The book is a continuation of the "History of the Ancient East," part 1. Mesopotamia, published by the Main Edition of Oriental Literature in 1983. In the second part, on the basis of many years of research by Soviet orientalists, a picture of the origin of class societies in Egypt, the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor, corresponding to the modern level of our knowledge, is given. The authors provide detailed information about the political, social, economic history of these regions, and also show the formation and development of the culture and art of these societies. The book is richly illustrated. The book is intended for oriental historians, teachers, graduate students and students of historical faculties, as well as for everyone interested in the history and culture of the East.