Near Eastern Bronze Age

The Near Eastern Bronze Age (roughly 3300–1200 BCE) was a period marked by the rise of advanced civilizations such as Sumer, Egypt, Akkad, and the Hittites. It saw the development of urban centers, sophisticated craftsmanship, intricate trade networks, and early writing systems like cuneiform and hieroglyphs. The era was characterized by the use of bronze—an alloy of copper and tin—for tools, weapons, and art. Political structures became more complex, with kingdoms and empires expanding their influence across the region. This period laid foundational cultural, technological, and economic developments that shaped subsequent history in the Middle East.