The Ancient Near East

The Ancient Near East is the Cradle of Civilization. While we were born in Africa as a species, the roots of modern human civilization can be traced back to the Ancient Near East.

The Ancient Near East is where the first great civilizations of humanity emerged. We have the first evidence of farming during the Neolithic Period, and later were built the first cities in Sumer and Egypt — not to mention the numerous civilizations that blossomed in their wake.

The Ancient Near East begins with Sumer around 3000 BCE, writing being invented shortly before, towards the end of the 4th millennium BCE. The end of the history of the Ancient Near East is not so exact. It can be considered as the conquest of the Achaemenid Empire in the 7th century BCE, the Macedonian Empire in the 4th century BCE, or the Early Muslim Conquests of the 7th century CE. [1]

Location of the Ancient Near East

The Ancient Near East is a term that specifies both time and a place. Referring to the western region of Asia. The “near” side of Asia relative to Europe where this term originated.

It including countries like Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, and Syria in the west — all the lands near the Eastern Mediterranean coast —and westward into Iran and Pakistan. Saudi Arabia to the south, and Turkey towards the Caucasus region in the north.

A Brief History of the Ancient Near East

Concerned with the Ancient Near East, we are talking about the great civilizations and empires that used to be. The people who lived in these lands long before. Their stories from ancient times, and prehistory as well, that tell of the major evolutions and revolutions that took place within human civilization after the Ice Age.

Beginning around 10,000 BCE the advent of skills from the Neolithic Revolution changed humanity forever, emerging in the Ancient Near East. Specifically this revolution took place in Anatolia, the Levant, and Northern Mesopotamia first. Then spread throughout the Near East.

Later by 3000 BCE, we see the emergence of the first high civilizations — the first civilizations we look upon and wonder if they were truly built by the gods. Ancient Egypt and Ancient Sumer. Their works, though different, are pyramids in their own rite. Amazing marvels of what early man was able to accomplish — and accomplish for us, no less — because a great number of the fundamental features of modern civilization were invented in Egypt and Sumer.

In Sumer we see the construction of the first temples, schools, universities, scribes, doctors, writing, and cities, along with many other firsts and inventions. All of these developments began in the thousand years before Sumer during the Uruk Period. (Indeed, Uruk is widely regarded as the first true city of the world.) We see a nearly exact parallel in Ancient Egypt as well. Their architecture, built in monolithic stone, remains glorious to this day. Their writing too, invented around the time as writing in Mesopotamia, is still with us.

However, Sumer, Akkad, and Egypt did not emerge in the Ancient Near East alone. At the same time that these ancient nations began to emerge, The Minoans off the coast of Greece and the Indus-Valley Civilization of India, along with Elam in Iran, were also rising. Nor is it clear exactly what the relationship of these people was in ancient times, precisely how their origin stories are each, respectively, entwined.

However, Sumer, Akkad, and Egypt did not emerge in the Ancient Near East alone. At the same time that these ancient nations began to emerge, The Minoans off the coast of Greece and the Indus-Valley Civilization of India, along with Elam in Iran, were also rising. Nor is it clear exactly what the relationship of these people was in ancient times, precisely how their origin stories are each, respectively, entwined.

The Minoans of Crete were connected, and had already formed a mercantile empire at the time of the Old Kingdom in Egypt (the first historical dynasties of Ancient Egypt). They are mentioned by their Egyptian name, and recorded in art as bring material wealth to the Egyptians. The Indus-Valley Civilization is another important culture, who remains mysterious — much we can learn about them still.

All of these ancient people’s, and many more on top of these, both at the end of Prehistory and deeper into Ancient History, are woven into the tapestry of the Ancient Near East. Their cultures, religions, cities, and histories are the colours that define the region. Even to this day.

Contents

1. The Cradle of Civilization
2. Geography of the Ancient Near East
3. History of the Ancient Near East