In ancient near eastern studies, Egypt and Mesopotamia get all the press, and rightly deserved, however these societies had equally fascinating neighbors who often get overlooked. Anatolia, the Persian plateau, and the Caucasus gave rise to many cultures. These societies smelted bronze and eventually iron too, the greatest commodity in the ancient near eastern world. Join us weekly to learn about modern discoveries in the Caucasus republics of Georgia and Armenia, the ancient Assyrian civilization, the ancestors of the Persians, and the invasions of Alexander the Great!