Biographies Ancient Civilizations AC-Bio.tpgs 10/28/99 2:34 PM Page 1 Biographies Judson Knight Stacy A. McConnell and Lawrence W. Baker, Editors Ancient Civilizations AC-Bio.tpgs 10/28/99 2:34 PM Page 3 Judson Knight Staff Stacy A. McConnell, Lawrence W. Baker, U•X•L Editors Carol DeKane Nagel, U•X•L Managing Editor Tom Romig, U•X•L Publisher Rita Wimberley, Senior Buyer Evi Seoud, Assistant Production Manager Mary Beth Trimper, Composition Manager Margaret A. Chamberlain, Permissions Specialist (pictures) Martha Schiebold and Michelle DiMercurio, Senior Cover Art Directors Pamela A.E. Galbreath, Senior Page Art Director Cynthia Baldwin, Product Design Manager Barbara J. Yarrow, Graphic Services Supervisor Linda Mahoney, LM Design, Typesetting Front cover: Cleopatra, drawing. Archive Photos. Reproduced by permission. Back cover: Confucius, drawing. Library of Congress. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Knight, Judson Ancient Civilizations: Biographies / Judson Knight; edited by Stacy A. McConnell and Lawrence W. Baker p. cm. Includes biographical references and index ISBN 0-7876-3985-0 Civilization, Ancient–Juvenile literature. 2. Biography–To 500–Juvenile literature. [1. Civilization, Ancient–Biography.] I. McConnell, Stacy A. II. Title CB311 .K595 2000 930–dc21 99-045751 [B]—DC21 99-20707 CIP This publication is a creative work copyrighted by U•X•L and fully pro- tected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws. The authors and editors of this work have added value to the underlying factual mate- rial herein through one or more of the following: unique and original selection, coordination, expression, arrangement, and classification of the information. All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended. Copyright © 2000 U•X•L, An Imprint of The Gale Group All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Ancient Civilizations: Biographies ACbFM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:09 PM Page iv v To Tyler, from her ancient daddy; and to Deidre, from her modern husband. ACbFM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:09 PM Page v Advisory Board ix Reader’s Guide xi Words to Know xiii Timeline xix Biographies Akhenaton 1 Alexander the Great 8 Aristotle 15 Asoka 24 Marcus Aurelius 30 Boadicea 38 Buddha 45 Julius Caesar 52 Cleopatra 60 Confucius 68 Constantine 76 vii Contents Akhenaton attempted to completely reshape Egyptian religion. (Reproduced by permission. Corbis-Bettmann.) ACbFM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:09 PM Page vii David 83 Hannibal 90 Hatshepsut 97 Herodotus 104 Imhotep 111 Jesus Christ 117 Moses 123 Nebuchadnezzar II 131 Paul 138 Pericles 144 Piankhi 151 Plato 157 Sargon of Akkad 164 Scientists and Mathematicians 169 Sculptors 177 Ch’in Shih Huang Ti 183 Vergil 189 Wu Ti 196 Xerxes 202 Index xxxix viii Ancient Civilizations: Biographies ACbFM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:09 PM Page viii S pecial thanks are due to U•X•L’s Ancient Civilizations Ref- erence Library advisors for their invaluable comments and suggestions: • Jonathan Betz-Zall, Children’s Librarian, Sno-Isle Regional Library, Edmonds, Washington • Nancy Guidry, Young Adult Librarian, Santa Monica Pub- lic Library, Santa Monica, California • Karen Shugrue, Junior High Media Specialist, Agawam Junior High School, Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. ix Advisory Board ACbFM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:09 PM Page ix A ncient Civilizations: Biographies presents the life stories of thirty-eight individuals who had a great influence on the ancient civilization in which they lived. The biographies span from the beginning of Sumerian civilization in 3500 B.C. to the decline of the Teotihuacán around A.D. 750. Well-known historical figures, such as Greek philosopher Aristotle and Per- sian emperor Xerxes, are featured, as well as lesser-known fig- ures, such as Celtic queen Boadicea and Egyptian ruler Hat- shepsut. More than 50 black-and-white illustrations and photographs enliven the text, while cross references provide easy access to related figures. Sidebars in every entry focus on high-interest topics, and a “For More Information” section guides the researcher to other reference sources. Ancient Civi- lizations: Biographies also features a glossary of terms used throughout the volumes, a timeline containing significant milestones within the lives of the individuals profiled, and an index covering the people, places, and events discussed throughout Ancient Civilizations: Biographies. xi Reader’s Guide ACbFM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:09 PM Page xi Comments and Suggestions We welcome your comments on Ancient Civilizations: Biographies, as well as your suggestions for persons to be fea- tured in future editions. Please write, Editors, Ancient Civiliza- tions: Biographies, U•X•L, 27500 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, Michigan, 48331-3535; call toll-free: 1-800-877-4253; fax to (248) 699-8097; or send e-mail via-http://www.galegroup.com. xii Ancient Civilizations: Biographies ACbFM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:09 PM Page xii A Acropolis: An elevated fortress in Greek cities. Ancestor: An earlier person in one’s line of parentage, usually more distant in time than a grandparent. Anoint: To pour oil over someone’s head as a symbol that God has chosen that person to fill a position of leadership. Apostle: A religious figure who is sent out to teach, preach, and perform miracles. Archaeology: The scientific study of past civilizations. Architect: Someone who designs a building or other structure. Aristocrat: A very wealthy and/or powerful person. Assassination: Killing, usually of an important leader, for political reasons. B Baptism: To be lowered into water as a symbol of death and rebirth. xiii Words to Know ACbFM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:09 PM Page xiii [...]... is subject to another ruler Vineyard: A place where grapes are grown for making wine Vizier: A chief minister W West (cap.): The cultures and civilizations influenced by ancient Greece and Rome Z Ziggurat: A Mesopotamian temple tower xviii Ancient Civilizations: Biographies Timeline c 3500 B.C.: Beginnings of Sumerian civilization c 3100 B.C.: Pharaoh Menes unites the kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt... Gardens in Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Late 600s, early 500s B.C.: Romans wage series of wars against Sabines, Latins, and Etruscans 500s B.C.: Armenia arises in region formerly known as Urartu 500s B.C.: Career of Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher 500s B.C.: High point of Etruscan civilization in Italy xxiv Ancient Civilizations: Biographies 586 B.C.: Nebuchadnezzar II destroys... throughout world, begins writings Mediterranean 390 B.C.: Beginnings of Roman military buildup after expulsion of Gauls xxvi Ancient Civilizations: Biographies Mid–380s B.C.: Plato establishes Academy in Athens Mid–300s B.C.: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built 359 B.C.: Philip II takes throne in Macedon, and five years later begins conquest of Balkan peninsula... Stone, enabling first translation of Egyptian hieroglyphs 1860 A.D.:First discovery of colossal stone heads carved by Olmec in Mexico xxxiv Ancient Civilizations: Biographies 1871 A.D.:Heinrich Schliemann begins excavations at Hissarlik in Turkey, leading to discovery of ancient Troy 1876–78 A.D.: Schliemann discovers ruins of Mycenae in Greece 1894 A.D.: Pierre de Coubertin establishes modern Olympic Games;... Assyria 722 B.C.: Spring and Autumn Period, a time of widespread unrest, begins in China 735 B.C.: Spartans begin twenty-year war with Messenia c 732 B.C.: Assyrians gain control of Syria xxii Ancient Civilizations: Biographies c 725 B.C.: King Mita, probable source of the Midas legend, unites the Phrygians 721 B.C.: Sargon II of Assyria conquers Israel and carries off its people, who become known as the... Oligarchy: A government ruled by a few people P Pagan: Someone who worships many gods; also used as an adjective Papyrus: A type of reed from which the Egyptians made the first type of “paper.” xvi Ancient Civilizations: Biographies Peasant: A farmer who works a small plot of land Phalanx: A column of hoplites designed for offensive warfare Pharisee: A member of a group of Jewish religious scholars who demanded... in which the people, usually through elected representatives, rule Descendant: Someone who is related to an earlier person, or ancestor Disciple: A close follower of a religious teacher xiv Ancient Civilizations: Biographies E Edict: A command Epic: A long poem that recounts the adventures of a legendary hero Epistle: A letter Eunuch: A man who has been castrated, thus making him incapable of sex or... 207 B.C.: End of shortlived Ch’in Dynasty in China; power struggle follows 202 B.C.: Having defeated Hsiang Yü, Liu Pang (Han Kao-tzu) becomes emperor, establishes Han Dynasty in China xxviii Ancient Civilizations: Biographies 197 B.C.: Romans defeat Macedonian forces under Philip V at Cynocephalae; beginning of end of Macedonian rule in Greece 186 B.C.: Mauryan Empire of India collapses 170s B.C.: Parthians... to break away from Parthian rule and establish Hellenistic kingdom c 36 A.D.: Saul has vision on road to Damascus which leads him to embrace Christianity; becomes most important apostle xxx Ancient Civilizations: Biographies 41 A.D.: Caligula killed by Roman military; Claudius becomes emperor 43 A.D.: Rome launches last major conquest, in Britain 44 A.D.: Judea becomes Roman province 47 A.D.: Victorious... early Christian bishops c 300 A.D.: End of Formative or Preclassic Period, beginning of Classic Period, in Americas 301 A.D.: Armenia becomes first nation to officially adopt Christianity xxxii Ancient Civilizations: Biographies 317 A.D.: Eastern Chin Dynasty established in China c 320 A.D.: Candra Gupta establishes Gupta Empire in India 325 A.D.: Council of Nicaea adopts Nicene Creed, Christian statement . Biographies Ancient Civilizations AC-Bio.tpgs 10/28/99 2:34 PM Page 1 Biographies Judson Knight Stacy A. McConnell and Lawrence W. Baker, Editors Ancient Civilizations AC-Bio.tpgs. 202 Index xxxix viii Ancient Civilizations: Biographies ACbFM.qxp 11/5/1999 1:09 PM Page viii S pecial thanks are due to U•X•L’s Ancient Civilizations Ref- erence