A Companion to the Ancient Near East (2nd edition)

**The new edition of the popular survey of Near Eastern civilization from the Bronze Age to the era of Alexander the Great** __A Companion to the Ancient Near East__ explores the history of the region from 4400 BCE to the Macedonian conquest of the Persian Empire in 330 BCE. Original and revised essays from a team of distinguished scholars from across disciplines address subjects including the politics, economics, architecture, and heritage of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Part of the __Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World__ series, this acclaimed single-volume reference combines lively writing with engaging and relatable topics to immerse readers in this fascinating period of Near East history. The new second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to include new developments in relevant fields, particularly archaeology, and expand on themes of interest to contemporary students. Clear, accessible chapters offer fresh discussions on the history of the family and gender roles, the literature, languages, and religions of the region, pastoralism, medicine and philosophy, and borders, states, and warfare. New essays highlight recent discoveries in cuneiform texts, investigate how modern Egyptians came to understand their ancient history, and examine the place of archaeology among the historical disciplines. This volume: * Provides substantial new and revised content covering topics such as social conflict, kingship, cosmology, work, trade, and law * Covers the civilizations of the Sumerians, Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Israelites, and Persians, emphasizing social and cultural history * Examines the legacy of the Ancient Near East in the medieval and modern worlds * Offers a uniquely broad geographical, chronological, and topical range * Includes a comprehensive bibliographical guide to Ancient Near East studies as well as new and updated references and reading suggestions Suitable for use as both a primary reference or as a supplement to a chronologically arranged textbook, __A Companion to the Ancient Near East, 2nd Edition__ is a valuable resource for advanced undergraduates, beginning graduate students, instructors in the field, and scholars from other disciplines. A Companion to the Ancient Near East, 2nd Edition Contents Illustrations List Notes on Contributors Maps Introduction The Big Picture The Physical World The Social World Thought Culture Inheritances A Word of Thanks A Note on References PART I: The Big Picture 1 A History of the Ancient Near East Unity and Diversity The Urban Revolution, about 3500–2800 BCE The Second Urbanization, about 2800–2000 BCE The Regional System, about 2000–1200 BCE The Early Iron Age, about 1200–750 BCE Empires, about 750–330 BCE FURTHER READING REFERENCES 2 From Sedentism to States, 10 000–3000 BCE Theory and Bias in Near Eastern Archaeology Labeling Time and Locating Sites Sedentism and its Effects Foraging, Cultivation, and Domestication Where was the Origin of Agriculture? Agriculture and Herding: Choice or Necessity? Sedentism and Definitions of Space Pottery and Structural Bias Chiefdoms? Origins of the Mesopotamian State Nature of the State Art and Architecture Writing Production and Consumption Trade, Interaction, and the Uruk Expansion FURTHER READING REFERENCES PART II: The Physical World 3 Archaeology and the Ancient Near East: Renewing a Culture‐Historical Partnership Archaeology’s Service to Ancient Near Eastern History The Culture‐Historical Chronologies of the Ancient Near East Archaeometry and Ancient Near Eastern History Recent Archaeological Research on the Ancient Near East Prehistory and Parahistory A Twenty‐First Century Partnership NOTES FURTHER READING REFERENCES 4 The Degradation of the Ancient Near Eastern Environment The Physical Scene The Climatic and Paleoclimatic Background Deforestation and Alteration of the Vegetation Cover The Impact of Grazing The Human Impact on Fauna Soil Erosion and Slope Management Irrigation and Soil Salinization Direct and Indirect Alteration of the Fluvial Systems Pollution of Air, Water, and Soil Environmental Crisis at the End of the Third Millennium BCE Land Degradation in the Near East: Myths and Realities NOTES FURTHER READING REFERENCES PART III: The Social World 5 Gender Roles in Ancient Egypt Gender and Cosmology Ancient Egyptian Sexuality and Fertility Departures from Heteronormativity Law and Social Custom Changes in Gender Roles over Time Summary FURTHER READING REFERENCES 6 Royal Women and the Exercise of Power in the Ancient Near East Royal Women and the Royal Household Royal Women and State Administration Women and Politics Women and Religion Concluding Remarks FURTHER READING REFERENCES 7 The Family in the Ancient Near East The House The Paternal Line Marriage and Dowry Children The Extended Family Conclusions FURTHER READING REFERENCES 8 Pastoralism in the Ancient Near East The Nature of Pastoralism The History of Mobile Pastoralism in the Ancient Near East The Socio‐Political Organization of Pastoralists FURTHER READING REFERENCES 9 Money and Traders Attractions of Early Economy The Politics of Ancient Economics Mesopotamian Monies and Weights Buying and Selling in Mesopotamia Money and Trade in Egypt Routes and Metals Prospects for Study FURTHER READING REFERENCES 10 Law and Practice Looking for Law in the Ancient Near East Law Codes Documents of Practice Royal Edicts Gaps in the Law Tradition and Custom Describing the Law of the Ancient Near East Status and Slavery Gender and Inheritance Civil and Criminal Law Connections with Later Legal Systems NOTES FURTHER READING REFERENCES 11 Working Introduction The Setting Institutions, Economies, Societies, and Employment Illustrating Institutional Control of Labor and Labor Value Rural Life Other Rural Pursuits Crafts Deir el‐Medina Employment Textiles: the Real Industry of Antiquity Movement of Goods and People Land, Labor, Technology, Administration, and Markets Value and Remuneration of Labor FURTHER READING AND CAVEATS REFERENCES 12 Social Tensions in the Ancient Near East Survival and Identity Survival, Environmental Instability, Societal Tension, and Change Tensions among Farming Villagers, Pastoral Nomads, and City Dwellers Village Peasant Farmers Pastoral Nomads City Dwellers Tensions between Ruler and Ruled Societal Tensions Produced by Ethnic Differences or Alienness Tensions Produced by Religious Differences Divisions and Tensions within Judaism and Christianity Discrimination and Persecution: Pagans, Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians FURTHER READING REFERENCES 13 Borders and States State and Society Frontiers and Borders Conclusion FURTHER READING REFERENCES 14 Divine and Non‐Divine Kingship Introduction The Intellectual Experiences of Power Divine Kingship in the Old Babylonian Period Kingship in First Millennium Babylonia Middle and Neo‐Assyrian Kingship The Social Experience of Power Royal Intervention in Civic Life Social Evolution Conclusion FURTHER READING REFERENCES PART IV: Thought 15 Transmission of Knowledge FURTHER READING REFERENCES 16 Literature of Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Near East FURTHER READING REFERENCES 17 Ancient Near Eastern Philosophy Physics Logic Ethics Conclusions FURTHER READING REFERENCES 18 Mesopotamian Cosmology What is “the World”? How did the World Originate? What is the Relation between the Gods and the Phenomenal World? Is there Order and Justice in the Universe? By Means of What Force or Agency Do Things Occur in the World? What is the Place of Humankind in Relation to the Whole? What is the Relation of Earth to Heaven? What is the Structure of the Heavenly Regions? What are the Cosmic Waters? What is the Realm of the Dead? Does the World have a Center? What is the Nature of the Planetary Bodies? Is there a Cosmological Significance to the Order of the Planets? Was there a Conception of Circles or Spheres? And Did the Celestial Bodies Move in Them? FURTHER READING REFERENCES 19 Ancient Mesopotamian Religion The Sources The Pantheon Mythology Rituals Outlook FURTHER READING REFERENCES PART V: Culture 20 The Languages of the Ancient Near East Introduction: Languages, Language Families, and Scripts Sumerian Egyptian Semitic Languages Indo‐European Languages Hurrian and Urartian Other Languages Undeciphered Languages and Scripts FURTHER READING REFERENCES 21 Mesopotamian Art The Warka Vase Cylinder Seals Statues The Stele of Naram‐Sin The Stele of Hammurabi Neo‐Assyrian Reliefs Conclusion NOTE FURTHER READING REFERENCES 22 Egyptian Medicine Sources and Research The Ancient Egyptian Conception of Illness Bodily Functions and Direct and Indirect Causes of Disease Diagnostics Treatments and Prevention Healing Personnel and the Interaction with the Sick NOTE FURTHER READING REFERENCES 23 Warfare in Mesopotamia Kings, Gods, and Warfare Warfare in the Third Millennium Early Dynastic Mesopotamia (c. 2900–2350 BCE) The Sargonic Period (2334–2113 BCE) The Third Dynasty of Ur (2120–2004 BCE) The Second Millennium The Middle Bronze Age (c. 2100–1550 BCE) Late Bronze Age (c. 1550–1150 BCE) The First Millennium Conclusion FURTHER READING REFERENCES PART VI: Inheritances 24 The Decipherment of the Ancient Near East FURTHER READING NOTES REFERENCES 25 Monotheism and Ancient Israelite Religion NOTES FURTHER READING REFERENCES 26 The Ancient Near East and Biblical Scholarship: Recently Uncovered Archives from the Cuneiform World Iran Israel and Lebanon Jordan Anatolia, Turkey Syria Iraq Prospect REFERENCES 27 Pharaonic Heritage in Modern Egypt The Khedivial Age, 1805–1882 The Colonial Era, 1882–1922 The Semi‐colonial Era, 1922–1952 The Postcolonial Era: Nasser and After FURTHER READING REFERENCES 28 Conclusions Health and Death Water Bureaucracy War Transport Royal Power Freedom The State Sex Workers Money Religion Monotheism Nationalism Scribal Culture Literature and Poetry Scholarly Texts Dictionaries The Person Music Astronomy Mathematics, Chemistry Other Legacies What Scholars Do Index

The new edition of the popular survey of Near Eastern civilization from the Bronze Age to the era of Alexander the Great

A Companion to the Ancient Near East explores the history of the region from 4400 BCE to the Macedonian conquest of the Persian Empire in 330 BCE. Original and revised essays from a team of distinguished scholars from across disciplines address subjects including the politics, economics, architecture, and heritage of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series, this acclaimed single-volume reference combines lively writing with engaging and relatable topics to immerse readers in this fascinating period of Near East history.

The new second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to include new developments in relevant fields, particularly archaeology, and expand on themes of interest to contemporary students. Clear, accessible chapters offer fresh discussions on the history of the family and gender roles, the literature, languages, and religions of the region, pastoralism, medicine and philosophy, and borders, states, and warfare. New essays highlight recent discoveries in cuneiform texts, investigate how modern Egyptians came to understand their ancient history, and examine the place of archaeology among the historical disciplines. This volume:

• Provides substantial new and revised content covering topics such as social conflict, kingship, cosmology, work, trade, and law
• Covers the civilizations of the Sumerians, Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Israelites, and Persians, emphasizing social and cultural history
• Examines the legacy of the Ancient Near East in the medieval and modern worlds
• Offers a uniquely broad geographical, chronological, and topical range
• Includes a comprehensive bibliographical guide to Ancient Near East studies as well as new and updated references and reading suggestions

Suitable for use as both a primary reference or as a supplement to a chronologically arranged textbook, A Companion to the Ancient Near East, 2 nd Edition is a valuable resource for advanced undergraduates, beginning graduate students, instructors in the field, and scholars from other disciplines.

A Companion to the Ancient Near East explores the history of the region from 4400 BCE to the Macedonian conquest of the Persian Empire in 330 BCE. Original and revised essays from a team of distinguished scholars from across disciplines address subjects including the politics, economics, architecture, and heritage of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series, this acclaimed single-volume reference combines lively writing with engaging and relatable topics to immerse readers in this fascinating period of Near East history. The new second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to include new developments in relevant fields, particularly archeology, and expand on themes of interest to contemporary students. Clear, accessible chapters offer fresh discussions on the history of the family and gender roles, the literature, languages, and religions of the region, pastoralism, medicine and philosophy, and borders, states, and warfare. New essays highlight recent discoveries in cuneiform texts, investigate how modern Egyptians came to understand their ancient history, and examine the place of archeology among the historical disciplines. This volume: Provides substantial new and revised content covering topics such as social conflict, kingship, cosmology, work, trade, and law Covers the civilizations of the Sumerians, Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Israelites, and Persians, emphasizing social and cultural history Examines the legacy of the Ancient Near East in the medieval and modern worlds Offers a uniquely broad geographical, chronological, and topical range Includes a comprehensive bibliographical guide to Ancient Near East studies as well as new and updated references and reading suggestions Suitable for use as both a primary reference or as a supplement to a chronologically arranged textbook, A Companion to the Ancient Near East, 2 nd Edition is a valuable resource for advanced undergraduates, beginning graduate students, instructors in the field, and scholars from other disciplines. THE BIG PICTURE. A History of the Ancient Near East / Mario Liverani -- From Sedentism to States, 10000-3000 bce / Augusta McMahon -- THE PHYSICAL WORLD. Archaeology and the Ancient Near East / Marie-Henriette Gates -- The Degradation of the Ancient Near Eastern Environment / Carlos E Cordova -- THE SOCIAL WORLD. Gender Roles in Ancient Egypt / Ann Macy Roth -- Royal Women and the Exercise of Power in the Ancient Near East / Sarah C Melville -- The Family in the Ancient Near East / John P Nielsen -- Pastoralism in the Ancient Near East / Anne Porter -- Money and Traders / Christopher M Monroe -- Law and Practice / Bruce Wells -- Working / David A Warburton -- Social Tensions in the Ancient Near East / John Robertson -- Borders and States / Steven Grosby -- Divine and Non-Divine Kingship / Philip Jones -- THOUGHT. Transmission of Knowledge / Benjamin Foster -- Literature of Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Near East / Susan Tower Hollis -- Ancient Near Eastern Philosophy / Marc Mieroop -- Mesopotamian Cosmology / Francesca Rochberg -- Ancient Mesopotamian Religion / Nicole Brisch -- CULTURE. The Languages of the Ancient Near East / John Huehnergard -- Mesopotamian Art / Marian H Feldman -- Egyptian Medicine / Tanja Pommerening -- Warfare in Mesopotamia / Sarah C Melville -- INHERITANCES. The Decipherment of the Ancient Near East / Peter T Daniels -- Monotheism and Ancient Israelite Religion / S David Sperling -- The Ancient Near East and Biblical Scholarship / Mark Chavalas -- Pharaonic Heritage in Modern Egypt / Donald Malcolm Reid -- Conclusions / Daniel C Snell