The kingdom of Elam stretched from south-west Iran (modern Khuzestan) to the plateau in Fars. It was home to a series of powerful dynasties during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages. Around 2000 BC a line of kings from Shimashki, perhaps located in Luristan in the central Zagros Mountains, invaded Mesopotamia and brought to an end the Third Dynasty of Ur. The Shimashki dynasty was soon replaced by the powerful Sukkalmah who controlled both the highlands of the Zagros Mountains as well as the lowlands around the city of Susa. Their success relied on irrigation technology and administrative systems learned from Mesopotamia.

From around 1500 BC Elam reached new heights of power under the kings of Anshan and Susa. A new capital and religious complex, including a ziggurat (temple tower shaped like a stepped pyramid), was built by King Untash-Napirisha (reigned around 1340-1300 BC) at Chogha Zanbil. However, Susa regained its prominence a century later when the Shutrukid dynasty emerged and launched a series of military campaigns into Mesopotamia. Amongst the war booty carried to Susa was the law code of Hammurabi. Around 1157 BC, the Kassite rulers of Babylonia were defeated by the Elamites. However, in 646 BC the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal invaded Elam and sacked Susa.