ancient Middle East

Introduction
Evolution of Middle Eastern civilizations
- Mesopotamia and Egypt to c. 1600 bce
- New states and peoples
- The Achaemenian Empire and its successors
- Pre-Islamic Arabia.
Elements of civilized culture
- Religion
- Science and law
- The alphabet

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

ancient Middle East

Map showing the extent of the Achaemenid Empire during the 6th and 5th centuries BC, shaded in light green and spanning from the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt through the Middle East to parts of Central Asia and the Indus Valley. Major regions, cities, and trade routes such as the Royal Road are labeled within the empire's boundaries.

Map showing Mesopotamia and surrounding regions during Seleucid-Parthian times, overlaid with modern political boundaries and country names. Ancient regions such as Osroene, Adiabene, Gordyene, and Characene are labeled in red, while major rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates and key cities such as Babylon, Seleucia, and Ctesiphon are marked within the present-day Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Iran, and neighboring countries.

Map titled Palestine and the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the time of David and Solomon, with orange land, yellow Philistia and Phoenicia, red borders, and blue seas.

ancient Middle East: Media

historical region, Asia

Images

ancient Middle East

ancient Middle East

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing the extent of the Achaemenid Empire during the 6th and 5th centuries BC, shaded in light green and spanning from the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt through the Middle East to parts of Central Asia and the Indus Valley. Major regions, cities, and trade routes such as the Royal Road are labeled within the empire's boundaries.

Achaemenid Empire

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing Mesopotamia and surrounding regions during Seleucid-Parthian times, overlaid with modern political boundaries and country names. Ancient regions such as Osroene, Adiabene, Gordyene, and Characene are labeled in red, while major rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates and key cities such as Babylon, Seleucia, and Ctesiphon are marked within the present-day Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Iran, and neighboring countries.

Mesopotamia in the Seleucid and Parthian periods

Mesopotamia in the Seleucid and Parthian periods.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map titled Palestine and the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the time of David and Solomon, with orange land, yellow Philistia and Phoenicia, red borders, and blue seas.

Palestine and the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the time of David and Solomon

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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