First Civilizations: Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt / Edition 2

by Robert Chadwick

Overview

First Civilizations is the second edition of a popular student text first published in 1996 in Montreal by Les Editions Champ Fleury. This much updated and expanded edition provides an introductory overview of the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. It was conceived primarily for students who have little or no knowledge of ancient history or archaeology. The book begins with the role of history and archaeology in understanding the past, and continues with the origins of agriculture and the formation of the Sumerian city-states in Mesopotamia. Three subsequent chapters concentrate on Assyrian and Babylonian history and culture. The second half of the book focuses on Egypt, begining with the physical environment of the Nile, the formation of the Egyptian state and the Old Kingdom. Subsequent chapters discuss the Middle Kingdom, the Hyksos period,and the 18th Dynasty, with space devoted to Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, the Ramesside period. The text ends with the Persian conquest of Mesopotamia and Egypt. First Civilizations also contains sections on astronomy, medicine, architecture, eschatology, religion, burial practices and mummification, and discusses the myths of Gilgamesh, Isis and Osiris. Each chapter has a basic bibliography which emphasizes English language encyclopedias, books and journals specializing in the ancient Near East.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781904768784
Publisher:	Equinox Publishing
Publication date:	01/15/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Robert Chadwick is Adjunct Professor at McGill University. He has, since 1972, taught the history and culture of the ancient Near East at John Abbott College, Concordia University, McGill University, l'Universite de Montreal and Bishop's University. He has excavated in England, the American south-west, Syria and Jordan. He is currently the assistant director of the Wadi Ath-Thamad Excavation Project.

Table of Contents

Part One: Mesopotamia|1. Introduction: History and Archaeology as Tools for Understanding the Past|2. Agriculture and the Origins of Civilization|3. The Early Dynastic Period and the Sumerian City-States|4. The Akkadians and the Ur III Dynasty|5. Mesopotamia in the Second Millennium BC: The Babylonians and the Kassites (1600 - 200 BC)|6. The Assyrians|7. The Last Babylonian Dynasty|8. Mythology and Religion: The Story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu|9. Science and Nature: Astronomy and Medicine in Mesopotamia and Egypt|Part Two: Egypt|10. Egypt: The Black Land|11. The Old Kingdom and the Pyramid Age (2572 - 2134 BC)|12. The Middle Kingdom|13. The Hyksos Period and the New Kingdom|14. Akhenaten and the Amarna Period|15. The 19th Dynasty and the Ramesside Kings|16. Egypt in the Late Second and First Millennium BC: The Kushites, Libyans and Assyrians|17. The Persians|18. Epilogue

Editorial Reviews

The author is successful in his goal to provide an in-depth coverage of Ancient Near Eastern history for the beginning student….Chadwick skillfully brings to life the long-forgotten details of these two great civilizations. Near Eastern Archaeology Society Bulletin

Chadwick’s writing is lucid and flowing and, with such a profusion of illustrative material, the reader’s attention is easily commanded. …This is an excellent publication available at a modest price and I would encourage everyone to purchase a copy. Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies Journal

From the Publisher