Aramaean kingdoms

The Aramaean kingdoms were a collection of ancient states that existed in the Near East, primarily from the 11th to the 8th centuries BCE. The Arameans, a Semitic people, originally inhabited areas that are now part of modern Syria and regions of Iraq and Turkey. They established several small kingdoms, such as Aram-Damascus, which played a significant role in trade and culture. The Aramaeans spoke Aramaic, a language that eventually gained prominence across the region and became a lingua franca. Their influence was felt in politics, language, and commerce until they were absorbed by larger empires, like the Assyrians and Babylonians.