John Van Seters is a notable scholar on the Ancient Near East. Among his most famous books are Abraham in History and Tradition and The Hyksos: A New Investigation. Overview map of the Ancient Near East The term Ancient Near East or Ancient Orient encompasses the early civilizations predating Classical Antiquity in the region roughly corresponding to that described by the modern term Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, Anatolia), during the time roughly spanning the Bronze Age from the rise... This article is confusing for some readers, and needs to be edited for clarity. ...