5 Ancient Libraries That Changed the World

From legal archives to public learning centers, libraries have always been indispensable for preserving knowledge.
5 Ancient Libraries That Changed the World
A relief of the Banquet of Ashurbanipal from Nineveh, housed in the British Museum, London Mharrsch/CC BY 4.0
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When we think of Greece, Rome, or other ancient civilizations, we often picture temples, monuments, and marble busts. But do we ever think of libraries?
After the invention of writing, libraries became the beating hearts of human societies. They stored legal documents, safeguarded world-shaping literature, and functioned as learning centers for the sake of public welfare.

The Hittite Archive

The world’s first historians spoke Hittite, which is the earliest attested cuneiform language. 
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Leo Salvatore
Leo Salvatore
Author
Leo Salvatore is an arts and culture writer with a master's degree in classics and philosophy from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in humanities from Ralston College. He aims to inform, delight, and inspire through well-researched essays on history, literature, and philosophy. Contact Leo at [email protected]