The Ancient Middle East 4000 B.C.-1 B.C.

This entry presents significant events in the history of the Ancient Middle East between 4000-1 B.C. The world's first cities were built by the Sumerian peoples in Mesopotamia, now southern Iraq, between 4000 and 3000 B.C. The Sumerians and Eqyptians also developed forms of writing at that time. Egyptians began building the great pyramids in the desert around 2700 B.C. Some achievements of the ancient Middle East are the study of stars (Astronomy), invention of the wheel, and establishment of the 24-hour day. Hebrew people settled in Canaan in Palestine after escaping from slavery in Egypt in 1200 B.C. Unlike most early peoples in the Middle East, the Hebrews believed in only one God (monotheism). King David united the Hebrews in one strong kingdom in 1000 B.C. Palestine was invaded by many different peoples after 1000 b.c., including the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Persians, and the Romans. It came under Arab Muslim control in the 600s and remained mainly under Muslim control until the 1900s. Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian religion, was born in Bethlehem around 4 B.C.