Overview
First cultivated by the Sumerians, who were replaced by the Assyrians and the Babylonians, Mesopotamia is commonly known as the cradle of civilization, for it was there that the first cities and monumental temples were built, and there too that writing, schools, libraries, written law codes, mathematics and astronomy developed. Today this land is known as Iraq.
Beginning with irrigation and the formation of cities, Mesopotamia: Iraq in Ancient Times covers such topics as farming, writing, craft, trade, domestic life, religion, warfare, burial, kingship and law. Using artifacts, such as a vase or a cuneiform tablet, geographical sites, and archaeological evidence, this book looks at the past in a new and exciting way. It does this by showing in simple graphic terms how ancient buildings and objects were actually used, and by providing examples of numerous everyday objects.
Each two-page spread covers a different topic. text, photographs, illustrations, archaeology information boxes and time-lines are used to great affect. Captions and diagramming also are used to relate the different elements of the presentation, and each spread contains a link to an authoritative website for further information. A chronology of political and social history, as well as a glossary and index are included.
Informative and amply illustrated, Mesopotamia: Iraq in Ancient Times is sure to prove of great interest, particularly at this time, in the aftermath of war and the looting of the Iraqi National Museum, which housed many of the oldest artifacts of Western Civilization.
The Picturing the Past Series:
How do we know what we know about ancient peoples and their culturesthat have disappeared? Ultimately, there are three main sources of information: the images that survive in wall paintings, ceramics and sculptures; artifacts, such a jewelry, utensils, toys, clothing, and tools; and the writings of ancient authors that have survived the ravages of time. From such sources, it is possible to begin to reconstruct the life of the distant past with an astonishing degree of accuracy.
Editorials
Children's Literature
Considered by many to be the birthplace of history, Mesopotamia is also among the earliest civilizations that built large temples to their gods, and established city-states run by a priest-king. It is also considered to be the first civilization to keep a written record of their laws. Their culture allowed them to carve canals out of the dessert to help control the annual flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and enabled them to establish large cities in the desert. Archeological evidence also proves that they had far-reaching trade routes and traded for spices, jewels, precious metals and everyday items from places as far away as northern India and Egypt. Several empires sprang from the land between the rivers and these empires remained the most powerful civilizations on Earth until the rise of the Greeks and colonization by Alexander the Great. Filled with colorful images of ruins throughout Iraq as well as illustrations depicting daily life in Mesopotamia, the text is straightforward and easy to understand and provides a deeper understanding of the rich history of the area. Archaeological evidence is presented with each topic and explanations are provided which detail how archaeologists and historians are able to extrapolate how Mesopotamians lived. This title is part of the "Picturing the Past" series. 2004, Arcturus Publishing, Ages 7 to 10.—Danielle Williams