The Middle East's ancient history reveals patterns and precedents in political geography, social compact formation, religion, and the state system which help us to think in new ways about the most important contemporary challenges confronting the region. This presentation, based on a forthcoming book, uses insights from the ancient world to support critical thinking and policy formulation toward a region in which the United States continues to have a significnt strategic interest.

Andrew Gilmour is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Center for the Study of Statesmanship at the Catholic University of America. He previously served as a senior intelligence expert on the Near East, South Asia, and Islam over a 32-year career at the Central Intelligence Agency ina  range of positions including Deputy National Intelligence Office for the Near East and South Asia, Deputy Chief of CIA's Middle East Task Force, and Deputy Chief of Station for Analysis ina  war zone. Mr. Gilmour was the prinicipal drafter of three National Intelligence Estimates and an interdisciplinary study on the future of the all-source analytic mission. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal (2017), the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award (2015), and the National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal (2015). His languages include Persian, French, and Ancient Greek. He Holds degrees from Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University.