EARLY NATIONS

Q. Who were the most powerful nations?

Many nations developed around the Middle East.

Assyrians, Canaanites, Amorites, & many other ...ites, Philistines, Egyptians, etc. (Gen. 10)

The most powerful nations however, were Assyria in the north and Egypt, in the south. There is quite a lot written about them in the Bible as God had many dealings with them.

ASSYRIA in the North.

Asshur, a son of Shem, at first dwelt in the plains of Shinar. Later he led his family and descendants up the Tigris where they finally settled. This area he named Assyria, meaning the region and empire of Asshur. In time Assyria developed into a large and powerful empire taking in many other surrounding tribes and nations. (Gen. 10: 9 – 11, & 22)

EGYPT in the South.

This was a great nation that developed from Ham`s descendants. They worked their way up the Tigris river, then across to Canaan, where they settled, (Canaanites). Later they travelled south through Gaza and down to the area that came to be known as Egypt. (Gen. 10: 15 – 20)        

Egypt is often called the land of the pyramids and Pharaohs. It had a highly developed civilization with writing, astronomy, agriculture etc. They worshipped many `gods` and build temples to them. Much of this nation can still be seen today in their enormous structures.