Mathematics of Western Asia.

Ancient Asia, mathematics in western Asia, including Anatolia, Syria, Mesopotamia, and the Iranian plateau, along with Egypt, is regarded by many as the cradle of civilization. Activities that shaped numerous civilizations are traced historically to this region, including the invention of the wheel, practice of agriculture, first writing systems, and first administrative structures. Many intellectual and scientific disciplines flourished. The development of mathematics followed and was affected by the rise and decline of the civilizations of western Asia. Throughout history, the territory has been settled or invaded by many ethnic groups, including the Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, and Islamic cultures. Some countries were also part of the Soviet Union. It is not always possible to determine the exact origin of historical figures, and, as such, people may be included in the histories of many regions or identified by cultural heritage and the location where they did their work. Further, many of their accomplishments are named for later mathematicians. The twenty-first-century United Nations grouping for western Asia is listed as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.