These empires were cultural and technological powerhouses, rivaling or surpassing Rome.

The Egyptian New Kingdom built colossal monuments like the Valley of the Kings, expanded to its greatest territorial extent, and developed a rich mythology including the famous Book of the Dead.

The Mauryan Empire, under Ashoka, spread Buddhism across Asia and erected monumental pillars with ethical edicts. The Gupta period saw the creation of the Kama Sutra, the concept of zero, and the calculation of pi to several decimal places. Their epic mythology, including the Mahabharata and Ramayana, continues to influence spirituality and culture today.

The Qin unified China and built the Great Wall, while the Han expanded the Silk Road, revolutionizing global trade and cultural exchange. They also advanced paper-making techniques, pioneered seismology, and developed steel production. The Han period also saw the rise of Taoism, a philosophy and spiritual tradition that, like the Indian epics, continues to influence spirituality and culture globally today.

These civilizations are less discussed in Western education but were equally, if not more, impactful in shaping our world.