First Civilizations

by Hunter, Erica C. D.; Corbishley, Mike

• ISBN13: 9780816051496
• ISBN10: 0816051496
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-06-01
• Publisher: Facts on File

Summary

First Civilizations, Revised Edition details the fascinating culture of Mesopotamia -- the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers -- and the ancient Near East, the region generally known as the cradle of civilization. The evolution of hunter-gathering societies there into the first villages is presented through photographs and illustrations of artifacts and other evidence from archeological sites. The atlas is divided into two sections. The Land and the People traces the development of village and urban life. Subjects covered include animals in daily life, writing, and religion and ritual. Kingdoms and Empires charts the rise and fall of the great political entities of the Near East. Included are the late Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian revival and the Persian Empire. As most of the information historians have about these civilizations comes from archeological excavations, special features describe artifacts from specific sites. Clearly written and with more than 200 maps and illustrations, First Civilizations, Revised Edition is an excellent general introduction to the history of the region where civilization was first nurtured. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Dr. Erica C. D. Hunter is a researcher in a variety of fields that focus primarily on Mesopotamia. Based at the Taylor-Schecter Genizah Research Unit, Cambridge University Library, she has contributed to numerous academic publications Mike Corbishley has been a teacher and an archeologist. He has conducted excavations in England, mostly on Roman and medieval sites. He is now head of education at English Heritage. He has written a number of books for children on archeology and the ancient and medieval worlds -- in particular on the Romans

Table of Contents

Introduction	4	(2)
Table of Dates	6	(4)
PART ONE: THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE
Physical Background	10	(2)
Archeology in the Near East	12	(2)
Early Peoples (to 11,000 BCE)	14	(2)
Mesopotamian Sites Shanidar	16	(2)
Early Village Life	18	(2)
First Farmers (11,000--9300 BCE)	20	(2)
Animals in Daily Life	22	(2)
Builders and Trade	24	(2)
The Art of Pottery	26	(2)
First Civilization (7000--4000 BCE)	28	(2)
Mesopotamian Sites Tell Madhhur	30	(2)
Birth of the City (4000--3000 BCE)	32	(2)
Mesopotamian Sites Uruk	34	(2)
Cylinder Seals	36	(2)
Writing	38	(2)
States in Conflict (3000--2350 BCE)	40	(2)
Mesopotamian Sites Nippur and Ebla	42	(2)
Mesopotamian Sites Ur	44	(2)
Ziggurats	46	(2)
Religion and Ritual	48	(4)
PART TWO: KINGDOMS AND EMPIRES
Kings of Agade (2350--2000 BCE)	52	(2)
Rival Kingdoms (2000--1600 BCE)	54	(2)
Law and Society	56	(2)
Mittani and the Assyrians	58	(2)
The Kassites (1600--1200 BCE)	60	(2)
Everyday Life	62	(2)
New Powers	64	(2)
Israel and Judah	66	(2)
Mesopotamian Sites Kalhu	68	(2)
Late Assyrian Rule (1000--750 BCE)	70	(2)
Assyria Triumphant (750--626 BCE)	72	(2)
Mesopotamian Sites Ashur and Nineveh	74	(2)
Warfare	76	(2)
Babylonian Revival (626--560 BCE)	78	(2)
Mesopotamian Sites Babylon	80	(2)
The Persian Empire (560--521 BCE)	82	(2)
Darius' Empire (521--486 BCE)	84	(2)
Mesopotamian Sites Susa	86	(2)
The Final Years (486--323 BCE)	88	(2)
War and Looting	90	(2)
Glossary and Further Reading	92	(1)
Gazetteer	93	(2)
Index	95

Excerpts

Praise for the previous edition:
...factually precise, straightforward, and inclusive...A concise, challenging, and useful resource. - School Library Journal
This volume in the Cultural Atlas for Young People set focuses on the birthplace of Western civilization—Mesopotamia and the ancient Near East. More than 12,000 years ago people from this area were among the first to change from a hunting-and-gathering, wandering lifestyle to settled farming communities. First Civilizations, Revised Edition examines their fascinating culture and the history of this ancient region.
The first of two sections in the atlas, The Land and the People, traces the development of hunter-gatherer societies through village life to urban life. Dealing with subjects such as animals in daily life, writing, and religion and ritual, students obtain an accurate and detailed survey of the past. The second section, Kingdoms and Empires, charts the rise and fall of the great kingdoms and empires of the Near East. Organized by period, topics include the late Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian Revival, and the Persian Empire. As most of the information historians have about these civilizations has come from archaeological excavations, special features describe and examine the artifacts found at specific sites.
Written in a clear and accessible style, with more than 200 maps and illustrations, First Civilizations, Revised Edition imparts an excellent general understanding of the history of the region we have come to know as the cradle of civilization.