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This was the first system of writing ever created. The Mesopotamians created this in order to keep track of tax records. -
This brought sophistication into the ancient states, and allowed them to develop into empires. This period also interconnected the empires with large trade routes throughout the ancient world. -
The Old Kingdom was united and ruled by the king (pharaoh) Djoser. Djoser was the first ruler to have his tomb be buried in the first creation of the pyramids. -
King Sargon the Great conquered all of the major Mesopotamian cities and formed the worlds first true empire. During this time he also united the regions of Akkad and Sumer. -
This was the first set of written laws for the public to see. This laid the foundation of law and order in society, since the laws were put out there for everyone and were not negotiable. -
The Hebrews settle and create the first kingdom in Canaan. They spread their faith in monotheism, and changed the religious outlook of the ancient world. -
This period occurred at the fall of the Bronze Age, and brought prosperity back into the states suffering through the "dark age." This new period re-established the trade routes, created a new idea of Middle Eastern politics, and created the foundation for the largest empires the world had ever seen. -
The most important reform in Hebrew religion was when king Josiah insisted on the idea of strict monotheism, and brought the creation of the first books of the Hebrew Bible, the Torah. -
Hatshepsut was the first and only female pharaoh and she ruled during the New Kingdom. Egypt was one of the first places in the ancient world where women were given equal legal opportunities as men. -
The Old Kingdom of Egypt collapsed 200 years after the last pyramids were built, and it is though to be due to drought. Drought is also what caused the collapse of the Bronze Age later in 1100 BCE.