Fertile Crescent

Definition

The Fertile Crescent, often called the "Cradle of Civilization", is the region in the Middle East which curves, like a quarter-moon shape, from the Persian Gulf, through modern-day southern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and northern Egypt. The region has long been recognized for its vital contributions to world culture stemming from the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Levant which included the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, and Phoenicians, all of whom were responsible for the development of civilization.

More about: Fertile Crescent

Timeline

  • 9000 BCE
    Cultivation of wild cereals in the Fertile Crescent.
  • 9000 BCE
    Wild sheep flocks are managed in the Zagros mountains.
  • 7700 BCE
    First domesticated wheats in the Fertile Crescent.
  • c. 6500 BCE
    Cultivation of peas in the Eastern Mediterranean.
  • 4300 BCE
    The rise of the cities by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
  • 3500 BCE
    Image of the breed of dog, the Saluki, appears on ceramics as household pet.
  • 2334 BCE - 2279 BCE
    Sargon of Akkad (the Great) reigns over Mesopotamia and thus creates the world's first empire.
  • c. 2300 BCE
    Wide spread production and use of soap.
  • 2000 BCE
    Domesticated horses introduced in Mesopotamia.
  • c. 2000 BCE
    Babylon controls Fertile Crescent.
  • 1900 BCE
    Ashur, capial of Assyria, is founded.
  • c. 1900 BCE - c. 1400 BCE
    Trade flourishes between Mesopotamia and other regions.
  • 1894 BCE
    Amorite dynasty established in Babylon.
  • 1795 BCE - 1750 BCE
    Reign of Hammurabi, king of Babylon.
  • 1787 BCE
    Hammurabi of Babylon conquers Uruk and Isin.
  • c. 1772 BCE
    The Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest codes of law in the world.
  • c. 1760 BCE - c. 1757 BCE
    Hammurabi of Babylon destroys the city of Mari. The people of Mari are spared according to Hammurabi.
  • 1680 BCE
    Hurrians occupy Assyria.
  • 1595 BCE
    King Mursilis of the Hittites sacks Babylon. Begin of Babylonian "dark ages."
  • 1550 BCE
    The Hurrian kingdom of Mitanni is founded.
  • 1500 BCE
    Egyptian empire extends to the Euphrates.
  • 1472 BCE
    Mittani annexes Assyria.
  • 1400 BCE
    Assyria regains its independence.
  • 1350 BCE - 1250 BCE
    The Hittite Empire is at its peak.
  • c. 1321 BCE
    Western Mittani is conquered by the Hittites.
  • 1285 BCE
    Peak of Hittite power.
  • 1220 BCE
    Babylon is under Assyrian control.
  • 1200 BCE
    Phrygians invade Anatolia and destroy the Hittite Empire.
  • 1080 BCE
    Aramaeans invade Mesopotamia.
  • 1000 BCE
    Chaldeans occupy Ur.
  • 853 BCE
    Babylonian kings depend on Assyrian military support.
  • 734 BCE
    Babylon is captured by Chaldeans.
  • 729 BCE
    Babylon is occupied by Assyrians.
  • 722 BCE - 705 BCE
    Peak of the Assyrian empire under the reign of Sargon II.
  • c. 600 BCE
    Assyrians control the Fertile Crescent.
  • c. 539 BCE
    Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon; the Fertile Crescent is controlled by the Achaemenid Empire (The First Persian Empire).
  • 334 BCE
    Alexander the Great invades and conquers the Fertile Crescent.
  • 116 CE
    Invasion and annexation of the Fertile Crescent region by Rome under Trajan.
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