The Fertile Crescent, often called the "Cradle of Civilization", is the region in the Middle East which curves, like a quarter-moon shape, from the Persian Gulf, through modern-day southern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and northern Egypt. The region has long been recognized for its vital contributions to world culture stemming from the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Levant which included the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, and Phoenicians, all of whom were responsible for the development of civilization.
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Definition
Timeline
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9000 BCECultivation of wild cereals in the Fertile Crescent.
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9000 BCEWild sheep flocks are managed in the Zagros mountains.
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7700 BCEFirst domesticated wheats in the Fertile Crescent.
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c. 6500 BCECultivation of peas in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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4300 BCEThe rise of the cities by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
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3500 BCEImage of the breed of dog, the Saluki, appears on ceramics as household pet.
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2334 BCE - 2279 BCESargon of Akkad (the Great) reigns over Mesopotamia and thus creates the world's first empire.
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c. 2300 BCEWide spread production and use of soap.
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2000 BCEDomesticated horses introduced in Mesopotamia.
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c. 2000 BCEBabylon controls Fertile Crescent.
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1900 BCEAshur, capial of Assyria, is founded.
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c. 1900 BCE - c. 1400 BCETrade flourishes between Mesopotamia and other regions.
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1894 BCEAmorite dynasty established in Babylon.
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1795 BCE - 1750 BCEReign of Hammurabi, king of Babylon.
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1787 BCEHammurabi of Babylon conquers Uruk and Isin.
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c. 1772 BCEThe Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest codes of law in the world.
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c. 1760 BCE - c. 1757 BCEHammurabi of Babylon destroys the city of Mari. The people of Mari are spared according to Hammurabi.
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1680 BCEHurrians occupy Assyria.
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1595 BCEKing Mursilis of the Hittites sacks Babylon. Begin of Babylonian "dark ages."
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1550 BCEThe Hurrian kingdom of Mitanni is founded.
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1500 BCEEgyptian empire extends to the Euphrates.
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1472 BCEMittani annexes Assyria.
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1400 BCEAssyria regains its independence.
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1350 BCE - 1250 BCEThe Hittite Empire is at its peak.
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c. 1321 BCEWestern Mittani is conquered by the Hittites.
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1285 BCEPeak of Hittite power.
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1220 BCEBabylon is under Assyrian control.
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1200 BCEPhrygians invade Anatolia and destroy the Hittite Empire.
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1080 BCEAramaeans invade Mesopotamia.
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1000 BCEChaldeans occupy Ur.
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853 BCEBabylonian kings depend on Assyrian military support.
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734 BCEBabylon is captured by Chaldeans.
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729 BCEBabylon is occupied by Assyrians.
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722 BCE - 705 BCEPeak of the Assyrian empire under the reign of Sargon II.
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c. 600 BCEAssyrians control the Fertile Crescent.
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c. 539 BCECyrus the Great conquers Babylon; the Fertile Crescent is controlled by the Achaemenid Empire (The First Persian Empire).
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334 BCEAlexander the Great invades and conquers the Fertile Crescent.
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116 CEInvasion and annexation of the Fertile Crescent region by Rome under Trajan.
