Thanks, Amos, for helping the computer-feeble with the link to the Piri Reis map.

The development of 'western civilization' is outlined in Stearns, "World Civilizations: The Global Experience," online:
Stearns World Civilizations

It lacks an up-to-date survey of Asian cultures. The Chinese were farming some 8000 years ago; by 6000 years ago characters for a written language were created. Bronze smelting in China is dated back to some 4000 years ago. Records of the Shang Dynasty date back to 1600 years BC.

A good beginning site for ancient archaeology, with many links, is: