Conquest!
My first grader and preschooler are studying ancient times via Susan Wise Bauer's Story of the World, Volume 1. One of the things I've learned from teaching ancient history is just how often the lands in the Middle East have changed hands. One empire after another has conquered the area. Now I have found a site which shows just how volatile things have been over the past 5,000 years. Mapsofwar.com has posted a moving map of the empires governing the Middle East and beyond over the past 5,000 years. It's fascinating stuff and an excellent homeschooling tool. Check it out!