Early Mesopotamia: Society and Economy at the Dawn of History [Paperback]

The roots of our modern world lie in the civilization of Mesopotamia, which saw the development of the first urban society and the invention of writing. The cuneiform texts reveal the technological and social innovations of Sumer and Babylonia as surprisingly modern, and the influence of this fascinating culture was felt throughout the Near East. Early Mesopotamia gives an entirely new account, integrating the archaeology with historical data which until now have been largely scattered in specialist literature.The roots of our modern world lie in this early civilisation, which saw the first urban society and the invention of writing. Postgate uses both historical and archaeological data to reveal this society's social and technological innovations.`Archaeological and historical knowledge of the past and new evidence are combined with data formerly scattered across academic texts. Provides a good view of the successive stages of Mesopotamian civilisation reinforced with literary cunelform texts of the period.' - ECCAARTH

`Not just an excellent introduction to the subject: it is full of insights and evidence of the breadth of Postgate's scholarship.' History TodayContents: Preface, Prologue Part I: Setting the scene: Chapter 1. The land and the life, Chapter 2. The political framework, Chapter 3. The written record, Part II: The institutions: Chapter 4. City and countryside, Chapter 5. Household and family, Chapter 6. The temple, Chapter 7. The palace, Part III: The economic order: Chapter 8. Crops and livestock, Chapter 9. Water and land, Chapter 10. The domestic economy, Chapter 11. Foreign Trade, Part IV: The Social Order: Chapter 12. Craft and labour, Chapter 13. War and peace, Chapter 14. Religion and politics, Chapter 15. Laws and the law, Chapter 16. Order and disorder, Epilouge, Footnotes, Bibliography, IndexUS? 1992, 1994 J.N. Postgate