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By 6,000 BCE, artificial irrigation had begun, leading to increased population and state building.
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The first state to arise in world history was Sumer, around 5,000 BCE. It grew into a society including Jews, Arabs and Phoenicians. Sumer came to dominate Mesopotamia.
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Around 4,000 BCE, came inventions in bronze. It was used to make military weapons and tools.
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About 3,500 BCE, the wheel was used for easy transportation.
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Around 3,500 BCE, writing first emerged fast in Sumer. First there were pictographs then cuneiform.
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In 500 BCE, the Greek cities of Anatolia rebelled and reasserted their independence, launching a series of conflicts known as the Persian wars.
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In the early 16th century BCE, overthrowing the Babylonians, the Hittites built a powerful kingdom and were among the most influential members of the migrating group into Mesopotamia and other lands.
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In the 6th century BCE, the Medes and Persians launched a wave of conquest under Cyrus the Great. They were able to dominate a huge empire spreading from India to Egypt.
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In the 7th century, the spread of Islam and Islamic empires capture vital Byzantine territory.
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In the 15th century, when Europeans were trying to reach Asia, the Islamic Empire stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. Making it the largest empire at the time.
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In 340 CE, Byzantium became the center of an empire following the the Roman emperor Constantine’s decision to locate his new capital city.
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In 532 CE, there were tempers flaring over horse races that helped Byzantine’s emperor Justinian become a powerful ruler.
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In 632 CE, the prophet Muhammad returned to his home city of Mecca, beginning the tradition of the Haji.
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By the year 1000 CE, the Byzantium Empire entered a period of decline. The empire lost valuable land and had few opportunities for expansion.
