Near East

Definition

The Near East is a modern-age term for the region formerly known as the Middle East comprising Armenia, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and part of Turkey, corresponding to ancient Urartu, Mesopotamia, Elam, Persia, the Levant, and Anatolia. The history of the ancient Near East is usually given as c. 5000 BCE-7th century CE.

More about: Near East

Timeline

  • 10000 BCE
    Beginnings of agriculture in the Middle East.
  • 8000 BCE
    Ovens in use in the Near East are applied to pottery production.
  • 7700 BCE
    First domesticated wheats in the Fertile Crescent.
  • 7000 BCE
    Domestication of goats.
  • 5000 BCE
    Irrigation and agriculture begin in earnest in Mesopotamia.
  • c. 5000 BCE - 651 CE
    Dates of the history of the ancient Near East.
  • 853 BCE
    Babylonian kings depend on Assyrian military support.
  • 850 BCE
    Medes migrate into Iran from Asia.
  • 750 BCE
    Persians migrate into Iran from Asia.
  • 734 BCE
    Babylon is captured by Chaldeans.
  • 729 BCE
    Babylon is occupied by Assyrians.
  • 722 BCE - 705 BCE
    Peak of the Assyrian empire under the reign of Sargon II.
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