Curated playlist
Former monarchies of West Asia
- Fatimid CaliphateThe Fatimid Caliphate began as a secret movement, not a kingdom. Hidden missionaries spread its doctrine.
- Seleucid EmpireA Roman envoy drew a circle in the sand around Antiochus IV. The Seleucid king had to answer before stepping out.
- AssyriaAssyria began as a city with fewer than 10,000 people inside its walls and no army.
- Abbasid CaliphateThe last Abbasid ruler of Baghdad was wrapped in a carpet and trampled by horses.
- Timurid EmpireThe Timurid Empire lost its lands but founded the Mughal Empire. A Timurid prince, Babur, took Delhi in 1526.
- Palmyrene EmpireThe Palmyrene Empire lasted only three years, yet its queen conquered Egypt.
- ColchisAccording to Greek and Roman sources, between 70 and 300 languages were spoken in one city of ancient Colchis.
- Empire of TrebizondTrebizond's emperors married their daughters to Turkish rulers to buy peace. The empire lasted until 1461.
- IranIranian students seized the US embassy in 1979 and held 52 hostages for 444 days.
- Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)Armenia became the first state in history to officially adopt Christianity. Its kingdom lasted nearly eight centuries.