Elam, also known as Anzan or Anshan, occupied the territory of present day Khuzistan in Iran, south of the Zagros mountains.
Elamites were related to the Dravidians. They had no links, either ethnically, linguistically or traditionally with Persian.
Proto-Elamites civilization grew up east of Tigris and Euphrates in a period of time 3200 to 2200 BC.
The Elamites established their independence around 2200 BC. In this period, known as the Old Elamite Kingdom, the king controlled a series of self-governing Elamite city-states.
Elamite Empire was formed and administrated on a massive scale and governed a large territory comprising presents Iran and a major part of the Near East, at time including Babylonian and Assyrian, for over 2500 years.
At their height, around 1800 BC, the Elamites kings wielded influence over political and military affairs in Mesopotamia.
In 1764 BC, the Elamite Kingdom was occupied by the Babylonians under King Hammurabi. Later in during 1749 BC – 1712 BC, King Kutir Nahhunte I, the Elamite attacked and drove the Babylonians out of Elam.
Around 1200 BC, the Elamites became a major power in the region. This marked the beginning of the Middle Elamite Kingdom.
Rulers who struggled with Babylonian and Assyrian kings around 1400-1150 BC created the monumental buildings, brilliant works of art and royal inscriptions that came to define Elamite culture for modern archeologists and historians.
The Elamites ruled with federal system of government and left behind many traditions of government, politics, administration, law and civilization; their legacies include the Elamite language, used as an official language of the Elamite and Persian bureaucracies.
The period known as the New Elamite Kingdom began in the eight century BC. By this time, Iranian people had entered the plateau and were advancing into Elamite territory.
In the seventh century BC, the Elamites suffered many defeats at the hands of the Assyrians from central and northern Mesopotamia. In 636 BC, the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal thoroughly defeated the Elamites.
Elamites Empire (3200 BC – 539 BC)
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