, it always retained a degree of autonomy until it was ultimately absorbed into the Persian Empire. Still, despite this proud legacy and surprising accomplishments, there aren’t that many folks who’ve heard of them. 

7. Olmec Civilization

Often hailed as the “Mother Culture” of Mesoamerica, The Olmec civilization, emerged around 1400 BCE and thrived until around 400 BCE, in the tropical lowlands of what’s now Mexico. 

The Olmecs are probably more well known for their colossal stone heads than anything else —massive carved representations of human faces, believed (but not confirmed) to be portraits of rulers or significant individuals. These sculptures, some weighing up to 40 tons, showcase intricate craftsmanship and are a testament to the Olmec’s advanced stone-working skills.

Centers of Olmec culture included the cities of San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Tres Zapotes. Not unlike other ancient civilizations in the region, the Olmec built their cities around ceremonial centers, pyramidal structures, and surprisingly complex urban planning. Besides their architectural accomplishments, the Olmec are also notable for their contributions to the Mesoamerican calendar, writing system, and the concept of the number zero. Their religious beliefs, involving a pantheon of gods associated with natural elements and jaguars, heavily influenced the Mayan and Aztec religions that followed.

While the reasons for the Olmec civilization’s decline remain a subject of debate among scholars, their influence persisted. But they deserve more attention than they often get. 

6. Norte Chico Civilization

Also known as the Caral-Supe civilization, the Norte Chico civilization stands as one of the earliest and most enigmatic of ancient cultures in the Americas. Emerging around 3000 BCE and flourishing until 1800 BCE in areas of what’s now Peru, they predate the Olmec of Mesoamerica, making it the single oldest known civilization in the Americas. 

Remarkably, the Norte Chico achieved its civilizational status without the presence of ceramics, which are often associated with ancient societies. That’s impressive enough, but, they’re also notable for substantial architectural prowess, most notably their step pyramids and sunken circular plazas. The city of Caral is the most studied and is often referred to as the “oldest city in the New World.” 

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Norte Chico civilization is its reliance on maritime resources. Instead of depending primarily on agriculture, like many of their peers, they took maximum advantage of the nearby eastern Pacific. 

We’re still not sure why the Norte Chico civilization declined. But we do know they laid foundational cultural practices that influenced the subsequent Andean cultures that are more widely known, like the Moche and Inca.

5. Hittite Empire

The Hittites, an ancient Anatolian people, emerged as a dominant power in the Middle East around 1600 BCE, establishing an empire that spanned throughout modern-day Turkey and northern Syria. Their influence would last until roughly 1200 BCE. But despite that, you probably know a lot less about them than you do about contemporary empires like Egypt. 

The Hittite capital, Hattusa, located near modern-day Bo?azkale in Turkey, was a sprawling city with grand temples, palaces, and impressive fortifications. The city stands as a testament to their architectural and urban planning skills. But the empire’s strength wasn’t just architectural; they had an organized and efficient bureaucracy, as well as a robust legal system with laws that were actually pretty progressive for their time, covering a range of issues from inheritance and divorce and consumer protection.

Militarily, the Hittites are particularly renowned for their chariots, which played a crucial role in their confrontations with neighboring states. The most famous of these conflicts was the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE against the Egyptians under Pharaoh Ramses II. While both sides claimed victory, the battle’s aftermath led to one of the earliest known peace treaties in history, signifying a truce between the two superpowers.

The decline of the Hittite Empire around 1200 BCE is part of a larger, mysterious collapse that affected several ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean and Near East. Despite their decline, the Hittites left an indelible mark on the region’s history and deserve to be remembered. 

4. Nok Culture

Named after the village of Nok in Nigeria, where the first artifacts from this civilization were discovered in the 1920s, the Nok Culture is West Africa’s earliest known ancient civilization. Flourishing between 1500 BCE and 300 CE, they’re primarily known for their distinctive terracotta figurines, which stand as some of the earliest and finest examples of sculpture in Sub-Saharan Africa. These terracotta sculptures are diverse in representation, ranging from humanoid figures with intricate details, like beads, scarification, and elaborate hairstyles, to various animals. The purpose of these figurines is still a subject of debate among archaeologists. While some suggest they had ritualistic or religious significance, others propose they might have been used as charms or status symbols.

Beyond their artistry, there’s evidence they were smelting iron long before many other cultures in the surrounding region. This had profound implications, not only for agriculture and warfare but also for various societal advancements. Despite that advantage, the Nok disappeared abruptly around 300 CE for reasons that remain unclear.  And as evidenced by their inclusion on this list, they’re largely forgotten since then.

3. Caral-Supe Civilization

The Caral-Supe civilization, often just referred to as Caral, holds the distinction of being the oldest known civilization in the Americas. Situated in the Supe Valley of modern-day Peru, it dates all the way back to around 3000 BCE, flourishing until roughly 1800 BCE. This places its rise well before other pre-Columbian cultures in the region, and it’s contemporary to ancient civilizations like Ancient Egypt and the Sumerians of Mesopotamia.

At the heart of the Caral-Supe civilization is the city of Caral, a sprawling urban center that showcases advanced city planning, impressive pyramidal architecture, and sunken circular plazas. As was the case with many ancient civilizations in the Americas, the city was dominated by a towering pyramid, covering an area nearly equivalent to four football fields. 

What’s especially intriguing about Caral is its apparent lack of warfare-related artifacts. No weapons or fortifications have been found, suggesting a peaceful society that perhaps prioritized trade and religion. Instead of warfare, it appears that their society revolved around agriculture, with evidence of irrigation systems and cultivation of crops like cotton, beans, and squash. Despite that, they lasted for more than a millennium. 

2. Aksumite Empire

The Aksumite Empire, often simply referred to as Aksum, was a formidable trading empire that rose to prominence in the Horn of Africa around the 1st century CE and maintained its power until the 10th century CE. Its heartland was in present-day northern Ethiopia and Eritrea, and at its zenith, its influence extended across parts of Sudan, Yemen, and even southern Arabia.

One of the significant markers of the Aksumite Empire was its impressive architectural achievements, most notably the stelae – tall, carved stone pillars, some of which are the largest single pieces of stone ever quarried in the ancient world. If that wasn’t impressive enough, they managed to position themselves as a crucial trading hub, linking the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Empire with India and the Far East. It was through these trade networks that Aksum amassed its considerable wealth, trading goods like ivory, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Here’s another interesting note: the Aksumite Empire holds a special place in history as one of the first major empires to adopt Christianity. They didn’t last forever, but they left a huge imprint on subsequent cultures. 

1. Xiongnu Confederation

The Xiongnu Confederation was a powerful nomadic empire that emerged around the 3rd century BCE in the steppes of Central and Eastern Asia, roughly spanning areas of modern-day Mongolia, southern Siberia, and parts of northern China. This meant that contact, and conflict, with the Han Dynasty of China, was inevitable. Their wars played a pivotal role in shaping the political and military dynamics of the region at the time. 

Interestingly, these battles saw the Great Wall of China being fortified and extended to defend against Xiongnu raids. The Han Dynasty, seeking both military and diplomatic solutions, also established the famous Silk Road trade routes in part to facilitate relations with the Western regions and to form alliances against the Xiongnu.

So despite being relatively unknown today, the Xiongnu were directly involved in the formation of two of the most iconic symbols of ancient Asia.

Despite their strength and vast territorial control, though, the Xiongnu Confederation eventually faced internal divisions and external pressures, and by the late 1st century CE had split into northern and southern halves. Over time, they were assimilated into other tribal groups or subdued by emerging powers in the region.

As a child of the ’90s, I reached peak pop culture during the 2000s. Like many other millennials, the 2000s were packed with frosted tips, head-to-toe denim, and boy bands. Icons like Brittney Spears and Justin Timberlake were plastered all over the walls, with Saturday morning cartoons dominating our weekends. Damn, the nostalgia is hitting me! While there is plenty of stuff we remember about those days, here are ten things no one remembers from the 2000s.

10 Fashion Faux Pas

The fashion during the 2000s was a hot mess of layering perfection. We are each guilty of one or two or twelve of these fashion faux pas. The first half of the 2000s brought us oversized clothes, monochrome hues of brown, and lots of tracksuits, but not just any tracksuit, terry cloth, velour, or cashmere tracksuits. Usually with rhinestone embellishments across the butt proclaiming, “Juicy.”

During the latter half of the 2000s, we donned calf-high boots, fingerless gloves, layered tank tops, and then topped our ensemble with a black vest. Hairstyles showcased chunky highlights, and everyone considered themselves emo during the mid-2000s, even if all they listened to was Miley Cyrus.

Other fashion items that had a unique hold on the general public during the 2000s included:

• Suspenders, but only to hang down on the sides of our hips
• Studded belts
• Cargo pants
• Low rise capri pants with heels
• A baguette shoulder purse
• Dresses over jeans
• Von Dutch hats

9 Hit Clips were a HIT!

Before iPods became a thing, we had our CD players, but even those were bulky, so along came the iconic Hit Clips.

Hit Clips was a miniature way to listen to music. The device was no bigger than two inches square, with a space to insert a small chip. Once inserted, the music would begin to play. The music on each chip was only a 60-second clip of a singular popular song. While the quality was never the greatest, if you had Hit Clips, you were so cool.

You could also clip all your music chips and listening device together and then clip them to your pants or backpack. So instead of a bulky CD player, we carried a mess of square music chips on clips. Iconic.

When Hit Clips were first introduced in 2000, there were only three featured artists: NSYNC, Britney Spears, and Sugar Ray. While we now carry our songs on Spotify, each time a millennial sees Hit Clips, our soul flickers back to life.

8 The Establishment of Homeland Security

September 11, 2001, was a devastating day for America and the world. The terrorist attacks that took place shattered our idea of security and safety. While many of us were still children, the changes that followed 9/11 have shaped how we travel and interact with the wider world.

In November 2002, just one year after the attacks, President George W. Bush signed the Homeland Security Act of 2002. This act was to oversee the restructuring of all security measures that take place within the U.S.; this included public security, border control, cyber security, and disaster management.

President Bush said that with more than 170,000 employees assigned to Homeland Security, these “dedicated professionals will wake up each morning with the overriding duty of protecting their fellow citizens.” We tip our hat to these men and women that still seek to protect our lands from similar threats that took place more than 20 years ago.

7 My Scene Dolls

Barbie may have had a hold on the ’90s, but My Scene dolls soon took the stage as the main doll of the 2000s. At the time, Barbie’s diversification was limited, and Bratz’s were all-powerful, so Mattel launched My Scene dolls to compete.

My scene did not stick around for very long, ending their line in 2011 after the Bratz parent company MGA filed several legal suits claiming My Scene dolls copied their idea and branding.

6 Amanda Bynes: She’s the Man

There are a few contenders for the big screen queen of the 2000s. Some might crown Lindsay Lohan, but we will nominate another queen, Amanda Bynes. A true icon, Amanda Bynes deserves her own number on our list of forgotten things from the 2000s.

Amanda Bynes started her career with Nickelodeon on All That. The comedy sketch show, similar to SNL, was for kids and gave us characters leading to The Amanda Show. The Amanda Show ran from 1999 to 2002, earning her many Kids’ Choice Awards.

In 2002, Bynes made her switch to the big screen, becoming our new favorite leading lady for teen movies. But our favorite Bynes movie has to be her 2006 flick, She’s the Man, starring Bynes alongside the one and only Channing Tatum.

She’s the Man is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, where Bynes poses as her brother to play on an all-male soccer team. Hijinks, of course, follows Bynes as she falls for her teammate Tatum. The movie is packed full of hilarious and outrageous one-liners, mini skirts and high heels true to Y2K fashion, and of course, a happy fairy tale ending. A true classic of the 2000s.

5 Hair Gadgets We Begged Mom to Buy

While we may have mentioned chunky highlights that littered the 2000s, you may have forgotten about the hair gadgets promoted endlessly on TV.

Let’s start slow with the iconic butterfly hair clips, which, thank the maker, are back in style!

Next, we donned those deadly plastic headbands that you had to put over your head, then pull back up over your face, avoiding injury to your eyes, to stab your skull by pulling your hair back; phew, what a workout. I don’t know about you, but I can still feel the jabs on my neck and face as I tried to place my “flexy stretch hair comb” just right.

Following our hair fixation came clip-in features like clip-in colored hair or the gosh awful faux hair scrunchy, which usually did not match our actual hair color. Then came items like the Hairagami, the slap bracelet for your hair, and last but not least, the Conair Quick Gem, essentially a Bedazzler for your hair.

These hair gadgets latched onto our souls until we were ready to fry our hair with plain old hair straighteners. When did we get so boring? I say, bring back the hair bling!

4 The Reclassification of Pluto

While our generation was not super fascinated with space, we sure flipped when the scientific community removed Pluto’s status as a planet. In 2006, Pluto was reclassified from a planet to a dwarf planet due to not meeting various criteria, mainly size.

Pluto is smaller than our Earth’s moon, and since it lacks size, Pluto doesn’t have enough mass to disrupt space’s gravitational pull and cause nearby material to drift into its orbit. With the reclassification of Pluto, the general public was outraged, and many of us still consider our little friend a planet.

Dear Pluto,

We never truly forgot about you, we promise.

Your number one fan,

Millennials

3 Jelly Bracelets Lead the Way for Silly Bandz

Jelly bracelets were simple colored silicon bands you would wear in bulk. Jelly bracelets appeared in the ’80s, then again in the 2000s. While there was a rumor different colors meant that you were willing to perform or participate in certain sex acts, the rumor was never truly founded.

We wore dozens of jelly bracelets, sometimes up to our elbows, to complement our vest and chunky highlights, I’m sure.

Next came Silly Bandz. If you didn’t cover your arms in these things, you weren’t living. These bracelets are also made of silicon rubber but were made to look like specific shapes, not just circles. You could stretch out the band to wear it as a bracelet; then, when you took the Silly Bandz off, they shrunk back to their original shape.

Silly Bandz is still sold today, but the true 2000s comeback kid would be jelly bracelets.

2 Dance Dance Revolution Mat

Dance Dance Revolution was an iconic arcade game. The think platforms led to epic battles with your best friends on Friday nights at the roller rink. It even came with grab bars, so you didn’t lose your cool.

Then came the Dance Dance Revolution Mat that connected to your Playstation. What better way to dance than from the comfort of your home? This was right about when in-home technology started taking off, and experiencing things at home was new and exciting. The sensors were crappy, the songs were good, but the laughs were unforgettable.

1 We Were All Guitar Heroes

If Dance Dance Revolution does not remind you of Guitar Hero, you need to kindly leave. Guitar Hero was incredible, and every kid at school had it. We all know and still love the songs, and instant nostalgia hits us when we hear songs like Sweet Child O’ Mine, Carry on Wayward Son, I Wanna Be Sedated, and Iron Man.

Guitar Hero was introduced in 2005 and quickly became a success as we each felt like true rock stars using our guitar-shaped controllers to rock out to timeless rock classics. Now, if only we could get that feeling back as adults; I know I’ve been chasing the same high ever since.