The Middle East
The area of the Fertile Crescent and the area along the Mediterranean coastline that is now Israel is often referred to as the Middle East. Many Kingdoms tried to rule this area during its early history. First on kingdom dominated perhaps even overran the territory. Then another would take its place. Often the loser in the power struggle disappeared from the pages of history. The Middle East was and still is important in world history.
Sunset of Mesopotamian Influence
Ever since the earliest civilization was founded in Sumer culture centered in the Middle East area of Mesopotamia. As we have seen people migrated from this area to other parts of the world. But the major civilizations dominated the Middle East the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, and the Persians. Then when when the last of these empires fell about 331 B.C. the major center of historical influence shifted to the West. While empires were rising and falling in Mesopotamia India entered an important period of her history known as the Vedic Ages it was a time when the major structure of Indian life formed. It is in the area of religious thought that the Indians have made their greatest contributions to world history. During the Vedic Ages the complex ideas of the Hindu religion developed and the Buddhist faith was born.