Iran, Central Asia, and the Caucasus Mountains

<p>While Mesopotamia and even the Indus Valley get the lion's share of the attention, sophisticated and long-lasting societies inhabited the lands fringing the Caspian Sea for thousands of years. The people of the Kura-Araxes Culture, the Oxus Civilization, and Elam left their mark everywhere from Anatolia to Mesopotamia to South Asia, shaping future cultures for millennia to come.</p><p>I wrote a book, and it comes out on July 20! You can preorder (in hard copy, e-book, or audiobook)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/patrick-wyman/the-verge/9781538701171/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World</em>&nbsp;here.</a></p><p>Listen to new episodes 1 week early, to exclusive seasons 1 and 2, and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App <a href="https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory</a>. </p><p>Support us by supporting our sponsors! </p><p><strong>Better Help</strong> - Get 10% off your first month&nbsp;at <a href="http://betterhelp.com/tides" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>betterhelp.com/tides</strong></a>.</p><p><strong>Indeed</strong> - Get started RIGHT NOW with a&nbsp;$75 dollar sponsored job credit<em> </em>to upgrade your&nbsp;job post at <a href="http://indeed.com/TIDES" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>indeed.com/TIDES</strong></a>.</p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>