Iraq 200 BCE
Mesopotamia is now ruled by descendants of one of Alexander the Great's generals, who plant many Hellenistic cities.
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What is happening in Iraq in 200BCE
Like the rest of the Persian Empire, Mesopotamia was conquered by the armies of Alexander the Great in the 330s and 320s BCE.
After Alexander’s death in 323 BCE the region fell to Seleucus, one of his generals. Mesopotamia has since been ruled by kings of Seleucus’ line, under whom a Greek-speaking ruling class has come to monopolise power. Greek-style cities – the largest of which is Seleucia-on-the-Tigris – have sprung up, settled by colonists from the Greek and Macedonian homelands. The cultural inter-mixing of Greek and native elements has led to the spread of a hybrid culture throughout the Middle East, which modern scholars label “Hellenistic”.
In recent years, however, Mesopotamia has become the scene of a struggle between the Seleucid kings and an invading Iranian people from central Asia, the Parthians. These steppe nomads are gaining the upper hand.
Next map, Ancient Mesopotamia in 30 BCE
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What else is happening in the rest of the world...
Egypt history 3500BCE
One of the great civilizations of world history, that of Ancient Egypt, is taking shape in the Nile Valley.
What else is happening in the rest of the world...
Egypt history 2500BCE
By this date Ancient Egypt has developed one of the great civilizations of world history.
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