2000-1000 BC Bronze Age

During this period bronze-working technology brought improvements in both agricultural tools and weaponry. This led to the development of larger, more politically and economically sophisticated civilisations in many areas throughout the region.

In western Asia several empires took control such as the Amorites Babylonians, Mitanni, Hittites and Assyrians. Towards the end of the period, a number of sites were violently destroyed. The Hittite Empire and numerous city-states in Syria and the Levant collapsed, while Mesopotamia suffered a decline.

In southern Asia the rise of the Indus Civilisation saw the appearance of the first cities in the area. Craft production and trade was particularly developed – Indus goods have been found as far away as Mesopotamia. Towards the end of this period the Indus reverted back to a series of regional cultures and the cities were largely abandoned in favour of smaller villages.

Bronze working began in China about 1650 BC. The earliest bronze objects to be excavated so far come from the northern province of Henan where the Shang dynasty emerged around 1500 BC. Shang kings ruled most of northern China until about 1100 BC when they were defeated by the state of Zhou.