Mesopotamia: The World's Earliest Civilization

by Kathleen Kuiper (editor)

The innovation and progress that characterize modernity often eclipse the accomplishments of ages past. However, close examination of ancient civilizations reveals a sophistication in both thought and accomplishment that in some ways surpasses what is observed in the present. The books in this series detail the ancient lifestyles and cultures that have produced concepts and technologies still in use today. Illustrations complement the text and instill excitement for the achievements of these rich and highly developed societies.

Genres: History, Reference, Ancient History

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Sense of History]

I was tempted by the name of the series that features this book: The Britannica Guide to Ancient Civilizations. With that Britannica-label you immediately get the sense of solidity, academic foundation, synthesis, etc. And mind you, this is certainly a creditable overview of Mesopotamian history. One half covers what we classically understand by those first civilization(s): from about 4,000 BCE to about 320 BCE, but the other half is simply the historical account of the geographic area of Mesopotamia in later times, when the classical Mesopotamian civilization(s) had long since gone up in smoke. The emphasis certainly is on synthesis, but you notice that the compilers have sometimes used a rough brush. Thus, 'Ubaidians' in the 4th millennium are presented as a separate, pre-Sumerian people, which is very odd. Even more worrisome is the discussion of the early dynastic form of government (early 3rd millennium): “Political power originally belonged to the citizens, but, as rivalry between the various city-states increased, each adopted the institution of kingship”; I think this must be a Rousseau-an lapse. In short: don't be fooled by that Britannica predicate!

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty dry stuff! Historical timeline of thousands of years of history. Makes for a solid resource but not the book you should go to if looking for a deep dive into a particular time or culture of the region.

[Marc Lamot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good overview of Ancient Mesopotamian history, stretched until AD 620, which is strange. Not really up-to-date and not quite as reliable as one should expect.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has a lot of information I needed to know. It definitely helped me understand Mesopotamia a lot more. There were a lot of references that I searched to help me have an even bigger understanding of the culture back then.

[Overbooked ✎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars