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Hitit Dünyasında Yaşam ve Toplum
Hitit dünyasını çok çeşitli yönleriyle ele alan bu kitap, yazarın Hitit Krallığı'nda sunduğu askeri ve siyasi tarihi tamamlıyor. Hitit dünyasında yaşamanın, kutlamalarına katılmanın, krizlerine ortak olmanın, onlarla başkentin sokaklarında veya evlerinde buluşmanın, bir şifa ritüelinin görüntülerini, seslerini ve kokularını deneyimleyecek, “Büyük Kral”la bir gösteriye katılacaksınız.
“Açıklığı bilimsel titizlikle birleştiren; bilgi ve düşünce dolu bu kitap, üniversite öğrencileri ve antik tarih meraklılarının vazgeçemeyecekleri bir kaynak.”
–Times Higher Education Supplement
“Trevor Bryce, bugün Anadolu araştırmalarının yaygınlaşmasında çok etkili olmuş bir biliminsanıdır. Bir otorite olarak, Hititlerin olabilecek en net tarihini üretmişti; şimdi de bize Hitit kültürü üzerine bir araştırma sunuyor.”
–Bryn Mawr, Classical Review
“Açıklığı bilimsel titizlikle birleştiren; bilgi ve düşünce dolu bu kitap, üniversite öğrencileri ve antik tarih meraklılarının vazgeçemeyecekleri bir kaynak.”
–Times Higher Education Supplement
“Trevor Bryce, bugün Anadolu araştırmalarının yaygınlaşmasında çok etkili olmuş bir biliminsanıdır. Bir otorite olarak, Hititlerin olabilecek en net tarihini üretmişti; şimdi de bize Hitit kültürü üzerine bir araştırma sunuyor.”
–Bryn Mawr, Classical Review
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 7, 2013
I found this book through watching a mid-value history DVD from Netflix (Hittites: Civilization That Changed the World), where they had a short interview with the author. (My local library didn't have a copy, and I didn't want to wait for ILL.) Despite the insane pricing for e-books that academic presses seem to have, I bought the e-version for my Kindle for the convenience to have it to read on my most recent out-of-town trip. Handy if one can afford it, and I have no doubt the academic presses (and authors) can use the money, so I have no regrets.
If (like me) you know next to nothing about Hittites, it's not a bad introduction, although I suspect I also need the companion volume, touted to be more of a political history. The author, being a well-trained academic, mostly limited himself to what could be gleaned from the surviving texts, now that the lost language has been translated by assorted linguistic geniuses. Although, unlike paper and papyrus, burning down the clay-tablet archives only makes the medium more durable, turning them to ceramic, the subsequent breakage apparently turns figuring out what was written (or inscribed) into the world's most challenging jigsaw puzzle. So there was not as much detail as I'd hoped. From my point of view, desultorily researching fantasy-fiction possibilities, this is not necessarily a bad thing; and there are clearly more books on the subject to be had.
While reading I was reminded of Arlan Keith Andrews, Jr.'s, classic short story titled something like "Glossolalia" (spelling corrections invited), which I encountered years ago in Analog Magazine, wherein it is gradually revealed that the real Tower of Babel that fell to such disastrous consequences was not the tower itself, but the archive of the bureaucratic "paperwork" of clay tablets (in triplicate) associated with the building project. (Arlan used to work for the government, back when.) Written from the point of view of the now-fleeing-for-his-life architect/contractor. It was very fine.
The present book's style was clear and readable, free of academic jargon. Recommended for persons with eclectic (or specialist) interests.
Ta, L.
September 18, 2023
If you'd like to learn more about Hittite culture, I'd definitely recommend this book!
I learned a lot!
The book was easy to read and rarely dragged.
Their culture was interesting to learn about, even if gross or disturbing at points.
Again, if you'd like to learn more about the Hittites, this is a great book to read!
I learned a lot!
The book was easy to read and rarely dragged.
Their culture was interesting to learn about, even if gross or disturbing at points.
Again, if you'd like to learn more about the Hittites, this is a great book to read!
June 19, 2017
I have kept more than 100 notes on the Hittites, my next book is gonna be awesome! But not more than this one. I loved the wit and clear view of the things, provided by Bryce. And, as if it was possible, I loved the Hitttites even more.
January 20, 2016
A pleasant introduction.
September 9, 2021
A very enjoyable read! I knew very little about the Hittite world, so the book was a journey of discovery. Trevor Bryce's writing avoided all the pitfalls of pedantic lecturing, so that learning about this ancient culture, especially the traits that made them different from the ancient Babylonians, Assyrians or Israelites, only made me want to learn more.
August 17, 2012
Upon its initial publication in 1998, Trevor Bryce's The Kingdom of the Hittites was acclaimed as the best English-language history of the Hittite empire yet, but it was mostly a fairly dry listing of which king succeeded which. As a follow-up, Bryce offered something that focuses more on the Hittite little guy, or at least little guys important enough to leave traces in cuneiform texts.
Life and Society in the Hittite World consists of thirteen chapters that each focus on some particular demographic. Sure, chapter one concerns only that kingly sphere that Bryce's earlier book did, but then we get depictions of what life might have been like for scribes, farmers, merchants, warriors and healers, as well as descriptions of marriage, religious observance, funeral rites and popular mythology.
This is an entertaining book, and a necessary complement to Bryce's earlier history. It could be improved, however. One weakness is that although Bryce is clearly indulging in a lot of speculation (the phrasing "X may have Y" is seemingly on every page), there is no chapter describing the sources used so we can get some feel for how firm his vision of Hittite life might be. Sources are briefly described, but only in footnote citations that will be help more to specialists than the wide audience this book is directed at. Also, the last chapter, which muses on what debt Greek mythology and poetics might have to links with Bronze Age Anatolia, feels somewhat out of place here.
Life and Society in the Hittite World consists of thirteen chapters that each focus on some particular demographic. Sure, chapter one concerns only that kingly sphere that Bryce's earlier book did, but then we get depictions of what life might have been like for scribes, farmers, merchants, warriors and healers, as well as descriptions of marriage, religious observance, funeral rites and popular mythology.
This is an entertaining book, and a necessary complement to Bryce's earlier history. It could be improved, however. One weakness is that although Bryce is clearly indulging in a lot of speculation (the phrasing "X may have Y" is seemingly on every page), there is no chapter describing the sources used so we can get some feel for how firm his vision of Hittite life might be. Sources are briefly described, but only in footnote citations that will be help more to specialists than the wide audience this book is directed at. Also, the last chapter, which muses on what debt Greek mythology and poetics might have to links with Bronze Age Anatolia, feels somewhat out of place here.
October 16, 2010
After receiving this as a gift, I was very pleased at the quality and breadth of the work. Kudos to the writers and historians who focus on the lesser known, but just as important, historical peoples of the ancient Mediterranean.
October 10, 2023
I’d only really understood the Hittites from Age of Empires and as a counterpart to some of Egyptian history. This book was an excellent introduction and was a real lovely piece of social history. I found the mythology and such kind of dull but the labor structure, governance, and most importantly basic economics were all great. The laws situation in particular was amazing, incredible how the Hittites approached sexual law - easily the harshest part of their legal code, the only part of their legal code where they invoked their version of supremacy doctrine, and yet no crime for homosexuality. Special note for bestiality not being a general crime - death penalty for dogs sheep pigs but special carve out for horses and mules.
Main frustration: Bryce talks about how the Hittites were reliant on imports, particularly late in the empire. But he just shrugs about the question of exports. This makes no sense! What are the exports! Tell me dammit!
Main frustration: Bryce talks about how the Hittites were reliant on imports, particularly late in the empire. But he just shrugs about the question of exports. This makes no sense! What are the exports! Tell me dammit!
July 25, 2018
Bryce states at the outset that his aim was to explain Hittite society for the general reader, and I would say he has succeeded in that task. The language is lucid, the writing style is smooth and engaging, creating a very readable text that anyone could pick up and enjoy. That said, the text doesn’t feel in any way reduced or simplified. Bryce still packs in an awful lot of detail to his examination of daily life and key social infrastructure in the Hittite empire, and provides extensive notes and references at the back for those looking to chase up any particular points of interest. In his latest preface the author himself notes that since initial publication there have been further discoveries which may at some point warrant a new revised edition of the book – so just be aware that in its current edition the book may be lacking some of the most recent developments in Hittitology.
October 3, 2021
Life and Society in the Hittite World is the companion volume to The Kingdom of the Hittites. One deals with society and culture while the other outlines the reigns of the rulers.
There is no doubt that Trevor Bryce is a leading academic and a master in his chosen field.
The Hittites did leave some very useful evidence, in the form of clay tablets produced for the administration. The scholars of the past hundred years have made remarkable progress in translating there, but there are also problems in identifying authors and organising collections. We are fortunate to have accomplished authors who carry on this work.
Overall I would say that there was little in this book which was new or surprising, but instead it provides a very solid grounding in so many aspects of life at that time.
There is no doubt that Trevor Bryce is a leading academic and a master in his chosen field.
The Hittites did leave some very useful evidence, in the form of clay tablets produced for the administration. The scholars of the past hundred years have made remarkable progress in translating there, but there are also problems in identifying authors and organising collections. We are fortunate to have accomplished authors who carry on this work.
Overall I would say that there was little in this book which was new or surprising, but instead it provides a very solid grounding in so many aspects of life at that time.
April 13, 2021
Bryce paints a vivid image of the daily life, concerns, and beliefs of the Hittites - a far more interesting history than any list of battles and kings. Its structure makes it easy to jump into any specific topic such law, marriage, or mythology. While this book is rich in details and descriptions, the academic analysis i find to be lacking at points; J. G. Frazers theories are simply not credible in the 21st century. Bryce fondness for the Hittites also shines through at points, but so would mine if I'd spent my entire career studying them. Still, for anyone curious about the world of ancient Anatolia I'd recommend this book.
February 17, 2011
As the title indicates, this is the book to read if you want to learn about Hittite daily life as differentiated from political history. Bryce has chapters on Hittite kings, farmers, scribes, merchants, curers of disease, marriage, festivals and rituals, among others. This book integrates a huge range of material into a readable, highly respected volume. The final chapter addresses the links between the Hittite and Greek world of the Late Bronze Age. For more articles and reviews about the Hittites go to www.judithstarkston.com
April 15, 2014
I found the Hittites rather boring dinner companions. Perhaps it was just that they didn't bring much that was entertaining back from the dead with them. But I (alas) did find myself skimming towards the end. I would recommend this book only for students of the ancient world, archaeology and the near east.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews