ANE (Ancient Near East)

The Ancient Near East (ANE) refers to a historical region covering parts of modern-day countries like Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and Egypt, roughly from 3500 BCE to 500 BCE. It was home to some of the world's earliest civilizations, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians. These cultures developed early cities, writing systems (like cuneiform and hieroglyphs), legal codes, and innovations in science and architecture. The ANE played a critical role in shaping human history by laying the foundations for later civilizations in politics, religion, art, and technology.