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When we speak of human history we are referring to that period of human existence for which there is a written record. This is not to say that other aspects of material culture do not contribute to our understanding of history. From this perspective, then, history begins in the ancient Near East in the envrons of two great river systems: the Euphrates & Tigris in the East and the Nile in the West. And it is there that three continents meet: Africa, Europe & Asia. What follows is simply a summary of the development of the historical civilizations of the Near East: |
| West: Egypt | East: Mesopotamia | ||
| Early Dynastic | |||
| c.3100-2890 | Dynasty 1 | ||
| c.2890-2686 | Dynasty 2 | c.2900-2700 | Early Dynastic I |
| Old Kingdom: dyn. 3-6 | |||
| c.2686-2613 | Dynasty 3 | c.2700-2500 | Early Dynastic II |
| c.2613-2494 | Dynasty 4 | c.2500-2300 | Early Dynastic III |
| c.2494-2345 | Dynasty 5 | ||
| c.2345-2181 | Dynasty 6 | c.2300-2100 | Old Assyrian (Sargonid) |
| c.2181-2160 | Dynasties 7-8 | ||
| 1st Intermediate Kingdom: dyn. 9-11 (2160-2040) | |||
| c.2160-2040 | Dynasties 9-10 | c.2100-2000 | Neo-Sumerian (Ur III) |
| c.2133-2040 | Dynasty 11a | ||
| Middle Kingdom: dyn. 11b-13 (reunited) | |||
| c.2040-1991 | Dynasty 11b | ||
| c.1991-1786 | Dynasty 12 | c.1894-1595 | Old Babylonian |
| c.1786-1633 | Dynasty 13 | ||
| 2nd Intermediate Kingdom: dyn. 14-17 (1786-1558) | |||
| c.1786-1603 | Dynasty 14 | ||
| c.1674-1558 | Dyn. 15-16 (Hyksos) | ||
| c.1650-1558 | Dynasty 17 | c.1605-1150 | Kassite |
| New Kingdom: dyn. 18-20 (1558-1085) | |||
| c.1558-1303 | Dynasty 18 (Thutmosid) | ||
| c.1303-1200 | Dynasty 19 (Ramesid I) | ||
| c.1200-1085 | Dynasty 20 (Ramesid II) | ||
| 3rd Intermediate Kingdom: dyn. 21-25 (1085-656) | |||
| c.1085-945 | Dynasty 21 | ||
| c.940-717 | Dynasty 22 (Libyan) | c.934-612 | Neo Assyrian |
| c.817-730 | Dynasty 23 (Libyan) | ||
| c.730-715 | Dynasty 24 | ||
| c.760-656 | Dynasty 25 | ||
| Saite Renaissance: dyn. 26 (664-525) | c.625-539 | Neo-Babylonian | |
| c.664-525 | Dynasty 26 | ||
| Late Dynastic: dyn. 27-31 (525-330) | c.539-331 | Persian | |