1 THE AEGEAN: The Cretans in 6000 B.C. were farmers and their culture primitive. The 1,500-year long civilisation reached its peak in 1800 B.C. under the rule of the legendary King Minos.

2 THE EGYPTIAN: Prior to the Bronze Age, there were a large number of small farming communities in Egypt. It was in 3000 B.C. that a conquering family unified the disparate settlements and set up capital at Memphis.

3 THE MESOPOTAMIAN: Pottery relics from this cradle of civilisation date back to 7000 B.C., but urban traces emerge in 5500 B.C. When the Mesopotamians came in 3800 B.C., the tools of civilisation were already in existence.

4 THE HARAPPAN: The twin cities of Indus Valley civilisation, Harappa and Mohenjodaro, reached their peak in 2500 B.C.

5 THE CAMBIAN: Dated at 7,500 B.C. it could be the oldest civilisation yet.

6 THE CHINESE: In China cultivation began in 5000 B.C., but the farmers employed primitive techniques and shifted their villages as the soils became exhausted. Permanent settlements emerged only after1500 B.C.