Ancient states of the world: names, history and interesting facts

It is established that the most ancient states of the world formed about six millennia ago, most of them disappeared from the face of the earth, leaving their names in memory to descendants at best. But there are among them those who, through centuries, were able at all historical stages to adapt to the ever changing realities and, thus, live to our days.

The First States of the Ancient World

Regarding where and when the world's first civilization arose, the researchers do not have a common opinion, but most of them agree that, most likely, it was the state of Sumer. Formed at the end of IV century BC in the area of South Mesopotamia (South Iraq) and existed for more than two thousand years, it disappeared from the historical scene, leaving a lot of monuments of its culture, discovered during excavations. Like many other ancient states of the world, it collapsed under the onslaught of conquerors.

At the dawn of civilization, the states, as a rule, occupied very small territories and did not have a large population. It is known, for example, that in the middle of the fourth millennium BC there were more than forty of them in the Nile alone. The center of each of them was a fortified city, which housed the residence of the ruler and the temple of the most revered local deity.

The strongest survived

The ancient states of the world waged a never-ending struggle for survival, as there were few fertile lands, and there were many applicants for their possession. As a result, endless wars broke out, in which the local ruler acted as the leader, and in case of luck he directed irrigation work. The labor of slaves was used little, because due to the primitive nature of the weapons, keeping a large number of prisoners was dangerous. They were usually killed, leaving only women and adolescents.

Formation of the State of Ancient Egypt

The picture changed at the beginning of the fourth millennium BC, when the most successful local king who entered the history under the name of Pharaoh Minnes managed to subjugate several neighboring nations. The names of the states of the Ancient World, included in the new kingdom, remained largely unknown, but they gave rise to the great civilization that modern Egyptologists call the Early Kingdom.

Of all the existing states, Egypt is considered the oldest. Its history lasts for about forty centuries and is divided by researchers into several stages, each of which has its own peculiarities of state government and economic development. This unique country of the pharaohs enriched the world with many forms of art, which then spread to other continents.

Armenia, which came from the depths of centuries

The first states of the Ancient World, preserved to this day, for the most part had a completely different ethnic composition of the population in comparison with the present one. An example of this is Armenia, which counts two and a half thousand years of its history, but, according to a number of researchers, originated much earlier and originates from the ancient kingdom of Armé-Shubri, which existed in the 12th century BC.

In those years it was a complex conglomerate of small, but independent states and peoples, constantly replacing each other. As a result of a long historical path on their basis, the Armenian nation was formed. The very name of this state in its modern sounding is first mentioned in one of the documents relating to 522 BC. There, Armenia is described as an area subordinate to Persia and located on the territory of the ancient Urartu state that disappeared by that time.

The Old Iranian State

Another ancient state of the world is Iran. Concerning the period of its emergence, scientists agree that it was formed from the Elam state that existed on the same territory five thousand years ago and the Elam state mentioned in the Bible. In the 7th century BC, the Iranian state significantly expanded its territory, strengthened economically and was transformed into a powerful and belligerent Median kingdom, larger than the territory of present-day Iran. His military potential was so great that over time the Medes managed to defeat the invincible Assyrians until then and subjugate their neighbors around them.

Iran, like, indeed, many ancient states of the world, with fire and sword paved its way into the future. In the oldest monument of ancient Iranian literature - "Avesta" - it is called "the land of the Aryans". The tribes, who later formed the bulk of the population of Iran, moved to it from the northern regions of the Caucasus and the steppes of Central Asia. Quickly assimilating the local non-Aryan peoples, they easily managed to establish control over the whole territory of the country.

Civilization of Ancient China

Listing the states of the Ancient World, the most adapted to the vicissitudes of history, one can not help recalling China. According to scientists of this vast eastern country, the civilization on its territory arose not later than five thousand years ago, although a number of written monuments testify to a slightly smaller age - three thousand six hundred years. It was during this period, marked by the reign of the Shang dynasty, that a strict administrative system was established in the country, constantly improving and covering all aspects of society.

The natural conditions of China, which developed in the basin of the rivers Huang He and Yangtze, were the best for the development of agriculture, thus determining the agrarian nature of its economy. Other, neighboring states of the Ancient World were located in mountainous and steppe areas, unsuitable for farming.

Since its inception, China has been actively pursuing an aggressive policy, which, with sufficient economic potential, allowed it to significantly increase its already vast territory. It is widely known how high was the level of science and culture in ancient China. Suffice it to mention that already in the 11th century BC its inhabitants used the lunar calendar and knew the basics of hieroglyphic writing. Around the same period, a regular army, created on a professional basis, appeared in the country.

Cradle of European civilization

This title is rightfully owned by Greece. It is known that about five thousand years ago the island of Crete became the birthplace of a unique culture that eventually spread to the mainland. It was for the first time that the foundations of statehood were formed, trade and diplomatic relations with the countries of the East were established, and a written language in its modern form and the basis of legislation was born.

The state and law of the Ancient World reached the highest point of their development on the coast of the Aegean Sea, where in the first millennium BC the advanced civilization for those times developed. It represented a sufficiently developed state structure, modeled on the oriental despotism and having a developed bureaucratic apparatus at its disposal. The influence of Greece in a short time extended to the vast areas of the northern Black Sea region, southern Italy and Asia Minor.

Despite the fact that historically the name of Hellas belongs to Ancient Greece, today the inhabitants of this country spread it to the modern state, thereby emphasizing the connection with that great culture, the heirs of which they are.

Country originating in the islands

And in conclusion of the article it is appropriate to recall one more thing, this time the island state, which came to our world from ancient times, is Japan. In 661 BC, the reign of her first emperor, Jimmu, began. His work began with the establishment of control over the entire archipelago, which he achieved not so much by force of arms as by thoughtful diplomacy.

In its development, Japan has passed a unique path. While the states of the Ancient World, whose history is connected with wars, appeared on the world stage and then disappeared without a trace, the Land of the Rising Sun for many centuries managed to avoid any serious political and social upheavals. Undoubtedly, this was largely facilitated by the geographical isolation of the state. In particular, it was she who saved the country from the Mongol invasion that swept in its time a significant part of Asia.

A country that has preserved itself in the ages

Japan is the only country where for two and a half millennia the dynastic continuity of the imperial power is preserved, and the outlines of the borders remain practically unchanged. This allows us to consider it to be the oldest country, preserved practically in its original form, since other ancient states of the world, even having managed to overcome the centuries-old path, changed their political appearance many times.