| Type | Civilization |
| Legacy | Influenced the course of world history |
| Origins | 4th century BCE |
| Transition | Collapse of empires, emergence of new political entities |
| Key features | Powerful empires and city-states • Cultural exchange • Trade expansion • Foundations of Western thought • Intellectual and artistic flourishing |
| Historical period | |
| Cultural influences | Greek • Egyptian • Phoenician • Persian |
