description Mannaean Kingdom Overview
The Mannaean Kingdom, also called Mannea or Manna, was an Iron Age polity in northwestern Iran, centered southeast of Lake Urmia around the region of modern Saqqez. It is known mainly through Assyrian and Urartian records rather than a large surviving native historical literature. Mannea became a significant regional power in the first millennium BCE, balancing relations with Assyria and neighboring Urartian territories before becoming part of the Median Empire in the late seventh century BCE.
help Mannaean Kingdom FAQ
Where was the Mannaean Kingdom located?
Mannea, also called Manna or Mannai, was centered southeast of Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran, around the region of modern Saqqez. Assyrian sources refer to the area as Manna. [Encyclopaedia Iranica](https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/mannea/)
When did the Mannaean Kingdom exist?
It was an Iron Age polity active during the early first millennium BCE. Assyrian records mention Manna from the ninth century BCE, while the kingdom is especially associated with the centuries before the rise of the Medes.
How do historians know about the Mannaeans?
Most surviving evidence comes from Assyrian and Urartian inscriptions and military records. A large native historical literature from Mannea has not survived, which makes its political history dependent on neighboring states' records.
Who were the Mannaean Kingdom's main neighbors?
Mannea interacted with the Assyrian Empire and the kingdom of Urartu around Lake Urmia. Its position between these powers made the region a recurring target of campaigns, tribute demands, and frontier disputes.
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