Tina Brandt, age 15, of Lake Charles, La., for her question:
WHERE WAS ELAM?
Elam is the name of an ancient kingdom of Asia. It was located north of the Persian Gulf and east of the Tigris River in an area that is now the present day province of Khuzistan, Iran. Elam was the site of one of the world's earliest civilizations. Its history dates back to about 6000 B.C.
The early inhabitants of the area, known as the Elamites, spoke a language that was unrelated to the Sumerian, Semitic or Indo European languages. After about 3000 B.C., they started to record their language, having been influenced by the system of writing developed by the neighboring Sumerians.
From early times Elam greatly influenced the politics of neighboring Mesopotamia. The Elamites destroyed the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur about 2000 B.C. and then subsequently exerted considerable influence on the rulers of Babylonia.
In 1595 B.C. an Asian group called the Kassites captured Babylonia and Elam suffered a political decline that persisted for about 350 years.
Elam and its capital city called Susa (today the city of Shush) experienced a political revival under King Shulruk Nahhunite I in about 1160 B.C. He conquered Babylonia, deposed the Kassite dynasty and placed his son on the throne.
King Shllhak Inshushinak (about 1140 B.C.) created the first Elamite empire. He was a great administrator and patron of art and learning. Under his rule the border were greatly extended, the literary use of the Elamite language was revived and an architectural and sculptural renaissance took place.
After Shilhak Inshushinak's death, Elam was conquered by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar (1126 1104 B.C.) A new Elamite kingdom appeared about the middle of the eighth century B.C., but it was subjected to constant attacks by Assyria.
About 645 B.C. the Assyrians, under the leadership of Ashurbanipal, sacked the city of Susa and annexed the entire country. Subsequently Elam was overrun by the Medes.
Cyrus the Great of Persia finally incorporated Elam into his empires.
The native language of Elam was used for administrative purposes until about the fourth century B.C. Thereafter it probably was used only as a spoken venacular.
According to Arabic writings, the Elamite language continued to be spoken in what is now Khuzistan until about the 10th century A.D.
The Persians remained under the rule of the Median kings until about 550 B.C. Then Cyrus the Great, a member of the Achaemenid dynasty of Persian kings, revolted and overthrew Median rule. After uniting Persia and Media, Cyrus marched his army north and west and conquered all Asia Minor. By 539 B.C. the Persians had conquered Babylonia, Syria and Palestine. Cyrus' son Cambyses added Egypt in 525 B.C.