This document provides an overview and chapter sections for a textbook on early civilizations: Section 1 summarizes the development of early humans from Paleolithic nomads to the agricultural revolution of the Neolithic Age. Section 2 discusses the emergence of civilization in Mesopotamia, including the Sumerian city-states and their inventions. Section 3 describes the Assyrian Empire and the Chaldean Empire in Babylon, which developed new architecture, astronomy, and a seven-day calendar.