Chronological Nations and Tribes

This page lists the ancient nations and tribes of the Bible world in rough time order, from the Sumerians and Akkadians to the Greeks and Romans. Each entry gives a date range, the main gods, a well-known figure, key places and a short summary of the people’s role and their contact with the Israelites.

Sumerians (c. 4500–1900 BCE)

Location: Southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)
Gods: Anu, Enlil, Inanna
Heroes: Gilgamesh
More: Sumer, the first known civilization
Key Locations: Uruk View Map
Summary: Sumer is the earliest known civilization. The Sumerians built some of the first cities, developed cuneiform writing and raised ziggurats. The earliest known texts come from Uruk.

Akkadians (c. 2334–2154 BCE)

Location: Central Mesopotamia
Gods: Ishtar, Shamash, Ea
Heroes: Sargon of Akkad
Key Locations: Akkad (Exact location unknown, but believed to be near modern-day Baghdad, Iraq)
Summary: The Akkadian Empire, founded by Sargon around 2300 BCE, is often seen as the first empire in history. It united the Akkadian and Sumerian speakers of Mesopotamia under one rule. See also Akkadians and Sargon.

Amorites (c. 2000–1600 BCE)

Location: Western Mesopotamia and Syria
Gods: Dagon, Amurru, Ishtar
Heroes: Hammurabi
Key Locations: Babylon View Map
Summary: The Amorites ruled much of the Levant and Mesopotamia from the 21st to the 16th century BCE. They founded city-states such as Mari and Larsa and later Babylon, where Hammurabi issued his law code.

Canaanites (c. 2000–1200 BCE)

Location: Levant (modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan)
Gods: Baal, El, Asherah
Heroes: No single figure stands out; they appear in the Bible mostly in conflict with the Israelites.
Key Locations: Jericho View Map, Jerusalem View Map
Summary: The Canaanites were a varied people with large cities and a polytheistic religion, in frequent contact with the Israelites. See Canaanites.

Hittites (c. 1600–1200 BCE)

Location: Anatolia (modern-day Turkey)
Gods: Tarhunt (the weather god), the Sun goddess of Arinna
Heroes: Suppiluliuma I
Key Locations: Hattusa View Map
Summary: The Hittites built an empire centered on Hattusa from around 1650 BCE. It reached its peak in the mid-14th century BCE under Suppiluliuma I and was a major power in the ancient Near East.

Phoenicians (c. 1500–300 BCE)

Location: Coastal regions of the Levant (modern-day Lebanon, parts of Syria and Israel)
Gods: Baal, Astarte, Melqart
Heroes: Cadmus, Elissa (Dido)
Key Locations: Tyre View Map, Sidon View Map, Carthage View Map
Summary: The Phoenicians grew out of the Bronze Age Canaanites and called themselves Canaanites. As seafarers and traders they carried their alphabet and culture across the Mediterranean, from Cyprus to North Africa and Spain.

Egyptians (c. 3150–30 BCE)

Location: Northeastern Africa (modern-day Egypt)
Gods: Ra, Osiris, Isis
Heroes: Ramses II, Thutmose III
Key Locations: Thebes View Map, Memphis View Map
Summary: Ancient Egypt began around 3150 BCE, when Upper and Lower Egypt were united. It is known for its monuments, its religion and its long cultural influence. Its end is dated either to Alexander’s conquest in 332 BCE or to the Roman conquest in 30 BCE. See also Mizraim.

Philistines (c. 1200–600 BCE)

Location: Coastal regions of modern-day Israel and Gaza
Gods: Dagon, Baal-Zebub
Heroes: Goliath
Key Locations: Gaza View Map, Ashdod View Map, Ekron View Map
Summary: The Philistines settled on the southern coast of Canaan around 1175 BCE, probably including migrants from the Aegean. In the Bible they are best known for their wars with the Israelites, above all the story of David and Goliath.

Israelites (c. 1200 BCE–Present)

Location: Canaan, later Israel and Judah
Gods: Yahweh
Heroes: Moses, David, Solomon
Key Locations: Jerusalem View Map, Hebron View Map
Summary: The Israelites are at the center of the biblical story. They formed the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, with Jerusalem as the capital.

Assyrians (c. 2500–609 BCE)

Location: Northern Mesopotamia
Gods: Ashur, Ishtar
Heroes: Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, Sennacherib
Key Locations: Nineveh View Map, Assur View Map
Summary: Assyria is often called the first true military superpower. From its heartland in northern Mesopotamia it conquered most of West Asia and ruled it for centuries. See Assyrians and Sennacherib.

Babylonians (c. 1895–539 BCE)

Location: Central Mesopotamia (Babylon)
Gods: Marduk, Ishtar
Heroes: Nebuchadnezzar II
Key Locations: Babylon View Map
Summary: Babylon was a major cultural and political center, famed for its Hanging Gardens and remembered in the Bible for the Babylonian Exile of the people of Judah.

Persians (c. 550–330 BCE)

Location: Persia (modern-day Iran)
Gods: Ahura Mazda
Heroes: Cyrus the Great, Darius I
Key Locations: Persepolis View Map, Susa View Map
Summary: The Persian Empire of Cyrus and Darius was vast, known for its administration, its roads and its tolerance of many cultures. Cyrus allowed the exiles to go up to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-3). See Persians.

Greeks (c. 800 BCE–146 BCE)

Location: Greece, Eastern Mediterranean
Gods: Zeus, Athena, Apollo
Heroes: Alexander the Great
Key Locations: Athens View Map, Sparta View Map
Summary: The Greeks shaped Western culture, philosophy and politics. The conquests of Alexander the Great spread Greek culture across the Near East.

Romans (c. 753 BCE–476 CE)

Location: Italy, Mediterranean, Europe
Gods: Jupiter, Mars, Venus
Heroes: Julius Caesar, Augustus
Key Locations: Rome View Map, Jerusalem View Map during the Roman occupation.
Summary: The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful in history, shaping law, politics and culture across Europe and the Mediterranean. It ruled Judea in New Testament times.

Additional groups and tribes in the biblical narrative

Groups Predating or Contemporary with the Sumerians, Akkadians, and Amorites:

Nephilim: Mentioned in Genesis 6:4 (“giants” in the KJV), placed in the time before the Flood. See Giants worldwide.
Rephaim: A race of giants named in several books, such as Deuteronomy, possibly from the time of the early Canaanites and Amorites. See Rephaites.
Zamzummim, Emim, Zuzim, Anakim: Other giant peoples of Canaan and the lands east of the Jordan, named alongside the Rephaim (Deuteronomy 2:10-11, 2:20).
Kenizzites, Kadmonites: Named in Genesis 15:19 among the peoples living in the land promised to Abraham, likely around the time of the Amorites.

Groups Contemporary with the Canaanites, Hittites, and Phoenicians:

Jebusites: Inhabitants of Jerusalem before its conquest by David, a subgroup of the Canaanites.
Perizzites, Girgashites, Hivites: Canaanite tribes, contemporaneous with other Canaanites.
Amalekites: Nomadic people who frequently warred with Israel during the Exodus and Judges period.
Moabites, Ammonites: Descendants of Lot, living east of the Jordan River in the time of the Israelites. See Moabites and Ammonites.
Edomites: Descendants of Esau, living southeast of Israel. See Edom.
Midianites: Nomadic people, descendants of Abraham through Keturah, interacted with the Israelites during the Exodus and Judges period.
Ishmaelites: Descendants of Ishmael, primarily desert-dwelling tribes.
Kenites: A nomadic tribe related to the Midianites, mentioned during the time of Moses and the Judges.
Horites: Inhabitants of Edom before the Edomites, contemporary with the early patriarchs.
Arameans (Syrians): Semitic people living in modern Syria, significant during the period of the Judges and Kings of Israel.
Philistines: Sea Peoples who settled on the coast of Canaan, often at war with Israel in the time of the Judges and Kings (see above).
Geshurites: A small kingdom near Gilead, contemporaneous with the Israelite Kingdom.
Caphtorim: Associated with the Philistines, possibly from Crete.
Sidonians: Inhabitants of Sidon, a principal Phoenician city, contemporaneous with the Israelites.

Groups Contemporary with the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians:

Elamites: An ancient civilization located east of Mesopotamia, often at odds with Assyria and Babylon.
Kushites (Ethiopians): A powerful kingdom in Africa, sometimes interacting with Egypt and Israel.
Magog, Gomer, Ashkenaz, Tubal, Meshech: Various tribes descended from Japheth, mentioned in prophetic literature, possibly referring to peoples in Anatolia or beyond.
Tarshish, Kittim, Dodanim: Trading partners of Israel, often associated with distant lands like Spain, Cyprus, and Greece.
Shebans (Queen of Sheba’s people): A kingdom in Southern Arabia, interacted with Israel during Solomon’s reign.

Groups Contemporary with the Greeks and Romans:

Kedarites, Dedanites: Arabian tribes, significant in trade during the Persian and Greek periods.
Ludim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim: Descendants of Mizraim (Egypt), associated with various Egyptian and Libyan groups.
Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites: Phoenician tribes, contemporaneous with the Phoenicians and Israelites.
Togarmah: Possibly a tribe in Anatolia, mentioned in prophetic literature, likely contemporary with the Greeks and Romans.
Ophir, Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, Sabteca: Tribes associated with distant lands, involved in trade with Israel, especially during the time of Solomon.

Gadites, Reubenites, Manassites, Ephraimites, Danites, Benjamites, Levites, Asherites, Zebulunites, Issacharites, Simeonites, Judahites, Naphtalites: The tribes of Israel, from the Exodus through the time of the Kings and beyond. The list has thirteen names because the tribe of Joseph is split into Ephraim and Manasseh, while Levi, the priestly tribe, received only cities to live in, not a share of the land (Joshua 14:4).

Other Notable Groups:

Maonites: Named in Judges 10:12 among the peoples who oppressed Israel.
Shechemites: Inhabitants of Shechem, a key city in Israelite history.
Hamathites: Inhabitants of Hamath, a significant city-state in Syria, contemporary with the Arameans.