Urartu

Urartu was a state in Caucasus (Middle East) that lasted from c. 860 to 590 BCE, about 270 years. Its people spoke Isolates and ancient languages (Sumerian, Elamite, Hurrian, Urartian, Hattic, Kassite, Etruscan, Basque, Ainu).

Kingdom of the Armenian Highlands that rivalled Assyria, building fortresses, canals and the city of Erebuni, today's Yerevan. It fell to the Medes and Scythians in the early 6th century BCE.

See Urartu on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 860 to 590 BCE

Duration

270 years

Type

State

Region

Caucasus, Middle East

Language family

Isolates and ancient

Capital

Tushpa (Van)

Came from

• Nairi tribes c. 1200 to 860 BCE

Became

• Orontid Armenia c. 570 to 200 BCE

Events in Middle East during its time

• 853 BCE Battle of Qarqar
• 722 BCE Assyria conquers Samaria
• 612 BCE Fall of Nineveh

Neighbours in Middle East

• Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 to 609 BCE
• Kingdom of Saba c. 1000 BCE to 275 CE
• Greek cities of Asia Minor c. 1050 to 129 BCE
• Phoenician city-states c. 1200 to 332 BCE
• Kingdom of Judah c. 930 to 587 BCE
• Kingdom of Israel c. 930 to 720 BCE
• Phrygia c. 900 to 695 BCE
• Lydia c. 680 to 546 BCE
• Median kingdom c. 678 to 550 BCE
• Neo-Babylonian Empire 626 to 539 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe

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