Near Eastern History
Latest Contributing Articles
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Herod the Great and the Birth of Jesus
The magi were wise men from Persia whose origins can be traced to Zoroaster, following the Morning Star associated with the goddess Astarte to King Herod in Jerusalem.
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The Pageant of India
The ancient civilizations of India produced great literature, splendid architecture, art, science and engineering and the oldest religion in the world.
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The Persian Wars: Expansion or Retribution?
The Persian Wars are often looked at from the viewpoint of the Greeks, mainly the Athenians and Spartans. This article will look at the events from a Persian perspective.
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Mesopotamia – Sumer and the First City-States
Hunters/gatherers became farmers, and farmers became lawmakers and artisans, who transformed scattered villages into civilized cities.
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Leadership Traits of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus II founded the Persian Empire through strong personal leadership that demonstrated boldness, innovation, toleration, efficient organization, and wisdom.
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Mt. Sinai in Ancient Near East History
Throughout Ancient History, certain mountain tops came to be associated with the gods whether in Greece or Japan. For Some Near Eastern people, Sinai was such a place.
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Ancient Near East Trade Patterns
Trade and commerce increased as ancient civilizations achieved a dominant, imperial status within the Near East and developed common standards of exchange.
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Sennacherib's Siege of Jerusalem 701 BC
The most fearsome ancient peoples failed to destroy Jerusalem, forcing Sennacherib to return to Nineveh with the overdue tribute paid by Hezekiah of Judah.
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Constantinople and the Bosporus
Settled as early as the 7th Century BC, Byzantium and the Bosporus represented important strategic and commercial interests that outlasted the ancient world.
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Wine in the Ancient Near East & Mediterranean
The planting of vineyards can be traced to the earliest ancient settlements, inaugurating a process that ultimately universalized wine as the chief ancient drink.
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Ancient Tarsus in Asia Minor
Site of one of the oldest Middle East settlements, Tarsus played a prominent role in the histories of competing Near East and Mediterranean empires.
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Cyrus the Great Builds an Empire
Creating the largest empire then known in history, Cyrus defeated the Assyrians, the Lydians, and the Babylonians, inaugurating 200 years of Persian rule.
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The Phoenicians and Ancient Tyre
The "Carriers of Civilization" dominated the Mediterranean for centuries, establishing colonies and trading their dyed textiles as far away as Southern Spain.
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Code of Hammurabi in Ancient Babylon
Although not the first ancient law code, Hammurabi's Code brought together local legal traditions that defined the social and economic norms of Near East society.
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The Garden of Eden and Recent Excavations
A recently discovered ancient site in eastern Turkey dating to 13,000 BC may hold the clue to determining where the mythical Eden was located and why it was destroyed.
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Ancient Smyrna in Asia Minor
Along with Ephesus and Pergamum, Smyrna represented one of the most beautiful ancient cities in the Roman Province of Asia following centuries of rebuilding.
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Sodom and Gomorrah in Historical Context
Although the Genesis 19 account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah may provide a lesson in morality more than history, the event occurred and prompts investigation.
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Ancient Sardis in Asia Minor
Tracing its origins to the Old Testament Noah, Sardis became best known as the capital of Lydia and synonymous with gold and the greed of Croesus.
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The Historical Christmas Magi
A great star heralded the birth of a king. Wise men saw and followed it. Who were they? Where did they come from?
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The Palace of Persepolis
Persepolis was one of the great Persian temple complexes until it was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 331 BC.
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Cyrus the Great
A quick history of Cyrus the Great, a man of mysterious background who conquered many Near Eastern kingdoms to form the Persian Empire, sent the Jews home from captivity
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The Code of Hammurabi
The Babylonian king Hammurabi develops one of the earliest written law codes in ancient Mesopotamia. The codex gives insights into Babylonian culture and ancient law.
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The Phoenician Alphabet
A descendant of Mesopotamian cuneiform, the 22-character Phoenician alphabet was the template from which nearly all written language orginated.
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Did Herod Kill Children?
Is the tale of Herod killing newborn babies and those children under 2 years of age true? Did Herod the Great order a genocidal raid on Bethlehem after Jesus' birth?
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The Hittites
The mysterious Hittites ruled Mesopotamia from the 17th - 13th centuries B.C., and were able to enlighten the world about this powerful and influential region.
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