Series Editor's Preface, xi Maps, xiii
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1 Introduction, 3
Mesopotamia in the Near East, 3 The Cradle of Civilization, 3 Revealing Mesopotamia's Past, 4
PART 2: MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION
Chapter 2 The Location of Mesopotamian Civilization and Its Environmental Setting, 7
Introduction, 7 The Changing Seacoast, 7 The Environmental Setting, 8 The Changing Landscape, 15
Chapter 3 Historical and Chronological Setting, 19
History of the Investigation of Mesopotamia's Past, 19 Studying Ancient Mesopotamia's Past, 43
Chapter 4 Origins, Growth, and Decline of Mesopotamian Civilization, 53
Early Mesopotamia (ca. 7000-2900 b. c.e.), 53 The Rise of Kings (ca. 2900-2334 b. c.e.), 70 The First Empires (ca. 2334-2000 b. c.e.), 76 The Rise of Babylon (ca. 2000-1600 b. c.e.), 84 Shifting Power Blocs (ca. 1600-1150 b. c.e.), 89 Assyria Resurgent (ca. 1150-780 b. c.e.), 95 Assyria's Heyday (780-605 b. c.e.), 100 Babylonia Triumphant (605-539 b. c.e.), 108
Chapter 5 Economics, 117
Introduction, 117 Patterns of Subsistence, 118
The Management and Regulation of Production, 129 Trade, 133
Chapter 6 Social Organization and Social Structure, 147
Settlement Patterns, 147 The People of Mesopotamian Society, 156 Society and the Law, 157 Mesopotamian Life, 158
Chapter 7 Politics, 173
Political Organization, 173 Warfare, 185
Chapter 8 Religion and Ideology, 199
Religion and Society, 199 Gods and People, 207 Festivals, 220
Death and the Afterlife, 224
Chapter 9 Material Culture, 233
Artists and Artisans, 233 Construction, 235 Art and Artifacts, 240
Chapter 10 Intellectual Accomplishments, 265
Numbers, Time, and Space, 265 Science, 273
Languages and Scripts, 276 Literature, 288
Chapter 11 Mesopotamian Civilization Today, 305
Fieldwork, 305
Continuing Controversies, 308 The Destruction of Our Common Heritage— Will Mesopotamia Survive?, 312
Glossary, 319 Chronology, 349 Bibliography, 363 General, 363
History of Discovery, 363
History, Historiography, and Archaeology, 363
Mesopotamia in West Asia, 364
Economy, Trade, and Foreign Relations, 365
Industry, Technology, and Science, 365
Daily Life, 365
Settlement and Settlements, 366 Religion, 367 Art and Architecture, 367 Language, Writing, and Seals, 367 Literature, 368
The Threat to Mesopotamia's Past, 368 Useful Web Pages, 369 Journals, 369
Index, 371
About the Author, 395
World History
