The Study of Antiquity and the Middle Ages

Elam, located in the region of the modern-day provinces of Ilam and Khuzestan in Iran, was one of the most impressive civilizations of the ancient world. It was never a cohesive ethnic kingdom or polity but rather a federation of different tribes governed at various times by cities such as Susa, Anshan, and Shimashki until it was united during the Middle Elamite Period, briefly, as an empire.

The name Elam was given to the region by others - the Akkadians and Sumerians of Mesopotamia - and is thought to be their version of what the Elamites called themselves - Haltami (or Haltamti) - meaning “those of the high country”. 'Elam', therefore, is usually translated to mean “highlands” or “high country” as it was comprised of settlements on the Iranian Plateau which stretched from the southern plains to the elevations of the Zagros Mountains.

In this video we are guided through History to the Elamites and their world and we learn ten very important facts that we need to know to not only better understand the Elamites but to also understand ancient Mesopotamia.