At the Gate of All Nations- Displaced and migrant minority groups in the center of the Persian Empire

During the first Millennium BCE, the region of Mesopotamia has seen a steady influx of groups and individuals from other regions of the Ancient Near East and beyond. Many people were moved to Mesopotamia by force through a systematic deportation scheme employed against rebels and peaceful populations, while some chose to immigrate to Mesopotamia in a pursuit of better opportunities.  The colloquium gave a short introduction to the topic, with an emphasis on the relationship between foreign groups in Mesopotamia and local institutions, such as the royal bureaucracy and the local Babylonian temples.