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 Ancient River Valley civilizations were made around river valleys, but they are 

all different. Farming caused ancient people to give up their normal lifestyles 

and make permanent settlements, which grew into civilizations. Most early 

civilizations developed on River Valleys. Governments, feudalism, writing 

systems, and belief systems grew bigger as population grew. Ideas moved 

from one culture to another with the help of migration, trade and warfare. 

These ideas helped contribute to the founding of oracle bones, calendars, 

number systems and much more.

What if...people had not learned how to farm?

Farming is one of the 

greatest agricultural 

inventions of all time. It 

started a new period in time 

and sparked new ideas of 

living styles. To not have 

learned this way of living, it 

would have made life much 

harder for the civilians. The 

people would have done 

more hunting and gathering, 

causing resources to be 

scarce and having death 

rates from hunger would 

possibly increase. 

Classical Greece and Rome was full of massive wars and nationalism. The 

fights like the Trojan War displayed this and caused the geography of the 

world to change. Things like classical art and philosophers also had a 

major influence on this time period as well as religion. Religion played a 

big part, being one of the main debates along with government, starting 

many wars during this time period. Each opposing side in the major wars 

had it's own resources it was know for; the Trojans for their weapons and 

the Greeks for their knowledge, philosophy, and art. 

What if...Rome did not fall?

Most of Europe, the middle-east and Africa would be controlled by 

the Roman Empire. It may have become a Christian Theocracy 

later and slavery might have lasted a lot longer. The military 

would still be set up according to Roman doctrine. The Roman 

Empire would have expanded geographically to the Baltic and 

Black Seas, to the Cape of Good Hope and west towards the 

Americas. Life would have changed drastically. 

The post‐classical period is between 

the 5th and 15th centuries. 

Civilization spread into many new 

regions in Africa and Europe; and 

became more complex in Japan. 

Agriculture was also important to 

this time period, and the people used 

their resources to the best that they 

could. The Silk Road was created 

and helped in a great creation over in 

Asia. Starting as just transporting 

silk, this road became a great 

resource to transport many things 

other than that to farther and better 

places. With the help of a 

centralized government, and 

Mauryan and Gupta Empires, The 

Silk Road was a successful piece of 

History in Asia. 

What if...Mongols had not opened the Silk 

Road to safe travels?

Because the Silk Road was such a major thing for Asia and the development of 

goods, it is a big part of our culture around the world. If it were never opened, 

the movement of goods and ideas as well would have been limited to certain 

spaces and unable to travel to its full potential across the world. Things such as 

gold, gun powder, tea, sugar and much more benefited from the Silk Road in 

many ways and would have not been the same across the world as it is today. 

During the Post Classical time (or Medieval/Middle Ages), things 

continued to expand through trade, the spread of religion, and migration. 

Society was dominated by a single religion which prevented the 

development of a secular society. The medieval era is generally defined as 

the period of European history from the fall of Rome. It is by far is the 

longest period of European history. The Church became the main influence 

during much of this time and provided moral responsibilities lacking in 

classical society. Many of the well known battles fought at this time, such 

as Hastings, were big struggles. So many battles were fought that they are 

known as the crusades.

What if...Pope Urban II had not launched the 

Crusades?

The main purpose of the crusades was to spread Christianity and also to 

take back the Holy Land from the Muslims. If the crusades were never 

launched, the influence of Christianity would probably not be as influential 

and as world wide of a religion as it is today. It also effected government 

and the way of life, as well as other cultural ideas spread along the way to 

civilians in the area.

The Renaissance and Reformation was a great influential time apart of the 

art history. The arts and sculptures made during this time quickly 

developed the time period. Religion and humanism are major contributors 

to this and helped create things like the printing press too. The printing 

press helped with agriculture and the faster more efficient producing of 

goods and ideas throughout the world. Perspective was also discovered 

and created a new way of looking at art and sculptures in the 

Renaissance. By discovering this, the art went on to become greater and 

more complex as the years went by with religion still being a main idea in 

the arts.

What if...Gutenburg hadn't invented the 

printing press?

When the printing press was 

invented, it helped introduce 

the new idea of mass 

production. As it became more 

popular people began catching 

on to this idea which became 

one of the greatest inventions 

of it's time. It also had a great 

impact on agriculture by 

bringing the idea of mass 

production to foods and goods 

as well. If the printing press 

were not invented, the 

production of goods would not 

be made as quickly and 

efficiently as they can be now 

and the availability for jobs in 

factories would be limited 

greatly.

Enlightenment was a new way of thinking. The philosophies of reason, 

nature, happiness, progress, and liberty, set up for much of our thinking 

today about personal freedoms and france was the reason of the 

movement.   The American Revolution and the French Revolution were 

examples of the expression of this Enlightenment idea. Because King Louis 

XIV had trouble with financial problems, it sparked the french revolution. 

During this time, a monarchy was set up by the National Assembly and 

reduced the power of the nobility and Roman Catholic Church. Through 

separation of powers, and checks and balances, a new government 

was created because of the fail of the monarchy. Napoleon's seizure of 

power marked the end of the revolutionary decade that had begun in 1789.

What if...the Enlightenment ideas were not 

embraced by the colonists?

If the enlightenment ideas were not embraced by the colonists, then the 

colonists at the time, would have no sense of structure. Because there was 

a major struggle in the government, the people had nowhere to base their 

structure of life on. With the enlightenment, they were able to rely on it 

and embrace the new ideas. 

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