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The terms ancient Near East or '''ancient Orient''' encompass the early Civilization s predating Classical Antiquity in the region roughly corresponding to that described by the modern term Middle East ( Egypt , Iraq , Turkey ), during the time roughly spanning the Bronze Age from the rise of Sumer and Gerzeh in the 4th Millennium BCE to the expansion of the Persian Empire in the 6th Century BCE . As such, it is a term widely employed in the fields of Near Eastern Archaeology , Ancient History and Egyptology . The ancient Near East is generally understood as encompassing Mesopotamia (modern Iraq and Syria ), Persia ( Iran ), Armenia , Egypt , the Levant ( Israel , Jordan , Lebanon , Syria , Palestinian Authority ), and Anatolia ( Turkey ). Some users of the term would extend its application into the Caucasus region, into modern Afghanistan (see Bactria ), Minoan and Mycenaean Greece and other peripheral areas. Still, others would exclude Egypt from the ancient Near East as a geographically and culturally distinct area. However, because of Egypt's intimate involvement with the region, especially from the 2nd Millennium BCE , this exclusion is rare. SPIRITUAL BELIEFS Ancient civilizations in the Near East were deeply influenced by their Spiritual beliefs, which generally did not distinguish between Heaven and Earth .1 They believed that Divine action influenced all mundane matters, and also believed in Divination (ability to predict the future). Omen s were often inscribed in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, as were records of major events. REGIONS Major regions during ancient times include: MILLENNIUMS 5th millennium BCE 4th millennium BCE 3rd millennium BCE 2nd millennium BCE , showing the great powers of the period: Egypt (green), Hatti (yellow), the Kassite kingdom of Babylon (purple), Assyria (grey), and Mittani (red). Lighter areas show direct control, darker areas represent spheres of influence. The extent of the Achaean/Mycenaean civilization is shown in orange.]]
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