A Companion to the Ancient Near East (Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World)

**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.

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.

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 Contents Illustrations List Notes on Contributors Introduction PART I The Big Picture A History of the Ancient Near East From Sedentism to States, 10 000–3000 bce PART II The Physical World Archaeology and the Ancient Near East: Renewing a Culture‐HistoricalPartnership The Degradation of the Ancient Near Eastern Environment PART III The Social World Gender Roles in Ancient Egypt Royal Women and the Exercise of Power in the Ancient Near East The Family in the Ancient Near East Pastoralism in the Ancient Near East Money and Traders Law and Practice Working Social Tensions in the Ancient Near East Borders and States Divine and Non‐Divine Kingship PART IV Thought Transmission of Knowledge Literature of Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Near East Ancient Near Eastern Philosophy Mesopotamian Cosmology Ancient Mesopotamian Religion PART V Culture The Languages of the Ancient Near East Mesopotamian Art Egyptian Medicine Warfare in Mesopotamia PART VI Inheritances The Decipherment of the Ancient Near East Monotheism and Ancient Israelite Religion The Ancient Near East and Biblical Scholarship:Recently Uncovered Archives from the Cuneiform World Pharaonic Heritage in Modern Egypt Conclusions Index Edited By Daniel C. Snell. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Electronic Reproduction. Hoboken, N.j. Available Via World Wide Web.