Ancient Near East
Introduction
The Ancient Near East was the home of early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia (modern Iraq, southeast Turkey, southwest Iran, northeastern Syria and Kuwait), ancient Egypt, ancient Iran (Elam, Media, Parthia and Persia), Anatolia/Asia Minor and Armenian Highlands (Turkey's Eastern Anatolia Region, Armenia, northwestern Iran, southern Georgia, and western Azerbaijan), the Levant (modern Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan), Cyprus and the Arabian Peninsula. The ancient Near East is considered one of the cradles of civilization. It was here that intensive year-round agriculture was first practiced, leading to the rise of the first dense urban settlements and the development of many of humanity's fundamental institutions and technological innovations.
Geography and Climate
The geography of the ancient Near East is diverse, containing both desert, steppe, and fertile river valley environments. The region is home to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which were critical for the development of early civilizations in Mesopotamia. The climate of the region is typically hot and dry in the summer, with mild, wet winters. This climate, combined with the fertile river valleys, made the region ideal for agriculture, particularly the cultivation of grains such as wheat and barley.
History
The history of the Ancient Near East begins with the rise of Sumer in the 4th millennium BC and the emergence of Akkadian civilization to the west of it in Mesopotamia, which was centered in the city of Akkad (and which gave its name to the Akkadian language, the language of Akkadian civilization, and generally, to the culture of Mesopotamia as a whole). The Sumerians and Akkadians (including Assyrians and Babylonians) dominated Mesopotamia from the beginning of written history (c. 3100 BC) to the fall of Babylon in 539 BC, when it was conquered by the Achaemenid Empire.
Culture
The culture of the ancient Near East is known through archaeological excavation, written records, and the study of artifacts. The people of the region developed some of the first writing systems in the world, including cuneiform and hieroglyphs. They also made significant advances in mathematics, astronomy, law, and philosophy. The religions of the ancient Near East were diverse, with many deities worshipped in a variety of cults and temples.
Economy
The economy of the ancient Near East was based on agriculture, trade, and industry. The fertile river valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates made it possible for large-scale agriculture, including the cultivation of grains such as wheat and barley. Trade was facilitated by the region's location at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and by the development of writing, which made it possible to keep detailed economic records.