Ancient art refers to the many types of art produced by the advanced cultures of ancient societies with different forms of writing, such as those of ancient China, India, Mesopotamia, Persia, Palestine, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

The art of the ancient world reveals a tremendous amount to modern historians about the culture, values and beliefs of these early civilizations. At a time when few people could read and write, art was an important means of communication, and a critical way to record important events.