Overview
This book presents a clear, concise history of the extraordinary multicultural civilizations of the ancient Near East.
- Bestselling narrative of the complex history of the ancient Near East
- Addresses political, social, and cultural developments
- Contains in-depth discussion of key texts and sources, including the Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh
- Includes numerous maps, illustrations, and a selection of Near Eastern texts in translation
- Integrates new research, and greatly expands the guides to further reading for this second edition
Synopsis
This book presents a clear, concise history of the extraordinary multicultural civilizations of the ancient Near East.
- Bestselling narrative of the complex history of the ancient Near East.
- Addresses political, social, and cultural developments.
- Contains in-depth discussion of key texts and sources, including the Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh.
- Includes numerous maps, illustrations, and a selection of Near Eastern texts in translation.
- Integrates new research, and greatly expands the guides to further reading for this second edition.
Editorials
From the Publisher
Praise for second edition:
"There is no longer any possible excuse for any undergraduate curriculum in ancient history not to offer a course of Ancient Near Eastern history under the pretext that there would be no adequate, accessible, and affordable textbook." Scholia Reviews
“The additions to this volume have only added to its immense worth as both a textbook and a scholarly volume.” Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Praise for the first edition:
"Marc Van De Mieroop's introduction to the history of Iraq and the Asiatic Near East is suited to first-year undergraduates in ancient history, the archaeology of Western Asia and ancient Near Eastern studies generally, and to all others who need an up-to-date summary of what happened before the Greeks." Times Higher Education Supplement
"I do not know of any other handbook of similar size that can compete with Van de Mieroop's book in philological competence, in historiographic method, and in expository clearness." Mario Liverani, in Orientalia
“This text deserves a place on the shelves of ancient historians and archaeologists, and it will certainly have pride of place in reading lists for courses in Mesopotamian history.” Norman Yoffee, University of Michigan
“As a textbook on Mesopotamian history, particularly the period from c.3000 BC to 612 BC, this book has no English-language equivalent … This should be standard reading, therefore, for all students and scholars in the field.” Bryn Mawr Classical Review