Definition

Noun: 1. A history of the ancient world: The period of recorded history from the beginning of human civilization (around 3000 BCE) to the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 CE). 2. Knowledge of some recent fact or event that has become so commonly known that it has lost its original pertinence: Something from the personal or recent past that is now considered irrelevant, over, or no longer important.

Usage Examples

• As a field of study:

  • She majored in ancient history and wrote her thesis on Roman engineering.
  • The museum's exhibit covers ancient history from Mesopotamia to the fall of Rome.

• As a metaphor for irrelevance:

  • Our argument from last year? That's ancient history; I've forgotten all about it.
  • His previous career in finance is ancient history now that he's a full-time artist.

Advanced Usage

• "to be ancient history": To be completely finished and no longer relevant to the present situation.
  • Don't worry about that old scandal; it's ancient history to the public now.

Variants and Related Words

• Ancient Historian (n): A scholar who studies ancient history.
  • The ancient historian specialized in Greek pottery.
• Ancient (adj): Belonging to the very distant past.
  • They discovered ancient ruins beneath the city.

Synonyms

• Classical antiquity: Specifically refers to the history and culture of ancient Greece and Rome.
• Water under the bridge: An idiom for past events, especially conflicts, that are no longer important.
• A thing of the past: Something that no longer exists or happens.

Idioms and Phrases

• That's ancient history: A common phrase used to dismiss something as being from a past so distant it no longer matters.
  • "Are you still upset about losing the game?" "No, that's ancient history."

Noun

1. knowledge of some recent fact or event that has become so commonly known that it has lost its original pertinence
2. a history of the ancient world