Ancient Persia, now modern-day Iran, extended from the Persian Gulf in the east to the Euphrates River in the west. The territory covered a vast swathe of land including deserts, mountains, valleys, and pastures. Ancient Persia was ruled by an absolute monarchy, and the people did not enjoy the same basic freedoms and human rights that we do today. In … Read more >>
Babylonia was an ancient kingdom that was founded more than 4,000 years ago. Despite its small size, it left a considerable mark on history. This Akkadian-speaking kingdom was in Mesopotamia, which is in modern-day Iraq. Babylon thrived under the rule of its most famous king, Hammurabi, but after his death, this once-great kingdom began to decline. The 11 most important … Read more >>
Considered as one of the most powerful and influential civilizations of its time, the Persian Empire was a major hub in the region. Archaeology has revealed precious few clues about this great empire, but several excavations and studies have yielded some fascinating, albeit limited, information. It is perhaps this lack of information that most piques our interest. Here is a … Read more >>
Ancient Sumer was located in the southernmost region of Mesopotamia, and the civilization lasted for approximately 1,500 years from 5500 to 4000 BC. Its people were commonly referred to as the “black-headed people.” Sumer was a collection of city-states, each one operating independently. Its society had a distinct class structure of kings, nobles, priests, and commoners. The upper classes lived … Read more >>
Babylonia was an ancient Akkadian-speaking state which grew up after the downfall of the Akkadian dynasty around 2300 BC in modern-day Iraq. The Akkadian Empire split into Assyria in the north and Babylonia in the south. For more than two millennia, Babylonia was at the center of Mesopotamian civilization. The Amorites were the first dynasty of Babylonia, and they ruled … Read more >>
Mesopotamia is located between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers which converge at the Persian Gulf. The name itself is a Greek word meaning “the land between two rivers.” It is in the eastern Mediterranean region and is bordered by the Zagros Mountains on the northeastern side and the Arabian Plateau on the southeastern side. Mesopotamia covers modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, … Read more >>
Can you imagine a world without the wheel? No wheels would mean no cars, trains, or airplanes, and no machines or industry. In the absence of the wheel, the world would come to a standstill. We can thank the Babylonians for pioneering discoveries like the wheel, the chariot, and the sailboat, as well as the development of the first-known map, … Read more >>
Hammurabi, also known as Khammurabi, was the greatest emperor of Babylon and one of the greatest rulers in the world. He was the sixth emperor of the Amorites, and he inherited the throne from his father, Sin-Muballit. He was born in the city of Babylon in 1810 BC, now present-day Iraq. His contributions to the development of Babylon were outstanding. … Read more >>
The Sumerians lived in southern Babylonia from 4000 to 3000 BC and had strong spiritual beliefs. Their history is shrouded in mystery. We know that they were pantheistic and their gods were the personification of the elements and natural forces. The Sumerians believed that first there was the primeval sea that gave rise to a united heaven and earth. Between … Read more >>
When students or museumgoers are asked to name examples of art from ancient times, they frequently list examples from Egypt, Greece, or Rome. Depending on their country of origin, they might also include works from China and India. Historians generally consider the ancient period of Egypt to be from about 3150 BC to 332 BC, that of Greece from 1200 … Read more >>