Mesopotamia and the Rise of Civilization: History, Documents, and Key Questions (Crossroads in World History)

A broad introduction to a major turning point in human development, this book guides the reader through the emergence of civilization in Mesopotamia, when city life began and writing was invented. Covering Mesopotamia from around 3000 BCE to the fall of Babylon in 539 BCE, Mesopotamia and the Rise of Civilization: History, Documents, and Key Questions combines narrative history material and reference entries that enable students to learn about the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia and its enormous influence on western civilization with primary source documents that promote critical thinking skills. The book provides essential background via a historical overview of early development of society in Mesopotamia. This introduction is followed by reference entries on key topics; 4,000-year-old primary sources that explore Mesopotamian civilization through voices of the time and bring to light the events of a schoolboy's day, the boasts of kings, and personal letters about family concerns, for example; and a section of argumentative essays that presents thought-provoking perspectives on key issues. While the intended readership is high school students, the book's authoritative coverage of intriguing subject matter will also appeal to the wider public, especially in these times of heightened focus on the Middle East. Cover page -- Halftitle page -- Series page -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Contents -- Alphabetical List of Entries -- Topical List of Entries -- How to Use This Book -- Preface -- Timeline -- Historical Overview -- Mesopotamia and the Rise of Civilization: A-Z -- Primary Source Documents -- CREATION -- INANNA AND ENKI -- THE FLOOD -- ENMERKAR AND THE LORD OF ARATTA -- GILGAMESH AND AGGA -- THE NETHERWORLD-FROM THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH -- UMMA AND LAGASH -- URU-INIM-GINA -- TWO KINGS -- ENHEDUANNA -- THE CURSING OF AGADE -- GUDEA -- SHULGI -- SHEEP AND GRAIN -- SCHOOLDAYS -- INANNA AND DUMUZI -- KANESH LETTERS -- MARI LETTERS -- HAMMURABI'S LAW CODE -- THE DIALOGUE OF PESSIMISM -- Key Questions -- QUESTION 1: WAS THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE EUPHRATES AND TIGRIS VALLEYS THE KEY CAUSAL FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD'S EARLIEST CIVILIZATION? -- QUESTION 2: WAS INTERNATIONAL TRADE FUNDAMENTAL TO MESOPOTAMIA'S ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AS A CIVILIZATION? -- QUESTION 3: WAS THE INVENTION OF WRITING CRITICAL TO THE EMERGENCE OF CIVILIZATION IN MESOPOTAMIA? -- Annotated Bibliography -- Index -- About the Author and Contributors Through a mix of reference entries, primary source documents, and original essays, the Crossroads in World History series helps readers understand and contextualize events central to world history