Due to some helpful user comments, I've improved the map a bit.

Revisions:

(1) "Iranian Empire" prediction eliminated - this segment was too political. (old version)

(2) Mongol Empire added

(3) Extent of the Assyrian Empire and Caliphate reduced to better reflect historical fact

Round 2

(1) Pause / Play interface added

(2) Overlay of modern nation-state borders added over the ancient Middle Eastern regions to give a sense of historical perspective

(3) 'Hide Borders' button added which disables the modern-borders overlay

(4) Iraq's date of independence changed from 1930 to 1932 to better reflect historical fact

(5) Saudi Arabia's date of unification/independence (1932) added

Round 3

(1) Sassanid Empire added

(2) Extent of the Assyrian Empire expanded to better reflect historical fact

(3) Extent of the Ottoman Empire reduced to better reflect historical fact

(4) Iran's "independence" date of 1979 removed since Iran was never a colony

(4) Turkey's "independence" date of 1923 removed since Turkey was never a colony

Round 4

(1) By popular demand! The Seljuk Empire added

(2) 'Kingdom of Israel Splits' segment removed - it was redundant and hence not necessary

Round 5

(1) Israel's founding further explored; original U.N. Mandate borders are contrasted with its borders following the 1949 Armistice.

(2) "Macedonian & Greek Empire" changed to "Macedonian Empire" to better reflect historical fact