10 WORLD CULTURES OF HISTORY AND PRESENT - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The different cultures of the world have existed throughout the history of mankind. Religious beliefs, systems of government, survival methods, and moral laws have crossed paths, even though this has meant a death sentence for some.

From the Sumerians to modern civilizations, man has come a long way of discovery, growth, and war.

Each culture has left behind a legacy to its successors and has contributed in different ways to the development of humanity, from fields such as writing, to particular inventions such as the wheel.

It is important to highlight that it is from the cultural diversity and the encounters and disagreements between peoples that man follows his path of growth.

The 10 most outstanding world cultures

1- Sumerians

First settlers of what would be the first civilization: Mesopotamia, that piece of land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, also known as the fertile crescent.

Although the origin of the Sumerians is not known for sure, there are records of their existence from 3500 BC. C.

It was there that the first permanent human settlements were developed and where the invention of agriculture would take place thanks to the fertility of the lands.

It was they who created the first city-states, controlled by monarchs. The Sumerian people were the first to use writing.

With cuneiform writing they created the first written system of laws and were the forerunners of scientific studies and medicine.

Along with the Egyptians, the Sumerian architectural constructions are the oldest in the world.

2- Egyptians

Ancient Egyptian culture emerged in North Africa shortly after the Sumerian settlements and lasted for approximately 3,000 years, until the conquest of the Romans.

The Egyptians made great strides in areas of knowledge, such as mathematics, medicine, and architecture.

They are recognized worldwide for their pyramids, which even today some claim to be extraterrestrial constructions.

Its temples and art also stand out, mainly paintings and statues dedicated to decorating funerary enclosures, very important for the Egyptians for their belief in a life after death.

Its economic system depended on agriculture, mining, and trade with other regions.

3- Ancient Greece

Starting from the Minoan civilization, Greek culture makes its appearance on the island of Crete approximately 3000 years BC. C.

Its history is classified into six stages: Minoan, Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic Greece.

Greece became one of the largest empires in the West before Rome. They had a strong emphasis on philosophy and the pursuit of knowledge.

They were pioneers in establishing democracy as a political system and their notions are still taken into account by modern society today.

The art and architecture of Greece have also been important references for the Western world.

4- China

It is one of the oldest cultures in the world, respected for its philosophy and art. With more than 4000 thousand years, the Chinese Empire was one of the strongest in the Asian continent.

For many years it also functioned under a system of emperors, although today it operates under the hierarchy that is named after the four occupations.

At present, China groups more than 58 ethnic groups. Some of his most recognized contributions have been Taoism, Confucianism, paper and the compass, among others.

5- Nordic

The Nordic culture comes from northern Europe and Scandinavia, and is located approximately in the year 200 AD. C.

Their mythology was very rich, and they are said to be the best preserved versions of Germanic mythology. These stories were transmitted orally through poetry.

From the year 700 d. The Norse people emigrated to Great Britain, Greenland, Iceland and even Russia, and from there they became known as Vikings.

It is worth mentioning that the term "Viking" actually referred to a brotherhood of warriors who carried out the conquests.

6- Islam

Islam is a culture that starts from its religious bases. It begins in the year 622 in Mecca with the prophet Muhammad as leader. They occupy the eastern part of Asia and North Africa, and their language is Arabic.

Since it professes practical guidelines applicable to daily life, this religion governs in an important way over the legislation and the political and economic system of the Arab world.

The Qur'an is its holy book, where the word of Allah is recorded. Daily prayer is essential to the Islamic religion, as is fasting and adherence to the rules of its religion.

7- Mayas

The Mayans were a very important civilization in the Mesoamerican territory, specifically in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and part of Honduras.

Its archaic period began about 8000 years BC. C., but it was not until 2000 a. C. that the Preclassic stage began when what is currently known as the Mayan culture begins to develop.

They grew foods like beans and corn. They were warriors and this played an important role in their lives.

They were great students of natural phenomena, mathematics and developed the most advanced writing system in America.

Towards the 18th century, after almost a century of the Spanish Conquest, the city of Itzá fell, the last standing of the Mayan civilization.

8- Incas

They were the most important civilization in pre-Columbian America. They occupied territories of Peru mainly, but they extended by almost all the Andean mountain range.

Its origins are estimated around 1200 AD. C. and it extended until the year 1525. Their religion was polytheistic, they venerated the elements of nature as gods and their language was Quechua.

They had a large army, a very advanced transport and courier system, and were particularly adept at urban planning.

One of the best known legacies of the Incas was Machu Picchu, located at an altitude of 2,490 meters.

9- Yanomami

It is one of the largest indigenous communities today. The Yanomami are located between the state of Amazonas in Venezuela, and in the north of Brazil.

They are semi-nomadic and live on banana, yam and other vegetable crops, as well as hunting and fishing.

Death and funeral rites are very important to Yanomami culture. Among these rituals the best known is the ingestion of the ashes of deceased relatives, which is supposed to return their spirit to the family.

Although the Yanomami culture does not have the same recognition as the great American civilizations, its main value lies in having understood and respected the land and its resources.

10- West

Although this is perhaps one of the broadest categories, there is no doubt that modern Western culture encompasses an important part of European and American societies, imposing itself even on other base cultures.

In general terms, it can be said that it is about the fusion of legacies of previous cultures, such as Greek philosophy, Judeo-Christian morality, Renaissance art and the sociological perception of the French illustration.

Western culture is closely linked with capitalism and the ideology of consumption, and could be considered a colonizing culture since it has even encompassed part of the Asian continent, one of the most respectful of its cultural roots.

References

1. Ballesteros Gaibrois, M., & Bravo Guerreira, M. (1985). Culture and religion of pre-Hispanic America. Madrid: Editorial Católica.
2. Bryson, B. (2008). A short history of almost everything. Barcelona: RBA Books.
3. History of the contemporary world. (2002). Madrid: Editex.
4. Kaufman, S. (1981). Cultural Components of Identity in Old Age. Ethos, 51-87.