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Ancient Near East #1
El Oriente Próximo en la Antigüedad 1, c 30000-330 a.c
Amélie Kuhrt, profesora del University College de Londres, nos ofrece una visión global de la historia antigua del Oriente Próximo –un territorio que abarca desde Afganistán hasta el Mediterráneo, y desde el Mar Negro hasta Egipto- en un amplio período que va desde los más antiguos documentos escritos, que aparecieron unos tres mil años antes de nuestra era, hasta la conquista de Alejandro Magno.
Pierre Briant, dela Universidadde Toulouse, ha dicho de este libro que «su amplitud de visión lo hace único y sin equivalente entre los publicados en cualquier idioma»Y es que difícilmente podría encontrarse una visión de conjunto tan equilibrada que se ocupe a la vez de Egipto, de Mesopotamia y de los territorios de Siria y Anatolia, que tome en cuenta los más recientes hallazgos arqueológicos y aborde los complejos problemas de interpretación y metodología.
Este volumen, el primero de los dos que componen la obra, abarca los dos milenios que van desde la aparición de documentos en escritura cuneiforme y el desarrollo de los primeros estados hasta el año mil antes de nuestra era, y expone la compleja historia de los estados e imperios mesopotámicos hasta el nuevo imperio asirio, la de Egipto en los imperios antiguo y nuevo, la del imperio hitita y la de los reinos de Mitanni y Ugarit. Este es, por otra parte, un libro que, ha dicho Peter Jones, demuestra que «una erudición de primera fila es compatible con un texto de atractiva lectura.
Pierre Briant, dela Universidadde Toulouse, ha dicho de este libro que «su amplitud de visión lo hace único y sin equivalente entre los publicados en cualquier idioma»Y es que difícilmente podría encontrarse una visión de conjunto tan equilibrada que se ocupe a la vez de Egipto, de Mesopotamia y de los territorios de Siria y Anatolia, que tome en cuenta los más recientes hallazgos arqueológicos y aborde los complejos problemas de interpretación y metodología.
Este volumen, el primero de los dos que componen la obra, abarca los dos milenios que van desde la aparición de documentos en escritura cuneiforme y el desarrollo de los primeros estados hasta el año mil antes de nuestra era, y expone la compleja historia de los estados e imperios mesopotámicos hasta el nuevo imperio asirio, la de Egipto en los imperios antiguo y nuevo, la del imperio hitita y la de los reinos de Mitanni y Ugarit. Este es, por otra parte, un libro que, ha dicho Peter Jones, demuestra que «una erudición de primera fila es compatible con un texto de atractiva lectura.
496 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2014
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About the author
Amélie Kuhrt
27 books11 followersBorn 1944, she is a historian specialist in the history of the ancient Near East.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 20, 2023
This very good history shows also just how much we don't know and some things we will never know. It is well written and I like the breakdown of chapters and sections within the chapters. It all flows nicely. This book marks the beginning of reading project in which I will read a total of 9 books on Ancient Near Eastern history.
April 7, 2024
Yikes, this took me ages to read where the last 50 pages or so I must have postponed half a year at least. It might then make you wonder why I would still give this a favorable review? Well, I do find the historical information and the dense descriptions very valuable for those serious about the history of the ancient near east. To say that the book is filled with references would be an understatement as nearly every page is packed to the brim with careful references backing up historical claims.
I would however warn the enthusiastic reader that the writing style comes across as a bit dull and overly academic for many of the passages found in the book. More so, Kuhrt will give opinions of other experts in the field on many occasions, but will not give her own opinion as to how much merit she finds in the outside opinions given. I understand she wants to provide the most objective account of the history, but it would have been nice to evaluate the statements of others through personal reflections at times, if for anything to give an account about the diversity of views of experts as well as breaking the otherwise rather dry account of details in the book.
In closing, a book I recommend for those particularly interested in the details pertaining to this time period as well as the many archaeological descriptions which gives the historical reconstruction an empirical backing. For me personally, I should have started on an easier entry book such as " The History of The Ancient World" by Susan Bauer where as this book is not nearly as meticulously crafted, the reading style is a lot simpler as well as being a good, general entry point into ancient history.
Note: I don't like the star rating and as such I only rate books based upon one star or five stars corresponding to the in my opinion preferable rating system of thumbs up/down. This later rating system increases in my humble opinion the degree to which the reader is likely to engage with a review instead of merely glancing at the number of stars of a given book.)
I would however warn the enthusiastic reader that the writing style comes across as a bit dull and overly academic for many of the passages found in the book. More so, Kuhrt will give opinions of other experts in the field on many occasions, but will not give her own opinion as to how much merit she finds in the outside opinions given. I understand she wants to provide the most objective account of the history, but it would have been nice to evaluate the statements of others through personal reflections at times, if for anything to give an account about the diversity of views of experts as well as breaking the otherwise rather dry account of details in the book.
In closing, a book I recommend for those particularly interested in the details pertaining to this time period as well as the many archaeological descriptions which gives the historical reconstruction an empirical backing. For me personally, I should have started on an easier entry book such as " The History of The Ancient World" by Susan Bauer where as this book is not nearly as meticulously crafted, the reading style is a lot simpler as well as being a good, general entry point into ancient history.
Note: I don't like the star rating and as such I only rate books based upon one star or five stars corresponding to the in my opinion preferable rating system of thumbs up/down. This later rating system increases in my humble opinion the degree to which the reader is likely to engage with a review instead of merely glancing at the number of stars of a given book.)
November 4, 2024
Excellent survey of the Bronze Age Near East. Appreciated how the level of detail kept things moving while still having time to give thorough coverage of the political, cultural, and archaeological aspects of each nation and period. Looking forward to Vol 2!
Only two criticisms:
1. There aren't nearly enough maps, and those that are there are subpar.
2. Would have loved if the book could have covered Greece and the Aegean as well, but understand it had to draw the line somewhere.
Only two criticisms:
1. There aren't nearly enough maps, and those that are there are subpar.
2. Would have loved if the book could have covered Greece and the Aegean as well, but understand it had to draw the line somewhere.
September 29, 2019
A decent read with some excellent info on these very early civilizations but the writing was a little dry and turgid at times!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews