A selection of ancient sources in translation, with varying modern perspectives, intended as supplemental reading for the beginning college student of ancient history. The material is grouped into "problems" such as the place of Ikhnaton in Egyptian religious history, or the causes of the Second Punic War.

In July, 2010, the International Association for Assyriology met in Barcelona, Spain, for 5 days to deliver and listen to papers on the theme “Time and History in the Ancient Near East.” This volume, the proceedings of the conference, contains 70 of the papers read at the 56th annual Rencontre, including the papers from several workshop sessions on “architecture and archaeology,” “early Akkadian and its Semitic context,” “ Hurrian language,” “law in the ancient Near East,” “Middle Assyrian texts and studies,” and a variety of additional papers not directly related to the conference theme. The photo on the back cover shows only a representative portion of the attendees, who were warmly hosted by faculty and students from the University of Barcelona.

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

Preliminary Material /Peter Machinist -- Introduction /Peter Machinist -- Greece /Peter Machinist -- Mesopotamia /Peter Machinist -- Israel /Peter Machinist -- Conclusion /Peter Machinist -- Illustrations /Peter Machinist -- Bibliography /Peter Machinist -- Indices /Peter Machinist.

Primary Sources for Ancient History Volume II: The Roman World By: Gary Forsythe The Roman Empire lasted for more than a millennia. From a small city it grew to encompass almost 1.7 million miles. It’s innovations in warfare, politics, and the arts continue to influence the Western world. Primary Sources for Ancient History: Volume II: The Roman World is a comprehensive selection of ancient writings to supplement a narrative history. Arranged both chronologically and thematically, this work shows how the Empire was shaped by the thoughts, religions, and systems of the people it conquered. These documents show how a variety of Romans examined the rights of the individual against the government, economic disparity, political scandals, multiculturalism - issues we continue to face today. Beginning with Plutarch’s retelling of the mythological founding of the Roman Kingdom to the Republic expansion, to the consolidation of later emperors, and the final dissolution from Germanic invasions, this is a comprehensive overview of the history and culture of the Roman Empire. While emphasis is placed on the writings of classic historians such as Livy, Josephus, Marcellinus, and more, the collection is enriched with a variety of contemporary documents. Cicero’s gossipy letters, political graffiti, and funeral eulogies allow life in the Empire to come across in a fresh and contemporary way. The Roman World is a valuable resource that shows not only how we have come to understand the Roman Empire, but how the Roman Empire viewed and defined itself.

The Religious Aspect of Warfare in the Ancient Near East, Greece and Rome is a volume dedicated to investigating the relationship between religion and war in antiquity in minute detail. The nineteen chapters are divided into three groups: the ancient Near East, Greece, and Rome. They are presented in turn and all possible aspects of warfare and its religious connections are investigated. The contributors focus on the theology of war, the role of priests in warfare, natural phenomena as signs for military activity, cruelty, piety, the divinity of humans in specific martial cases, rituals of war, iconographical representations and symbols of war, and even the archaeology of war. As editor Krzysztof Ulanowski invited both well-known specialists such as Robert Parker, Nicholas Sekunda, and Pietro Mander to contribute, as well as many young, talented scholars with fresh ideas. From this polyphony of voices, perspectives and opinions emerges a diverse, but coherent, representation of the complex relationship between religion and war in antiquity.

The cultures of the great empires of the ancient Near East from Egypt to Mesopotamia influenced Israel's religion, literature, and laws because of Israel's geographic location and political position situation. Anyone who wishes to understand the Old Testament texts and the history of ancient Israel must become familiar with the history, literature, and society of the surrounding kingdoms that at times controlled the region. Brief in presentation yet broad in scope, Ancient Near East will introduce students to the information and ideas essential to understanding the texts of the Old Testament while clarifying difficult issues concerning the relationship between Israel and its neighbors. Abingdon Essential Guides fulfill the need for brief, substantive, yet highly accessible introductions to the core disciplines in biblical, theological, and religious studies.

Medicine, astronomy, dealing with numbers - even the cultures of the "pre-modern" world offer a rich spectrum of scientific texts. But how are they best translated? Is it sufficient to translate the sources into modern scientific language, and thereby, above all, to identify their deficits? Or would it be better to adopt the perspective of the sources themselves, strange as they are, only for them not to be properly understood by modern readers? Renowned representatives of various disciplines and traditions present a controversial and constructive discussion of these problems.

The Oxford Handbook of the State in the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean offers a comprehensive survey of ancient state formation in western Eurasia and North Africa. Eighteen experts introduce readers to a wide variety of systems spanning 4,000 years, from the earliest known states in world history to the Roman Empire and its immediate successors. They seek to understand the inner workings of these states by focusing on key issues: political and military power, the impact of ideologies, the rise and fall of individual polities, and the mechanisms of cooperation, coercion, and exploitation. This shared emphasis on critical institutions and dynamics invites comparative and cross-cultural perspectives. A detailed introductory review of contemporary approaches to the study of the state puts the rich historical case studies in context. Transcending conventional boundaries between ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean history and between ancient and early medieval history, this volume will be of interest not only to historians but also anthropologists, archaeologists, sociologists, and political scientists. Its accessible style and up-to-date references will make it an invaluable resource for both students and scholars.