Ancient Mesopotamia's Neighbors: The Mysterious Peoples of the Zagros Mountains of Iran

In this video we take a look at some of the lesser known peoples of the Zagros Mountains in early antiquity. While it's clear that they interacted with the literate and urban civilizations of Mesopotamia to the west, little is known about these diverse and mysterious peoples living within the Zagros Mountains. However, recent archaeological excavations and research have shed some light on who these fascinating people were and a bit about how they may have lived.
Contents:
00:00 Introduction
05:52 Prehistoric Peoples and Settlements
10:17 The Tragedy and Treasures of Hasanlu
19:35 The Ziwiye Hoard
21:12 Luristan
Related Videos:
Ancient Iran Playlist
• Ancient Iran / Persia
The Early Medes and the Median Empire (History of Ancient Iran) | Supplemental Podcast #3
• The Early Medes and th...
Introduction to the Kingdom of Urartu (Ancient Armenia / Eastern Anatolia)
• Introduction to the Ki...
Sources and Suggested Reading ► bit.ly/3xwRCOt
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Music:
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#ancient #ancienthistory #bronzeage

[@HistorywithCy]

Hi everyone, I accidently said "west" instead of "east" a couple of times in video which several of you thankfully caught. The maps though are correct so if you're watching there should be no confusion. I'll do my best to catch any slips in future videos... thanks for watching!

[@thhseeking]

I suddenly had visions of R Lee Ermy teaching Private Pyle his left from his right :P

[@AngryHistorian87]

I was just about to mention that. You also said to the west of these civilizations instead of to the EAST of these civilizations in the beginning of the video. No worries. it happens to the best of us.

[@bluebird3281]

@@thhseeking HA! Me too!

[@rogersterk3968]

It’s very strange that you have from the beginning to the end of your video talked about Kurds & their homeland Zagros Mountains without mentioning the owner of these mountains, Kurds! And in the end you actually revealed main intention by connecting everything with “persians” that’s not mentioned in anywhere in these mountains. The name “persian” is actually Parsak& this name was given by Kurds to “persians” which means beggars. “Parsak/(persians) were the servants of Medes/Kurds that’s why they got the name Parsak.

[@bluebird3281]

@@rogersterk3968 Off topic but you seem like you have some knowledge of the area. I noticed on the map during the video there was the word "tepe" I had thought it meant hill in Turkish. Is tepe a shared Arabic word between Farsi and Turkish? Is it just a coincidence and the word tepe means something else? Also, I never knew the Kurds were related to the Medes. So, thank you for that.

[@johnnysmall]

Nobody does it like Cy. Some of the most unique and under covered subjects and always well researched and presented, truly the best

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, glad you enjoyed this. Now have to get back to the Peloponnesian War series... after Dynasty XIII of Egypt. Thanks for continuing to watch these, really appreciate it!

[@ajithsidhu7183]

@@HistorywithCy mind doing pre islamic arabia

[@georgianakopoulou6339]

I was thinking about the ancient and brave Kurds as soon as I started watching the video!

[@kk-kk5bt]

This is true 👍, Zagrous mountains are associated with kurdish people which is also part of Kurdustain of Iran

[@user-um5bt1hi3s]

Iran is a te rror state.

[@ancientsitesgirl]

It is a real miracle that any sources about this culture have survived to our times. It is wonderful that you popularize facts from ancient history, so unknown to the public. You are the best!❤

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, so glad you like these more obscure areas of the world... next video is Dynasty XII of Egypt which I know you'll be interested in... stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@fahadameri8686]

Peaple in west of iran named lors are survivor of kasid and lulubid in zagros...

[@matrixxx3662]

@@fahadameri8686 lurs are Iranians. Kurds are Indigenous to Zagros mountains.Kurds are not Iranians, turks or arabs. Kurds are kurds.

[@fahadameri8686]

@@matrixxx3662 u are quite wrong ..kurds are iranian and they are median...lors are ilamian...this is throughly obvious

[@matrixxx3662]

@@fahadameri8686 Yes, Kurds do have some Median ancestry I guess. But they are not Iranian origin. Ancestors of Kurds were captured and conquered by them and then forcefully assmillated. They were arrested along with the Jews. This is why you have kurdish Jews. Becaus they lived together with other ancient Jewish tribes under the Median rule and dictatorship. At the time there weren't many fully blooded jews or fully blooded kurds. For example Dyako was half kurd and half Median. He lead an army of Median tribes as they revolted agaisnt Darius and his Persian Empire. But sadly he died In Battle and their revolution failed. Median tribes later were conquered by Darius and his men. This also why you now have Persian Jews as well. So I would say both modern Persian and modern Kurds are closer to ancient Jews rather than ancient Median and ancient Persians. Because history and genetics tells us that only the ruling class had Iranian blood. And they looked down on both. Obvioulsy there might have been quite a few rape incidents as the soldiers had needs and needed a quick one from time to time. Dyako being one example of that. He was half kurd and half Median. All though the name "Kurd" was not mentioned In Achemneid tablets. However it is belived "kurd" is rather an updated byword from the old Persian word "kwrt" which means nomad. Which is a lifestyle and not an ethnic group. The sumerians used the word "kur-ti". "Kur" means "mountain" and ti means man or people. There are still kurds wandering In the Zagros mountains even today, and possbly living there as well. I bet they carry a good portion of ancient Median or ancient Persian blood.

[@PoliticalFuturism]

I have to say Cy, this is one of the best episodes I've seen in a while. I'm a fan of all of your content, but I especially love when you go over little-known archaeology like this. Personally, I would love to participate in excavations In the area if ever I were able. Well done, as always - and thank you!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, so glad that you're into this early and obscure stuff. I wasn't sure how how much interest there was in topics such as this but it seems that many of you enjoy them so I'll put out related ones in the future. Actually, this video was going to be a lot longer and cover similar cultures in northern and central Iran but in the end I just kept it to the Zagros area. I think I'll make separate videos on those areas in the near future. Once again, thanks so much for watching, really appreciate it and lots more on the way, stay tuned!

[@PoliticalFuturism]

@@HistorywithCy It's always a pleasure to watch your videos Cy! As an academic myself, I really appreciate your coverage because it is both thorough and entertaining. These obscure topics are, in my opinion, the most fun! But that being said, I enjoy all of your content. It's great! Can't wait for what comes next

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks! The next one with be Dynasty XII of Egypt, hopefully out early next week. Thanks again!

[@_robustus_]

Bravo! You don’t get pre-aryan Iran everyday. You da man, Cy!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you enjoy these early topics. Lots more on the way, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@armincal9834]

You don't even see post-aryan iran everyday

[@ghalibrabaa4975]

I am from Zagros I am kurdi feyli thank you for this not many people know about us

[@mazlumayhan9404]

Feyli/Pahli/Pahlawan. Parthian Kurdish.

[@FlashPointHx]

Fascinating video and so well done! I’ve always wondered what it would be like to travel in the Zagros Mountains.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, glad you enjoyed it! It's a beautiful area, I visited a section of it once around Hamadan and Kermanshah/Behistun when I was young to see some Achaemenid and Sasanian inscriptions and reliefs. I also never knew much of the history of what came before until relatively recently. Thanks for watching, really appreciate it and more on the way!

[@RealUvane]

Its a salt cap there.

[@PakBallandSami]

hi flash point history what are your thoughts on morbius

[@vahidarman]

I came to America when I was a kid but my parents are from that region and as a kid I use to go hiking camping with my uncle’s I can say after being In America for almost two decades and been in most of the states I never experienced anything like that even tho America is one of the most beautiful countries but over there is so peaceful u can fell the old civilization in every corner of the zagros mountains 🏔️ and often people go there and dig up old treasures and they end up in Europe museum like most of the stuff u see in France and U.K. museums and it’s heartbreaking that people do anything for money and I hope one they the regime change and we can save our country and culture once again

[@zagroszardashty7283]

It’s a Kurdistan, All people out there are kurdish for thausand years, but this channel never say (kurdish word), this channel looks like Iran government distortion agency always work against Kurds… Lullabies & gotties & kassite & hurries & Medes are kurds, but he always says unknown, why…!? He never say Kurdistan & also trying hard to find disgrace things against all Kurds empires and ancestors… most of his videos has something against Kurds…

[@Evagelopoulos862]

Zagros a holly mountain for the Kurdish people. There is an Orphic myth about a deity Zagreus,a preolympian god in Orphic-Dionysian mysteries , and even a referiment from Xenophon for a population inhabited in this area call them Karduhoi.

[@Evagelopoulos862]

@𒁲𒂵𒀀𒁕 I wrote two informations and with reference to sources.Perchaps are connected with these mysterious people. Have you the ability to express with words your opinion?

[@EzKurdim1]

@𒁲𒂵𒀀𒁕 what is so funny ? He just gave some piece of information

[@zagroszardashty7283]

This channel is full of racism against Kurds, for every Kurds related history says unknown.. he never say Kurds & looks like Iran government channel

[@imperianapoleon9660]

Recently found the channel. I love history! Thank you for the work you put in. It is awesome!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks and welcome! Hope you enjoy this and other videos to come!

[@redbarchetta8782]

I watch everything Cy puts up. Great stuff.

[@HistorywithCy]

@@redbarchetta8782 Thank you, so glad you enjoy these!

[@bls8959]

@@HistorywithCycan u do a video on the Hyksos??

[@robbabcock_]

Wonderful video! I'm fascinated by "cradle of civilization" and how the earliest societies came about.

[@Hraefncin]

The "cradle of civilization" is fascinating me too. I've spent most of my academic life studying Ancient Northern Europe, which I will admit to having a certain "wildness" that attracts me. But recently I've been delving deep into Mesopotamian, Levantine, Indian and Chinese histories. As an aside, does anyone know of any American pre-colonial civilizations on the scope as Eurasia? I know of the Aztec and Maya and Inca civilizations, but were there any in North America?

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks! Me too, I love learning about "firsts" and how societies began. Lots more on the way, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@fetijajasari9522]

@@Hraefncin Look into the KZbin channel 'Ancient Americas'. It'quite fascinating. Hope it helps.

[@josephinewhite6224]

Fascinating. Loved all the many artifact pictures. Well presented. Thank you for posting.

[@aaln17]

As always, great work Cy!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it and more on the way, stay tuned!

[@spacebunny4335]

I have wanted a video on this topic so long thanks for this.

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, hope you enjoyed this and more on the region to come, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@sensibleperson8208]

Fantastic video. Such a rare covered part of ancient history.

[@brianbuckley1234]

This channel has helped me tremendously, much appreciated and thank you

[@kellyjohns6612]

I'm 54. When I was school age history was just boring to me. If we would've had lessons like this I might have become another kind of person. Thank you Cy 💖

[@deeppurple883]

And if your auntie had balls she'd be your uncle 😂

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Great video Cy, as always my thanks for what you do!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, thank YOU for continuing to watch time and time again, really means a lot! Hope to put out some more lesser-known history in the near future, stay tuned and thanks for the support!

[@nattynoodlenutkin]

I've only just clicked on this and it's made me so happy to see these areas being covered! Thank you!

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, hope you enjoy and learn from it and lots more on the way, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@ClubCovertLondon]

Fascinating and totally absorbing. Thanks Cy.

[@jennypoussin3866]

Love your videos: so informative 😊

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you're enjoying these. I'll put out some more similar to this in the near future, stay tuned!

[@vropp]

This channel is underrated, thankfully I subscribed a while ago.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks for watching and subscribing, really appreciate it and more on the way!

[@anitapollard1627]

Hi Cy - the History guy 🤗 Thank you!! I want more... more... more!!! Keep the "older the better" ones coming, please 💕 i love learning this stuff 😁

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you liked this! I'll do a follow up to it soon. Thanks for watching, really appreciate it and stay tuned for more!

[@quintenbruggink1595]

A absolute great vid man :)

[@joeshmoe8345]

Super cool thanks for sharing with us big dog. I love that you make content on underappreciated cultures. Yeah!

[@freedinner886]

I like the simple graphics you added ... Good video editing.

[@decimusausoniusmagnus5719]

You never disappoint, good man.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad liked it and more on the way...thanks for watching!

[@tpolutts3309]

Sometimes the algorithm is great. Glad your channel got recommended to me. I've cycled through fall of civilizations multiple times. Looking forward to listening to your videos. Cheers.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad it got you here and lots more on the way. Fall of Civilizations is one my favorites on this platform as well. Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more!

[@tannertasman]

always love seeing a new video, thanks mate

[@HistorywithCy]

Thank you for watching, really appreciate it!

[@dimitrydevdariani1929]

Fascinating! Thank you!

[@user-qy1kq5xl9p]

another fantastic video on Persian empire!! keep it up!

[@noahlogue3807]

The Zagros Mountains are such an underrated place in history.

[@HistorywithCy]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!

[@Power-dg9pt]

Indeed , my self from Zagros mountains originally and it’s the true iran since 9000 years ago and all histories of iran came from those places but today they talking about it in little without details

[@Rasmajnoon]

Read sitchin,well known,taurus zagros area,

[@zaenabs266]

Zagros & Taurus mountain is ancient Kurds erea. They have been there for thousands of years. Kurds population is more than 60 million

[@SecularIranian]

Amazing work CY! Thank you.

[@HistorywithCy]

You're welcome, glad you enjoyed this and more on the way, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@mikkopenttila7604]

You cover subjects like these that no other history channel covers and that's just one of the things that make your channel fantastic!

[@HistorywithCy]

Comments like this make my day...thanks so much for watching and the support, really appreciate it! Stay tuned for more!

[@oriffel]

fascinating! i really prefer these videos over the more talked to death ancient civilizations.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you like this type of video and hope to put out more of them soon, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@cyrusthegreat1893]

Very interesting piece of history! Excellent work as usual! Well done indeed!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks Shahenshan... this is part of your neighborhood!

[@SmokingPuss]

This was a really good video

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you liked it! I'll do some other sites soon, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@MasterMalrubius]

Excellent video. A great combination of high level historical information with some detailed stories which provide humanity to the people of history.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, really glad you're interested in this stuff. I'll put out more stuff like this in the future, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@MasterMalrubius]

@@HistorywithCy You have yourself a new Paetron!

[@HistorywithCy]

@@MasterMalrubius Thanks, really appreciate it!

[@lethalwolf7455]

Wow what a day! New episode by Cy and by Fall of Civilizations! Simply awesome

[@HistorywithCy]

Wow, it's always an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as Fall of Civilizations... amazing podcast and video production! Thanks for watching, hope you enjoyed this!

[@Itsfineweerallfine]

Another excellent installment, Cy! Thank you for covering information that is SO OFTEN overlooked by other channels, and other sources. Whenever I see you have uploaded, I always check out what you have to say, and thoroughly enjoy 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@prototropo]

I am truly grateful for this literal fleshing out of an age and area I have consciously found intriguing but never happened upon a conterminous explication.

[@adrianariaratnam5817]

Thank you for this vid ; learned a whole lot. 👍

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, thanks for watching and glad it was useful!

[@Henrikbuitenhuis]

Thanks so much for the video and info.

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@WanaxTV]

Another amazing video! Finally caught up with the content. Good work Cy!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, glad you enjoyed this and more on the way! Thanks for watching!

[@AmazingPhilippines1]

I love ancient history discussions and appreciate the time you spent putting this information togeter.

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@alphaomega17]

You'll love the Bible then

[@Numba003]

Thank you for another excellent video. I really enjoy the pictures you include of some of these areas. The Zagros Mountains look like a beautiful place. God be with you out there everybody. ✝️ :)

[@Sarke2]

This is great informative video, i didnt knew for many of these people and cities mentioned, especially i think on Hasanlu site, it looks it was very rich and powerful, glad you mentioned Gutians and Kassites but sadly with dont know about them so much, i didnt forget your work and channel just i am busy a lot in recent time, stay safe :)

[@olorin4317]

I love that silver ram's head at 21:07 great craftsmanship.

[@hondakubo9399]

This channel is so good 🏹👍❤️ Greetings from Tokyo 🎌

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, glad you enjoyed this and hope all is well in Japan!

[@hondakubo9399]

@@HistorywithCy ❤️🙏

[@user-ri1ti6go7s]

Very well done

[@lesliethomas5845]

Am exploring & enjoying several of your videos' information & photos of the arts / writing samples from these times & places. I studied a few languages in college ( simply contemporary languages, tho, not ancient dialects) so I always look closely at the moments w writing samples!!! Very much appreciate that your videos DONT use aggressive, orchestral music. Lots of history videos w data which could be intriguing to learn, use overbearing & loudly recorded music which is not useful to my reason for learning the history; so that is alienating to my wish to learn the history described on / in those videos / sources. By contrast, I'm VERY much enjoying the delicate, strummed or picked melody music you've used , and that the music volume is not overbearingly loud. I'm presuming also that the music sounds relevant to the places described in this video Great stuff re info & photos!!!yaaaaay & thx

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

I enjoyed this video. Have, or will you be making a video that includes Ecbatana? From vague references, it sounds like this city, in it's own way, rivaled Persepolis and Susa.

[@tankwfw]

I have always loved Mesopotamian and Near East history and your channel is a godsend

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you're enjoying the content! More on the way, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@amandmx]

Best history channel in the world ❤‍🔥

[@conradnelson5283]

Excellent thank you

[@Etic335]

The ancient people still living in this areas... Just name it. You are the best researcher ever. 🙏

[@somniumisdreaming]

A wonderful video, so beautifully put together. Your research, writing, and editing are absolutely on point. Amazing channel, love your work. Thank you for the major effort you put into these.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, comments like this make my day! Really glad you're enjoying some of this more, lesser known content and lots more on the way. Thanks watching and the support, really appreciate it!

[@Thatsciencedude324]

Amazing Video! Thank you for finally making a video on these cultures! Also: would've been really great to see at least archeological records of the transition of Scythians/Sintashta to Persians/Western Iranians. Each group is at least decently known, but what happened between is a big mystery.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, and great suggestions! I can look into those further as I too would like to learn more about these "gap" periods. Thanks for watching, really appreciate it and stay tuned for more... think I'll do Tepe Hissar and some of the sites in northern and central Iran in a future video.

[@user-eh6th9wj5k]

Great video! 100k to 125k in no time!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks! Almost there, hopefully by the end of this week!

[@fahadameri8686]

Thanks for this awsome video...may you make video about jiroft and shahre sukhte (burned city) civilization in east of iran...thanks so much

[@jamessell1394]

Great video . Fascinating educational information. I Love Iranian history and culture..I think they are the starter of civilization ..so much to learn from Iranian plateau with so many of their nomad tribes from jirof 14k years ago to Sumerian and Akkad . Thx

[@bluefish4999]

Very precise video, I think mainstream academia focuses too much on Egyptian, Roman and Greek history, all beyond interesting but these smaller cultures also contribute so much to our world culture, for instance the Etruscans, a culture very rarely talked about but when you look into them you can see the Romans pretty much took their culture, and woman haha. Subbed and checking out more of your videos later.

[@srenette82]

"mainstream academia" covers the entire world and the entirety of human history. There are many active archaeological fieldwork projects throughout the Middle East, including Iraq and Iran. It is popular media and the general population that focus too much on Egypt, Rome, and Greece (and biblical history as well). Consuming ancient history through popular media and places like KZbin gives the wrong impression that that is mainly what academics work on.

[@Zodroo_Tint]

One of the reason the europeans doesn't like to research the Etruscans because they are probably related to the Scythians and Scythians can't be called European which means they have to give credit to Eurasian nations in the case of Rome and they don't want that. European historical science is still european centric and the prime directive is still to give as much credit to Europe as much possible even if they have to lie of suppress some new theory.

[@Zodroo_Tint]

@@srenette82 I see you are smart. Do you know what a strawman fallacy is? He said "mainstream academia focuses", you said "covers" instead of "focuses". Then you started to argue against what you said not what he said. This is strawman fallacy. BTW he is right. Mainstream academia focuses too much on Egyptian, Roman and Greek history.

[@MatchBookNotes]

ohh I have been waiting for some more iranian history.

[@HistorywithCy]

Here it is and more on the way...thanks for watching!

[@EzKurdim1]

@@HistorywithCy do these people have any connection with todays Kurds Because Kurds also came from Zagros mountains Please Answer

[@trevorparlane]

Thank you for this fascinating video, especially on Hasanlu, which has always interested me. It could be that it was sacked by the Assyrians under Shalmanaser iii who boasted of sacking a great city south-west of Lake Urmiah.

[@HistorywithCy]

Yes, it's possible, but much of the things that would have been left behind in a traditional Assyrian attack (the type of arrowheads, spear tips, ete.) have not been found. But who knows... thanks for watching, really appreciate it and more on the way, stay tuned!

[@johnmoyer9259]

Thanks!

[@QalOrt]

Very enlightening on a rather little discussed area of ancient West Asian history. also is there more info on Tushpa and Urartu?

[@IosifStalin2]

Excellent

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks!

[@mns8732]

Fascinating.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thank you!

[@Ishkur23]

Every other history youtuber: Rome Greece Rome Greece Rome Greece Rome Greece. Cy: Let's talk about the Bronze age people of the Zagros mountains!

[@SobekLOTFC]

New History with Cy- it's morbin' time!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks buddy, hope you enjoy it! More on the way, stay tuned!

[@michaellawson6533]

Ive been reading the Book of Daniel last night and reached as far as Darius the king taking over the empire and wondered about when exactly it was. Thanks for the date of 500 BC. It now gives me a historical time frame of when all of this took place.

[@carriekelly4186]

Thanks. Love any civilizations with such enigmatic amazing artwork. Yes,frustrating we cant know more of the provenance of many of the amazing finds or the peoples who created them and why. Still nevertheless beautiful works...

[@hermescarraro3393]

such a fascinating and yet ignored culture. They had such a unique artstyle. Great video! Can I suggest a possible topic for your next research? Do you have any interest in looking into the civilisation of the Anasazi and Chaco canyon? Or the misterious mississipian civilisation? Northern american cultures are disturbingly ignored by a ton of people.

[@Hraefncin]

I second this!

[@georgianakopoulou6339]

A great suggestion!

[@agfr94]

Merci pour votre partage Perse est l'une des plus grandes civilisation force et honneur

[@agfr94]

@𒁲𒂵𒀀𒁕 iraq actuel fesait partir de l'empire Perse

[@aboodbb8774]

@@agfr94 iraq is mesopotamia Iran is persia According to your logic a huge part of modern iran will be considered iraqi since many mesopotamian kings ruled it

[@muphoenix7908]

Very good video. Do we know what ethnicity resided in Dinkha Tepe and Hasanlu?

[@BenSHammonds]

this covered a people that are of much interest to me, the mountain people, often versus the lowland folk, kind of the beginning of such that continued up thru the ages, even popular songs in late 60 about that very subject, One Tin Soldier song

[@jumo004]

I really enjoy your videos, Cy. I've always been interested in the ancient history of the Middle East and the Mediterranean area.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, glad you're enjoying these videos! Plenty mroe to come, not only of the Near East and Mediterranean, but other parts of the globe, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@tejyadav]

Very informative video from Cy. Some observation or pointers from my side. At @10:55 the mysterious horse riders apeared from south who burnt the cities. There is a similar mention in India's Rigveda of horse riding people attacking the fortress in Harrapa region and burning the fortress by attacking tribes leader called Indra. He is named as "Purandar" which literally means destroyer of fortress. The time of Harrapa civilisation matches with Hassain people in Iran @1000 BCE. Harappa people used the similar seals for trade with local figurines to identify the trader tribes. They had similar multistory citadels. They traded with Mesopotamia and middle East and they disappeared around 900-600 BCE. Could there be some co relations done between two civilization? The traded goods in Harappa were also similar. As Harrapa script is still not read, it will be a good idea to understand based on known events around it in similar times. Another way is to link it with Rigveda after filtering the godly elements of Rigveda. Rigveda does mention about lives of Aryan tribes, their rituals and how they destroyed their enemies called Asura who may have been the Harrappan people.

[@0cthm0]

asuras werent enemies of arians. they were another set of gods beside devas that were worshiped by ppl. the holy trinity of these gods are mithra varuna anahita. when zoroaster showed up he demonized devas and deva worshipers and there was a conflict. he also debunked high rank asuras and replaced them with a single made up male god called ahura mazda. thats why you have asuras(ahuras) as enemies. in zoroastrianism the bad guys also called div(deva)

[@professor0076]

cool! the guti etc is a great topic! Zagros Mountains is 2nd on my list! right down town Tehran right now is where i'd like to be watching this vid! number 1 place on my list to visit. dusty location of Babylon the Great is in the top 5.

[@matrixxx3662]

No such thing as Guti. They were Hurrians and ancestors of Kurds.

[@professor0076]

@@matrixxx3662 r u down town Tehran right now? i'm a evil yankee so other then the bible.......case n point taken.......i still get turn around just driving.....

[@LouisHansell]

@0:12...When you say "...To the west of these..." don't you mean to the east?

[@BMWE90HQ]

I was thinking this as well!

[@HistorywithCy]

Yes, slip of the tongue. I'm so used to saying "western Iran" in this video that I didn't catch it at the beginning. Thanks for pointing that out and watching!

[@LouisHansell]

@@HistorywithCy No problem. I have liked and subscribed. I was doing a reality check on my hearing. It happened again later in the video, maybe you caught that too.

[@Cannibaltron]

There are some incredible relics here!

[@HistorywithCy]

Yes indeed...thanks for watching!

[@mikereilly7629]

I've got a nice collection of Luristan bronze weapons, and stylized animal. Including the finial that you showed. These were mass produced and are available in the antique market.

[@juniorthomas6404]

Nice. Still waiting for the 3rd part of the Peloponnesian war

[@HistorywithCy]

Yes, still working on it. Hope to finish it up by the end of the summer. Thanks for your interest in that series and watching these videos, really appreciate it!

[@alessandrodelogu7931]

When ancient civilizations are studied it is often hard to remember that these nations and cities didn't sprout from nothing like mushrooms, but were surrounded by many other peoples, that they influenced and from whom they were influenced in an endless stream of cultural exchanges, trade, diplomacy and war. No history is complete without this information. You did a very good job, about nations and sites I knew really nothing about. Next time you could make a similar video about the peoples that surrounded ancient Egypt, or ancient China, or the Mayan world. It is known, for example, that in the year 378 AD an army from Teotihuacan invaded the Mayan city of Tikal, deposed and killed its ruler and installed a new one. What else happened? What kind of relationship did the Mayans have with their neighbours? It would be a very interesting subject.

[@HistorywithCy]

Yes, I totally agree. Right now I'm also reading a lot on Meso and South America, really fascinating stuff. Unfortunately, there hasn't been nearly as much funding and studies done in these regions as for example in the Near East and Europe. Hopefully that will change and more knowledge will come to light about the foundation of these civilizations as new sites are excavated. Thanks for watching, hope to have programs similar to this on the way!

[@alessandrodelogu7931]

@@HistorywithCy Compared to Egypt or Mesopotamia, countries whose past has been researched and studied since the early XIX century, American archeology is quite recent. The Mayan writing system was only deciphered in the 1960s. The extreme environments of the region, the jungle of the Yucatan peninsula and the deserts and mountains of Peru, also don't make the job easier. Much is still unknown, and great discoveries are still possible, like the treasures of the Lord of Sipán.

[@walkingbrazil2021]

Interesting

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks!

[@walkingbrazil2021]

@@HistorywithCy Thanks! You my friend I watch more videos in your channel, because I Like ancient History, Thank you!

[@0cthm0]

is that bowl at 17:34 found in hasanlou? ive seen a same looking bowl with similar pattern in museum in iran

[@lindsayphillips7547]

what does the term TEPE mean such as used in Godin Tepe [min 7:28]? Thanks for sharing your knowledge on the Near East and all other areas. Your presentation formats are easily digestible and addicting.

[@JohnDoe10350]

Tepe means tell in Persian, Kurdish and Turkish. Small hill.

[@lindsayphillips7547]

@@JohnDoe10350 Thank you.

[@mattstakeontheancients7594]

Cy wanted to recommend a book I listened to recently on the Persians by Dr. Lloyd-Llewellyn Jones. Covers the Persian from a near East and Babylonian perspective. Most in-depth look on the Achaemenid empire I’ve read. Think you’d enjoy it a lot.

[@HistorywithCy]

Hi and thanks for watching! Yes, that's the new book that just came out last month I think. I have it but haven't read it yet. Looking forward to it though since I've read most of the books out there on the subject... my favorite is still "From Cyrus to Alexander" but Jone's book looks really good and might rival it! Thanks for the suggestion, really appreciate it!

[@noahsimulated6124]

I just read this last month its a really good book and re-sparked my interest in the ancient world It does a wonderful job at covering the culture as opposed to historical events alone

[@HistorywithCy]

@@noahsimulated6124 Thanks, will move up in the queue of must read books!

[@PakBallandSami]

hi Mr. Cy i want to know your thoughts on the famous movie call morbius

[@novirakun1648]

Iran is gold for ancient history

[@matrixxx3662]

F Iran free Kurdistan.

[@kurdnazionalista_54]

🐖🐖🐖

[@degarpaykararyan3140]

Nice

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks!

[@nachoviteriletamendia3887]

Some good book recomendations about the Zagros mountains peoples at this time period?

[@barbariancataphract5103]

I've started creating a fictional low fantasy world, based on Mesopotamia, Anatolia and Aegean Sea. Managed to write one story, been writing a second story for some time and I'm also planning out a novel. Your videos are amazing and priceless, thank you. You play a great role in the creation process of the World of Two Hegemonies.

[@michaelwerkov3438]

What separates high and low fantasy? Or for that matter "dark" or not.... I'd love to see what I think would be Aegean to Afghanistan, pre-alexander, dark low fantasy... except I don't know if those words mean what I think lol

[@barbariancataphract5103]

@@michaelwerkov3438 low fantasy usually shows a world really similar to ours, but with certain elements of fantasy. Usually there are no other races than humans (such as orcs, Elves etc.) and magical stuff is not as prominent as in „typical” fantasy. It usually revolves around gods-related magic and such. Dark fantasy usually focuses on the lack of justice, the world is typically more violent and it doesn’t revolve around the typical trope of „the magic of friendship can solve everything”. :3 I hope it explains some things

[@julianwaugh8221]

How wonderful if you ever read the book Aztec it gave an insight into the lives of the ancients the book ends ominously when the Spanish ships are sighted. So with accurate (not Mel Gibson style) you could craft an informative exciting novel. Good luck!

[@exittomenu]

@@michaelwerkov3438 im 90% sure the difference is in the degree of fantastical elements a magical wizard elf did it would classify as high fantasy whereas low fantasy i believe is taking the mundane real world and adding slight fantastical elements not grittier and darker per se, but erring more on the realistic side the poster children ive seen referenced are LotR being high fantasy, Conan the Barbarian being low fantasy

[@Zodroo_Tint]

World of Two Hegemonies? If you could find an even more generic name you could work at Bethesda. Scolls of Two Hegemonies for example. But seriously you should give more thought in that name!

[@oftin_wong]

Yes I love history with cy

[@cyn7869]

I think there were a lot of things going on all over the world and we are just scratching the surface of what was really happening.

[@mumblesbadly7708]

A number of times in ancient times, tragedies experienced by earlier peoples such as at Hasanlu created sealed off deposits of important cultural artifacts for later peoples to discover many centures later.

[@celsvs]

Why I am hearing dombra in background, but no info on the performer of the music?

[@imkurd8807]

I am originally from Zagros and I'm kurd

[@Golshanim]

I love his Howevers…..

[@HistorywithCy]

Haha yeah I have to find a new phrase...I say that quite often. Thanks for watching and hope all is well!

[@Golshanim]

@@HistorywithCy don’t change anything. I love it and your work. Last week I was visiting Mycenae, Argos, Corinth, Nemea, Megara, Souonion and of course Athens. So impressive.

[@willowgreinke7964]

Hoard is a good word to use Because it may imply that Varied cultures AND Their Arts/Goods/Artisans…(?) were Acquired by way of Wars/Conquering/Almost Complete Decimation, etc…