A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC

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Joshua J. Mark
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published on 11 December 2013
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A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000 - 323 BC, 2nd Edition
Title: A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000 - 323 BC, 2nd Edition
Author: Marc Van de Mieroop & Marc van der Mieroop
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Published: 2003
Pages: 341

A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC by Marc Van De Mieroop is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the region of ancient Mesopotamia. His writing style is very accessible and the chapters are carefully constructed to provide a reader with a comprehensive understanding of the subject under consideration. Regarding the rise of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, for example, the author goes into great detail regarding the political and social climate of the period of the 8th century BCE. An excerpt:

References to warfare against tribal groups are plentiful in other texts [besides the letters of Borsippa]. Parts of the anti-tribal rhetoric, accusing them of purely hostile and destructive behavior, probably resulted from the usual megative attitude toward newcomers of the residents of ancient cities. But the highly unstable nature of the period and its warlike character cannot be denied (212).

The book explores the history of Mesopotamia through an examination of the rise of the cities and contribution to the formation of states and culture. The three sections are The City States, Territorial States, and Empires with between four and six chapters to each section. By the end of the book, a reader has a very comprehensive knowledge of the subject while also enjoying the work of a talented writer and historian. Highly recommended.

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About the Reviewer

Joshua J. Mark
Joshua J. Mark is World History Encyclopedia's co-founder and Content Director. He was previously a professor at Marist College (NY) where he taught history, philosophy, literature, and writing. He has traveled extensively and lived in Greece and Germany.

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APA Style

Mark, J. J. (2013, December 11). A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/review/38/a-history-of-the-ancient-near-east-ca-3000-323-bc/

Chicago Style

Mark, Joshua J.. "A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified December 11, 2013. https://www.worldhistory.org/review/38/a-history-of-the-ancient-near-east-ca-3000-323-bc/.

MLA Style

Mark, Joshua J.. "A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 11 Dec 2013. Web. 04 Dec 2024.

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