Book Description

The ancient world of Mesopotamia (from Sumer to the subsequent division into Babylonia and Assyria) vividly comes alive in this portrayal of the time period from 3100 BCE to the fall of Assyria (612 BCE) and Babylon (539 BCE). Readers will discover fascinating details about the lives of these people taken from the ancients' own descriptions. Beautifully illustrated, this easy-to-use reference contains a timeline and a historical overview to aid student research. Annotation. This account brings the ancient world of Mesopotamia to life with details taken from primary texts such as economic records, scientific and mathematical texts, legal documents, official and personal correspondence, and magic and religious texts, drawing on the most recent discoveries of new excavation sites and artifacts. The focus is on historical Mesopotamia from 3100 BCE to the fall of Assyria (612 BCE) and Babylon (539 BCE). A glossary is included, plus b & w photos of artifacts. The author teaches at Yale University and has written other books on Mesopotamia. This is a paperbound reprint of a 1998 book published by Greenwood Press.