Ancient China was one of the first civilizations . Chinese civilization was also one of the few to invent writing , the others being Mesopotamia , the Indus Valley civilization , the Maya civilization , the Minoan civilization of ancient Greece , and Ancient Egypt . Chinese civilization was also one of the few to invent writing , the others being Mesopotamia , the Indus Valley Civilization , the Maya and other Mesoamerican civilizations , the Minoan civilization of ancient Greece , and Ancient Egypt .