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Ancient Mediterranean

Beginner’s guide: Ancient Near East

Some of the earliest urban centers can be found in ancient Mesopotamia.

c. 3500–400 B.C.E.

Ancient Near Eastern Art has long been part of the history of Western art, but history didn’t have to be written this way. It is largely because of the West’s interests in the Biblical “Holy Land” that ancient Near Eastern culture has been be regarded as part of the Western canon of the history of art.

Ancient Near East: Cradle of civilization

Ancient Near East: Cradle of civilization

By Dr. Senta German

Home to some of the earliest and greatest empires, the Near East is often referred to as the cradle of civilization.

Cuneiform, an introduction

Cuneiform, an introduction

By The British Museum

One of the oldest known forms of writing, cuneiform was the writing system for fifteen languages over 3,000 years.

Writing cuneiform

Writing Cuneiform

By The British Museum

Unlike modern writing, cuneiform wasn’t written in ink—but was instead pressed into the surface of clay.

Cuneiform tablets

Cuneiform Tablets

By UCLA Library

These records tell us a great deal about the ancient world, with topics ranging from receipts to school assignments.