The following relate to the pivotal 6-8 centuries when there were major changeds in the middle East.
Two powerful historical entities fighting to the brink of their own collapse - the Byzantine and Sassanian - the latter collapsing first, possibly due to one very simple and cheap trick. Maurice decided to winter in Armenia and lengthen the campaign season.
This was the key date which could have been like a Treaty of Vienna in 1815 guaranteeing a hundred year peace.