Book Description

BLACKWELL HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000–323 BC Fourth Edition “This marvelous book is a classic, and deservedly so. This new edition brings the history up to date with revelations from newly published cuneiform tablets and recent archaeological excavations.” —Amanda H. Podany, Professor of History, Cal Poly Pomona “An outstanding resource for studying the history of the ANE... It is remarkable to find a volume with this subject matter that is as clear and as engaging as what Van De Mieroop has offered here." —Kurtis Peters, RBECS Now in its fourth edition, A History of the Ancient Near East remains one of the most accessible introductions to the rich and complex history of the region available. Integrating original sources, up-to-date scholarship, and extensive supplementary materials, this popular textbook provides student-friendly coverage of the origins of the first cities in Mesopotamia, the growth of the Babylonian and Hittite kingdoms, and the rise of the Assyrian and Persian empires. With an easy-to-understand narrative style, noted historian and lecturer Marc Van De Mieroop guides students through the extraordinary multicultural civilizations of the ancient Near Eastern world. Clear and straightforward chapters describe a wide variety of political, social, and cultural developments, beginning from the invention of writing circa 3000 BC and ending with the conquests of Alexander the Great. This new edition is fully revised to reflect the latest developments in the field, including entirely new sections on recent archaeological discoveries and textual findings. Streamlined and improved chapters are complemented with detailed maps, historical timelines, images and illustrations, and an extensive and up-to-date bibliography. A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000–323 BC, Fourth Edition, is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and introductory graduate courses on archaeology or ancient Near Eastern history, as well as a valuable resource for general readers with an interest in the ancient world and the Bible.