This book explores the dynamics of small-scale societies in the ancient Near East by examining the ways in which particular communities functioned and interacted and by moving beyond the broad neo-evolutionary models of social change which have characterised many earlier approaches. By focusing on issues of diversity, scale, and context, it considers the ways in which economy, crafts, technology, and ritual were organised; the roles played by mortuary practices and households in the structure and development of ancient societies; and the importance of agency, identity, ethnicity, gender, community and cultural interaction for the rise of socio-economic complexity. The contributors to this volume are well-known archaeologists in the field of Near Eastern studies; all are currently engaged in fieldwork or research in Cyprus, the Levant, or Turkey. The variety and depth of the research they present here reflect the richness of the archaeological record in the 'cradle of civilisation' and convey the vibrancy of current interpretive approaches within the field of Near Eastern prehistory today.

This textbook is a reliable resource with an outstanding reputation for research and scholarship. The authors are well known and the new edition features a substantial updating of the material. Ideal for undergraduate studies in ancient history and history of the near east, the book is also appropriate as a supplement for instructors teaching corresponding sections or chapters in World History or Western Civilization.

Hans J. Nissen here provides a much-needed overview of 7000 years of development in the ancient Near East from the beginning of settled life to the formation of the first regional states. His approach to the study of Mesopotamian civilization differs markedly from conventional orientations, which impose a sharp division between prehistoric and historic, literate, periods. Nissen argues that this approach is too rigid to explain the actual development of that civilization. He deemphasizes the invention of writing as a turning point, viewing it as simply one more phase in the evolution of social complexity and as the result of specific social, economic, and political factors. With a unique combination of material culture analysis written data, Nissan traces the emergence of the earliest isolated settlements, the growth of a network of towns, the emergence of city states, and finally the appearance of territorial states. From his synthesis of the prehistoric and literate periods comes a unified picture of the development of Mesopotamian economy, society, and culture. Lavishly illustrated, The Early History of the Ancient Near East, 9000-2000 B.C. is an authoritative work by one of the most insightful observers of the evolution and character of Mesopotamian civilization.

A collection of essays in English, German and French on the Ancient Near East and its languages. Contents include: Property rights and functional tenure in Mesopotamian rural communities ( Robert McC Adams ); Terms for slaves in Ancient Mesopotamia ( J Gelb ); Your money or your life! A portrait of an Assyrian businessman ( Morgens Trolle Larsen ); Gold, silber und blei als wertmesser in Mesopotamien wahrend der zweiten halfte des 2. jahrtausends v.u.Z. ( Manfred Muller ); Remarks on the Tod treasure in Egypt ( Edith Porada ).

Incorporating the latest scholarly research, the third edition of A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000–323 BC presents a comprehensive overview of the multicultural civilizations of the ancient Near East. Integrates the most up-to-date research, and includes a richer selection of supplementary materials Addresses the wide variety of political, social, and cultural developments in the ancient Near East Updated features include new “Key Debate” boxes at the end of each chapter to engage students with various perspectives on a range of critical issues; a comprehensive timeline of events; and 46 new illustrations, including 12 color photos Features a new chapter addressing governance and continuity in the region during the Persian Empire Offers in-depth, accessible discussions of key texts and sources, including the Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh

Written for the student of history and the general reader, this study of the civilization of the ancient Near East brings together the findings of historians, anthropologists, linguists, geographers, art historians, scientists, and other specialists. It begins with an examination of prehistory, and then focuses on social and cultural themes while broadly outlining Near Eastern political and military developments.

In this sweeping overview of life in the ancient Near East, Daniel Snell surveys the history of the region from the invention of writing five thousand years ago to Alexander the Great's conquest in 332 B.C.E. The book is the first comprehensive history of the social and economic conditions affecting ordinary people and of the relations between governments and peoples in ancient Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. To set Near East developments in a broader context, the author also provides brief contrasting views of India, China, Greece, and Etruscan Italy. Snell organizes his book chronologically in time spans of about five hundred years and considers broad continuities. Drawing on the latest scholarship in many fields and in many languages, he sets forth a detailed picture of what is known about the demography, social groups, family, women, labor, land and animal management, crafts, trade, money, and government of the ancient Near East. For general readers with an interest in historical events that have influenced the development of Europe and the Middle East, for specialists seeking a broader understanding of early periods of Middle Eastern history, and for anyone with an interest in the Bible, this book offers a fascinating tour of life in ancient Western Asia.

This book explores the lands of the ancient Near East from around 3200 BCE to 539 BCE. The earth-shaking changes that marked this era include such fundamental inventions as the wheel and the plow and intellectual feats such as the inventions of astronomy, law, and diplomacy.

The second volume in an ongoing series sponsored by the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends (ISLET), "Urbanization and Land Ownership in the Ancient Near East" examines the impact of debt, private land ownership, and urbanization on ancient societies. Evidence of privatization of land is supported by archaeological data, surviving documents, and financial records. This volume contains three sets of papers ranging from the Ice Age through early Egypt and Bronze Age Sumer, Babylonia, and Israel, given by archaeologists, economists, Assyriologists, and Egyptologists. The first set of papers deals with the social cosmology of early urban areas as ritual centers. The second set focuses on the physical archaeology of Near Eastern cities and reconstructs their land-use patterns. The final set examines what Assyriologists have been able to extract from the cuneiform record concerning urban land use, land tenure, and the emergence of real estate as something privately owned and transferable. One of the most valuable parts of this volume is the oral discussion of each paper by the participants. Highlighting the different methodologies used in each discipline and the difficulties in establishing a common vocabulary, these discussions raise universal questions concerning ancient economies and their relevancy to long-term economic trends. The first volume in this series was "Privatization in the Ancient Near East and Classical World," edited by Michael Hudson and Baruch A. Levine (Peabody Museum Bulletin 5, ISBN 0-87365-955-4).