A century ago, UChicago scholars argued a controversial idea: Western civilization had its roots in the ancient Middle East—not in Greece or Rome. Today, scholars at the OI and across the University ...

Editor’s note: This is part of a series called “The Day Tomorrow Began,” which explores the history of breakthroughs at UChicago. Learn more here. The “Fertile Crescent,” a term coined by University ...

Before modern borders, before passports, before Google Maps—these Middle Eastern countries were already thriving. From ancient civilizations to empires that shaped art, science, and trade, these ...