“This is the third edition of a classic made all the more popular as we try to understand the origins of today’s Middle East with its wars, hatreds, dictatorships, genocides and infamous new caliphates that hold nothing but terror for those who will not bow the knee to jihadi dogma.” (Unrv.com, 1 January 2016)
“For these reasons and for many more, this volume deserves considerable praise and lasting admiration.” (RBECS.org, 27 December 2015)
From the Back Cover
Incorporating the latest scholarly research in this rapidly developing field, the third edition of A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000–323 BC presents a comprehensive overview of the extraordinary multicultural civilizations of the ancient Near East. Presenting the region’s complex history in a concise and accessible manner, chapters begin with the emergence of writing around 3000 BC, and proceed with the origins of the first cities in Mesopotamia and growth of the Babylonian and Hittite kingdoms up to the rise of the Assyrian and Persian empires. Concluding chapters address the transformation of the ancient Near East by the conquests of Alexander the Great―with a new chapter addressing governance and continuity in the region during the Persian Empire. Other updates include a comprehensive timeline of events, 30 new illustrations, and expanded coverage of the myriad political events, military campaigns, and social and cultural developments that emerged throughout the Near East over the course of more than three millennia. Another notable update is the inclusion of Key Debate boxes designed to illuminate differing perspectives on various critical issues after each chapter. A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC, Third Edition, enhances its reputation as one of the most accessible introductions to the rich and complex history of ancient Near Eastern civilizations available today.
About the Author
Marc Van De Mieroop is Professor of History at Columbia University. He is the author of many books on various aspects of the histories of the ancient Near East and Egypt, including The Ancient Mesopotamian City (1997, 1999), King Hammurabi of Babylon (Blackwell, 2004), The Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009), and A History of Ancient Egypt (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010).
