The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction

Discover the remarkable history of the ancient Near East, often referred to as the 'cradle of civilization'. Explore the historic cultures of Mesopotamia, Syria, and Anatolia, where humankind experienced significant developments and momentous technological and cultural shifts such as writing, law, kingship, diplomacy, warfare, mathematics, and literature.

This Very Short Introduction provides a captivating overview of this significant era in the course of humanity. Covering a three thousand year time span - from around 3500 BCE, with the founding of the first Mesopotamian cities, to the conquest of the Near East by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE - this book dives into a period of incredible innovation. From advancements in technology, such as the wheel and the plough, to early progress in fields such as astronomy, law, and diplomacy, The Ancient Near East was a hub of innovation and advancement.

Join historian Amanda Podany in an exploration of this era, wherein the popular image of the ancient world as a primitive, violent place is overturned. We discover that women had many rights and freedoms: they could own property, run businesses, and represent themselves in court. Diplomats travelled between the capital cities of major powers ensuring peace and friendship between the kings. Scribes and scholars studied the stars and could predict eclipses and the movements of the planets.

Every chapter introduces the reader to a particular moment in ancient Near Eastern history, illuminating such aspects as trade, religion, diplomacy, law, warfare, kingship, and agriculture. Each discussion focuses on evidence provided in two or three cuneiform texts from that time. These documents, the cities in which they were found, the people and gods named in them, the events they recount or reflect, all provide vivid testimony of the era in which they were written.

• Explores an area of ancient history not well covered for general readers
• Illuminates the influential role of gods in the personal lives of the region's inhabitants during the period discussed
• Closely examines cuneiform documents such as personal letters, treaties, a contract, and a hymn

The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly.