Synopses & Reviews
Must reading for history students and anyone interested in the development of Western civilization, this lively, fascinating study demonstrates clearly that “the civilizations of the ancient Orient [were] a tremendous human experience, . . . without which another, subsequent civilization would not be conceivable.” The book examines the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Hittites, Hurrians, Canaanites, Aramaeans, Israelites, and Persians; offers a synthesis of Near Eastern accomplishments in politics, society, literature, and the arts; and presents a wealth of quotations from the little-known writings of Sumer, Egypt, Hurria, and other great civilizations. “. . . a work that should interest both scholars and laymen. It is a valuable introduction, perhaps the best available in English, to the ancient Near Eastern civilizations.”—
American Historical Review. “. . . a lucid, intelligent, and lively summation. . . . an appetizing and stimulating introduction to the study of man’s early civilizations.”—
Science. Notes. Index. 32 halftones. 5 figures. 1 map.
Synopsis
"A lucid, intelligent, and lively summation an appetizing and stimulating introduction to the study of man's early civilizations." Science
This fascinating, lively study praised by the American Historical Review as "a valuable introduction, perhaps the best available in English, to the ancient Near Eastern civilizations" is essential reading for history students and for anyone interested in the development of Western civilization. The author, who was director of the Center of Semitic Studies at the University of Rome, undertook the study in order to make sense of several enormously important discoveries from the mid-twentieth century including the discovery of Ugarit, a Syrian city that flourished for 4,000 years; the unearthing of Mari, an equally important city of ancient Mesopotamia; and the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Professor Moscati begins with a chapter on the "Oriental Renaissance" and goes on to examine the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Hittites, Hurrians, Canaanites, Aramaeans, Israelites, and Persians, before offering, in the final chapter, a synthesis of Near Eastern accomplishments in politics, society, literature, and the arts. His conclusion is that "the civilizations of the ancient Orient were] a tremendous human experience without which another, subsequent civilization would not be conceivable." One of the great pleasures of this intriguing book is its delightful sampling of illustrative quotations from primary sources some from the Bible and many others (often with strikingly biblical intonations) from the little-known writings of Sumer, Egypt, Hurria, and the other great civilizations that prefigured Greece and Rome."
Synopsis
Examines the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Hittites, Hurrians, Canaanites, Aramaeans, Israelites, and Persians, offers a synthesis of Near Eastern accomplishments in politics, society, literature, and the arts, and presents a wealth of quotations from the little-known writings. "A valuable introduction, perhaps the best available in English." and#8212; American Historical Review. 32 halftones, 5 figures, 1 map.
Synopsis
Fascinating study examines Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, Israelites, Persians, others.and#160;"A valuable introduction, perhaps the best available in English." and#8212; American Historical Review. 32 halftones. 5 figures. 1 map.
Table of Contents
FOREWORD
Part One. The Conditions
1 THE ORIENTAL RENAISSANCE
Part Two. The Components
2 THE SUMERIANS
3 THE BABYLONIANS AND ASSYRIANS
4 THE EGYPTIANS
Part Three. The Catalysts
5 THE HITTITES AND THE HURRIANS
6 THE CANAANITES AND THE ARAMAENS
7 ISRAEL
Part Four. The Synthesis
8 THE PERSIANS
9 THE FACE OF THE ANCIENT ORIENT
INDEX