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The Iron Age is an archaeological age, the last of the three-age system of Old World prehistory. It follows the Bronze Age, in the Ancient Near East beginning c. 1200 BC, and in Europe beginning in 793 It is taken to end with the beginning of Classical Antiquity, in about the 6th century BC, although in Northern Europe, the Germanic Iron Age is taken to last until the beginning of the Viking Age, c. AD 800.
The term "Iron Age" is mostly limited to Europe, the Near East, and the Indian subcontinent, although West Africa also had iron metallurgy, beginning with the Nok culture c. 550 BC and spread by the Bantu expansion. There are also cast iron artefacts in China from about 500 BC, but use of iron was minimal, and the Bronze Age in China is usually extended to the beginning of the classical period (Qin dynasty).
State | Capital/s | Type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Carthage | Carthage | Kingdom/empire | 814–146 BC |
D'mt | Yeha | Kingdom | 980–650 BC |
Kingdom of Kush | Meroë | 1070 BC – 350 AD | |
Third Intermediate Period of Egypt | Memphis, Thebes | 1069–525 BC | |
Egyptian Empire | 1550–1069 BC | ||
Land of Punt | 2400–1069 BC | ||
Nok culture | ancient kingdom | c. 550 BC – 300 AD | |
State | Capital/s | Type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Chacin | Chavín de Huántar | 900–250 BC | |
Chiripa | Adulis | c. 13th–5th centuries BC | |
Mixtec civilization | 1500 BC – 1523 AD | ||
Olmec | La Venta | Kingdom city states | 1400–400 BC |
Paracas | 800–100 BC | ||
Pukara | Pukara | 1400 BC – 400 AD | |
State | Capital/s | Type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Arcadia | Kingdom | 1000–743 BC | |
Argolis | Argos | Kingdom | 1200–379 BC |
Athens | Athens | Kingdom city state | 1556–683 BC |
Athens | Athens | Republican city state | 683–87 BC |
Boeotia | Thebes | Kingdom | 1100–750 BC |
Corinth | Corinth | City state | 700–338 BC |
Epirus | Amvrakia, Passaron, Phoenice | Kingdom | 1183–168 BC |
Locria | Amphissa, Naupactus | Kingdom | 1250–386 BC |
Macedon | Aigai, Pella | Kingdom | 860–146 BC |
Messenia | Messene | Kingdom | 1300–724 BC |
Sparta | Sparta | Kingdom | 950–146 BC |
State | Capital/s | Type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Alba Longa | Lavinium | Kingdom | 1200 – 753 BC |
Daunia | Tribal kingdom | 7th century – 89 BC | |
Epirus | Amvrakia, Passaron, Phoenice | Kingdom | 1183–168 BC |
Etruscans | Various | Kingdom | 900–27 BC |
Liburnia | Tribal thalassocracy [1] | 11th century – 34 BC | |
Magna Graecia | Various | Kingdom city states | 740–89 BC |
Messapia | Hyria | Tribal kingdom | 8th century – 89 BC |
Oenotria | Metabon | Tribal kingdom | 1000–325 BC |
Oscans | Ausones | Tribal kingdom | 1000 – 4th centuries BC |
Padanian Etruria | Various | Federated city states | 9th century – 5th century BC |
Kingdom of Rome | Rome | Kingdom | 753–509 BC |
Sabinum | Tribal kingdom | c. 760 – 494 BC | |
Samnium | Bovianum | Tribal confederation | c. 600 – 82 BC |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Bactria | Bactra | Tribal kingdom/client | 2140 – 550 BC |
Balhara | Balkh | Tribal kingdom | 12th century – 7th century BC |
Colchis | Phasis | Kingdom | 1300 BC – 2nd century AD |
Margiana | Tribal kingdom | 9th century – 6th century BC | |
Scythia | Neopolis | Tribal kingdom | 690 – 250 BC |
Sogdia | Marakanda | Tribal confederation | 8th century – 327 BC |
Jushi kingdom (Tarim basin) | Tribal kingdom city states | 1st millennium BC | |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Âu Lạc | Cổ Loa Citadel | Kingdom | 257 – 180 BC |
Ba | Yíchéng | Tribal confederation | 13th century – 311 BC |
Cai | Shàngcài), Xīncài, Xiàcài | Marquisate/client | 980 – 447 BC |
Cao | Táoqiū | Dukedom/client | 1053 – 487 BC |
Chen | Wǎnqiū | Dukedom/client | 1046 – 479 BC |
Chu | Danyang, JiangYing, JiYing, Shouchun, | Viscountcy/kingdom/client | 1030 – 223 BC |
Deng | Dengzhou | Marquisate/client | 1200 – 678 BC |
Donghu | Nomadic tribal confederation | 1400 – 150 BC | |
Eastern Guo | Dengzhou | Marquisate/client | 1046 – 767 BC |
Gojoseon | Asadal, Wanggeom-seong | Kingdom | 2333 – 108 BC |
Guan | Guan | Kingdom city state | 1046 – 1040 BC |
Gumie | Gumie | Kingdom | 1046 – 480 BC |
Han | Hancheng | Marquisate/client | 1046 – 764 BC |
Huang | Can'hu, Yicheng, Hubei | Marquisate/client | 891 – 648 BC |
Jin | Tang, Quwo, Jiang, Xintian | Dukedom/client | 1042 – 376 BC |
Kỷ line | Not specified | Kingdom | 853 – 755 BC |
Lu | Qufu | Marquisate/dukedom/client | 1042 – 249 BC |
Pi | Xuecheng | Earldom/client | 1046 – 418 BC |
Qi | Qi | Dukedom | 1600 – 445 BC |
Qi | Linzi | Dukedom/client | 1046 – 221 BC |
Qin | Qin, Quanqiu, Qian, Pingyang | Marquisate/dukedom/client | 858 – 221 BC |
Quan | Dukedom/client | 1250 – 704 BC | |
Quanrong | Nomadic Tribal Confedracy | 954 – 301 BC | |
Shěn | Shěn | Earldom/marquisate | 1050 – 500 BC |
Shu | Kingdom | 1046 – 316 BC | |
Song | Shangqiu | Dukedom and vassal | 1058 – 286 BC |
Sui | Suizhou | Marquisate and client | 771 – 221 BC |
Sumpa | Tribal chiefdom/client | 1600 BC – 7th century AD | |
Tan | Mingshui | Viscountcy and vassal | 1046 – 684 BC |
Teng | Tengzhou | Viscountcy | 1046 – 414 BC |
Văn Lang | Anyang | Confederation/kingdom | 2879 – 258 BC |
Western Guo | Yongdi, Shangyang, Xiayang | Countship/dukedom | 1046 – 687 BC |
Wey | Shangqiu | Dukedom and vassal | 1046 – 687 BC |
Wu | Gusu | Dukedom and vassal | 1046 – 473 BC |
Xingtai | Marquisate/client | 1046 – 632 BC | |
Xu | Gusu | Viscountacy/client | 2000 – 512 BC |
Yan | Ji | Kingdom/principality | 1046 – 222 BC |
Zheng | Zheng, Xinzheng | Kingdom | 806 – 375 BC |
Zhou | Haojing, Luoyi | Kingdom | 1046 – 256 BC |
Zou | Viscountacy/dukedom | 1012 – 350 BC | |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Anga | Champa or Campā | Kingdom | 1100 – 530 BC |
Asmaka | Potana | Kingdom | 700 – 425/345 BC |
Avanti | Mahissati, Ujjaini | Kingdom | 700 – 300 BC |
Āryāvarta | Multiple | Confederated tribal kingdoms | 1750 – 600 BC |
Chedi | Suktimati | Kingdom | 1200 – 300 BC |
Chola | Uraiyur/Kaveripoompattinam | Kingdom | 600 – 110 BC |
Himalaya | Kingdom | 600 – 322 BC | |
Kalinga | Dantapura/Rajapura [2] | Kingdom | 1376 – 285 BC |
Kamboja | Rajapura | Kingdom | 1450 – 195 BC |
Kuru | Āsandīvat, Indraprastha | Kingdom | 1200 – 500 BC |
Magadha | Rajagriha or Rajgir | Kingdom | 1100 – 28 BC |
Malla | Kusavati, Pava | Republic | c. 7th century BCE–c. 4th century BCE |
Matsya | Viratanagara | Kingdom | 1400 – 350 BC |
Panchala | Ahichatra, Kampilya | Kingdom, later republic | 1100 – 400 BC |
Pandya | Madurai | Kingdom | 600 BC – 1600 AD |
Pundra | Pundravardhana | Kingdom | 1300 BC – 550 AD |
Saurashtra | Kingdom | 950 – 355 BC | |
Shakya | Kapilavatthu | Monarchical Republic | 7th–5th century BC |
Sindhu-Sauvīra | Vrsadarbhpura | Kingdom | 1000 – 518 BC |
Suhma | not specified | Kingdom | c. 8th century – 4th century BC |
Surasena | Methora | Kingdom | 700 – 300 BC |
Trigarta | Prasthala | Kingdom | 1100 – 322 BC |
Vanga | Gange | Kingdom | 700 – 300 BC |
Vatsa | Kauśāmbī | Kingdom | 1100 – 323 BC |
Vidarbha | Kundinapuri | Kingdom | 1200 – 322 BC |
Vajjika League | Vaishali | Confederacy | c. 6th century BCE – c. 468 BCE |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Arzawa | Apasa | Federation | 15th – 12th century BC |
Arme-Shupria | Van | Kingdom | 1290 – 1190 BC |
Caria | Apasa | Kingdom | 11th–6th century BC |
Diauehi | Zua, Ultu | Kingdom | 1118 – 760 BC |
Doris | Doris | Kingdom | 1200 – 580 BC |
Hittite Empire | Hattussa | Empire | 1600 – 1178 BC |
Ionia | Delos | Kingdom city states | 1070 – 545 BC |
Lukka | Tribal kingdom | 2000 – 1183 BC | |
Lycia | Xanthos, Patara | Kingdom | 1183 – 546 BC |
Lydia | Sardis | Kingdom | 1200 – 680 BC |
Lydian Empire | Sardis | Empire | 680 – 546 BC |
Mysia | Pergamene | Kingdom | 1320 – 301 BC [3] |
Paphlagonia | Gangra | Kingdom | 1480 – 183 BC [4] |
Phrygia | Kingdom | 1200 – 700 BC | |
Sam'al | Samal | Principality/kingdom | 1200 – 680 BC |
Syro-Hittite states | Various | Kingdoms | 1200–800 BC |
Tabal | Kanesh | Kingdom | 1180 – 609 BC |
Tarhuntassa | Tarhuntassa | Kingdom | 1350 – 1200 BC |
Troas | Troy | Kingdom | 3000 – 700 BC |
Tuwanuwa | Tuwanuwa | Kingdom city state | 1000 – 700 BC |
Zabdicene | Principality/client | 780 BC – 5th century AD | |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Dilmun | Qal'at | Kingdom | 2600 – 675 BC |
Magan | Kingdom | 2200 – 550 BC | |
Qedar | Adumattu | Tribal confederation/client | 870 BC – 250 AD |
Thamud | Hegea | Kingdom | 8th century – 500 BC |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Nairi | Multiple | Tribal confederation | 1190 – 890 BC |
Saparda | Kingdom | 720 – 670 BC | |
Urartu | Arzashkun, Tushpa | Kingdom | 860 – 590 BC |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Elamite Empire | Susa | Empire | 1210 – 535 BC |
Ellipi | Kingdom | 850 – 609 BC | |
Ḫubuškia | Kingdom | 10th/9th century–??? BC | |
Mannai | Izirtu | Kingdom | 1110 – 616 BC |
Media | Ecbatana | Kingdom | 750 – 678 BC |
Median Empire | Ecbatana | Empire | 678 – 549 BC |
Namar | Namar | Kingdom | 2350 – 750 BC |
Parsua | Tribal chiefdom/kingdom [5] | 860 – 600 BC | |
Persis | Tribal kingdom | 10th century – 550 BC | |
Zikirti | Kingdom | 750 – 521 BC | |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Ammon | Rabbath Ammon | Kingdom | 1000 – 332 BC |
Amurru kingdom | Sumur | Kingdom | 2000–1200 BC |
Aram-Damascus | Damascus | Kingdom | 1184 – 732 BC |
Aramea | Tribal chiefdom's/kingdom | 2300 – 700 BC | |
Bashan | Bashan | Confederation | 1330 – 928 BC |
Edom | Rabbath Ammon | Kingdom | 1200 – 125 BC |
Twelve Tribes of Israel | Tribal confederation | 1440 – 1050 BC | |
United Monarchy of Israel | Jerusalem | United Kingdom | 1050 – 930 BC |
Israel | Samaria | Kingdom | 930 – 720 BC |
Judah | Jerusalem | Kingdom | 930 – 586 BC |
Moab | Dibon | Kingdom | 13th century – 400 BC |
Philistia | Ashdod, Ekron, Gaza | Kingdom city states | 1175 – 732 BC |
Phoenicia | Byblos, Tyre, Berytus, Sidon | Kingdom city states | 1800 – 539 BC |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Assyria | Assur | Kingdom | 1975 – 934 BC |
Assyrian Empire | Assur, Nineveh, Harran | Empire | 911 – 612 BC |
Bit-Istar | Kingdom | 12th century – 710 BC | |
Chaldea | Bit Yakin | Kingdom | 1100 – 539 BC |
Lullubi | Lulubuna | Tribal kingdom | 2400 – 650 BC |
Neo-Babylonian Empire | Babylon | Empire | 626 – 539 BC |
Simurrum | Kingdom | 3rd–2nd millennium BC | |
Name | Capital | State type | Existed |
---|---|---|---|
Awsan | Ḥajar Yaḥirr | Kingdom | 7th century BC – 100 AD |
Hadhramaut | Kingdom | 700 BC – 320 AD | |
Haram | Haram | Kingdom city state | 600 – 175 BC |
Sabaea | Ma'rib | Kingdom | 1100 – 275 BC |
The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final Age of the three-age division starting with prehistory and progressing to protohistory. In this usage, it is preceded by the Stone Age and Bronze Age. These concepts originated for describing Iron Age Europe and the Ancient Near East. The indigenous cultures of the New World did not develop an iron economy before 1500.
The 2nd millennium BC spanned the years 2000 BC to 1001 BC. In the Ancient Near East, it marks the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age. The Ancient Near Eastern cultures are well within the historical era: The first half of the millennium is dominated by the Middle Kingdom of Egypt and Babylonia. The alphabet develops. At the center of the millennium, a new order emerges with Mycenaean Greek dominance of the Aegean and the rise of the Hittite Empire. The end of the millennium sees the Bronze Age collapse and the transition to the Iron Age.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to ancient history:
The ancient Near East was home to many cradles of civilization, spanning Mesopotamia, Egypt, Iran, Anatolia and the Armenian Highlands, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula. As such, the fields of ancient Near East studies and Near Eastern archaeology are one of the most prominent with regard to research in the realm of ancient history. Historically, the Near East denoted an area roughly encompassing the centre of West Asia, having been focused on the lands between Greece and Egypt in the west and Iran in the east. It therefore largely corresponds with the modern-day geopolitical concept of the Middle East.
The prehistory of Anatolia stretches from the Paleolithic era through to the appearance of classical civilisation in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. It is generally regarded as being divided into three ages reflecting the dominant materials used for the making of domestic implements and weapons: Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. The term Copper Age (Chalcolithic) is used to denote the period straddling the stone and Bronze Ages.