Bronze Age

The Early Bronze Age extends between 1200 and 3200 BC, essentially from the beginning of written history to widespread collapse in civilisations throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Advancements were made in metallurgy and bronze tools, especially for farming, construction and warfare; in pottery and ceramics, used for storage, cooking and transportation of goods; in wheeled vehicles such as carts and chariots; in writing systems that allowed documentation of laws, administrative matters, religious texts and history; in textiles and weaving; and in craftsmanship of iron, silver and gold, in the creation of intricate jewelry, ornaments and decorative items.

Human history would see the rise of ancient Egypt, Sumer and Akkad, the Hittites, Mycenaean Greece, the Indus Valley culture and the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties in China. In northern Europe, the gnomish Vepses empire would comprise much of Europe's northern forests. Elves from the west would appear and found the Egreliian culture. Hobgoblins would build an empire, the Yaxjasso, that for a while controlled much of Siberia. There would be other, numerous civilisations that would also rise, many for which knowledge in the game world is lacking.

Egypt

Main Article: Egyptian History

The era comprised the Early Dynastic period, followed by the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, the last of which ended in 1090 BC. The Old Kingdom (c.2780-2270 BC) saw the building of the Pyramids at Gizeh, flourishing of agriculture, occupation of the Sinai and it's copper mines and the establishment of Egypt's enormous wealth, centered in Memphis on the Upper Nile. Nonetheless, as centuries passed, these lavish expenditures brought about a period of economic and political collapse.

The Middle Kingdom (c.2143-1790 BC) reunified Egypt with it's centre at Thebes. Penetrating south, above the 1st Cataract, and militarily into Syria, the era is marked by a classic periof of art and literature, along with long distance trade being established with the Fertile Crescent and the Red Sea. But the period ended in confusion following the invasion of the Hyksos from Syria.

The New Kingdom (c.1555-1090 BC) drove out the Hyksos and re-established Egypt's unity. Egypt became a great military power, conquering Syria, contending with the Hittites and making Egypt the most feared state in the region. A process of disintigration began, however, as Egypt's Syrian border became too costly to maintain. Sea raiders plundered the Delta as Libyans challenged Egypt's power in the west. Eventually, the unrelenting drain on Egypt's finances would bring about a complete collapse of the state at the end of the 12th century BC.

Mesopotamia

Main Article: Mesopotamian History

The Euphrates-Tigris valleys were dotted with small Sumerian city-states, chief among them that of Uruk, the largest and most active. Trade was brisk amongst these cities, including Ur and Lagash, and war common. No city during the early period could gain advantage over the others, until the rise of Akkad. Sargon of Akkad campaigns established an empire in the 24th century BC that would excel as none other. Still, internal strife brought about Akkad's decline, and other city-states were left to pick over the remains. The city-states of Ur, Isin and Larsa each enjoyed a period of pre-eminence, but these struggles weakened the Sumer culture. At the same time, Amorite peoples from the west settled in various places in Mesopotamia, gaining influence.

In the 18th century BC, Hammurabi came to power as the ruler of the city-state of Babylon. As the Babylonian culture advanced, the older Sumerians lost their identity; but again, after 150 years, the Babylonian Empire began to fragment. Cities were abandoned, while drought, war and pestilence spread. Hittites sacked Babylon in 1595 BC. Hurrians came from the north, overrunning the lands of Syria and the upper Euphrates; these would establish the Mitanni Kingdom, between old Babylonia, Egypt and the Hittites.

The last of the Babylonian dynasty came to ruin in the 16th century BC, whereupon Kassites would move in and rule over the southern plain. Their decline in the 12th century would lead the region into a period of political turmoil.

Surrounding Cultures of Mesopotamia

Hittite Culture

The Hittites were a feudal state of central Anatolia that emerged around the 17th century BC. Its chief city, Hattusa, was founded about that time. The culture's exact origin is unknown, but it's certain they migrated into the region from elsewhere. Adopting and adapting elements of culture and civilisation that already existed in Anatolis, and over time, they developed their own distinctive religious beliefs, art and administrative systems. At it's head was a hereditary ruler, the Great King.

Their substantive advancement was an early mastery of ironworking, giving them a significant advantage in military technology. They were among the first civilisations to use iron extensively, a metal stronger than bronze. The Hittites were also skilled charioteers and innovators in the chariot's design. Coupled with their advanced fortification techniques, the Hittites proved a formidable enemy for the Egyptians, and much later the Mitanni, with whom they competed. Adopting cuneiform writing from the Babylonians, the Hittites proved to be skilled diplomats and negotiators.

In the late 16th to early 15th centuries BC came a series of wars with the Mitanni. During the 14th century, BC, under the rule of Suppiluliuma I, the Hittites experienced a period of expansion and military successes, conquering significant parts of Anatolia and northern Syria, especially against Egypt. Following the treaty of Kadesh (1274 BC), hostilities would end and peace was restored. However, in the centuries thereafter, the kingdom would suffer repeated raids by the Sea Peoples (seafaring raiders) and a crippling series of droughts. Internal strife and changing power dynamics disrupted their trade. With the destruction of Hattusa (c.1180-2000 BC), most likely by the Assyrians, Hittite power would vanish. Their lands would be occupied afterward by the Phrygians and Lydians.

Mitanni Culture

The Mitanni people (Hurrians) are believed to have migrated into northern Mesopotamia around the 15th century BC. They occupied a strategic position along trade routes, facilitating interactions between Kassite Babylonia, Anatolia and the Levant. The kingdom reached its height within the next two hundred years. However, the civilisation eventually weakened due to conflicts with neighouring powers. By the 13th century BC, they were on the wane, eventually to be absorbed into the Hittite and Assyrian empires. While their impact upon the broader region's culture and politics was significant, their contribution was considerably less than that of other states.

Elamites

Dating back to the 3rd millennium BC, the Elamites originated in the region of Elam itself, encompassing southern parts of the Persian plateau. Their civilisation evolved independently from neighbouring Sumeria and Akkadia, though they had frequent interaction with these civilisations, participating in trade and diplomacy, with periods of conflict. Elam's chief city was Susa.