The Ancient Mesopotamian City [Paperback]

Marc Van De Mieroop (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198152868 | ISBN-13: 978-0198152866 | Publication Date: December 9, 1999 | Edition: 1

Urban history starts in ancient Mesopotamia. In this volume Marc Van de Mieroop examines the evolution of the very earliest cities which, for millennia, inspired the rest of the ancient world. The author argues that the city determined every aspect of Mesopotamian civilization, and the political and social structure, economy, literature, and arts of Mesopotamian culture cannot be understood without acknowledging their urban background.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`offers a starting point to the cities of Mesopotamia for both the lay reader and the undergraduate student.' E.J. Owens, The Classical Review, 2000.

`Van de Mieroop's thoroughgoing treatment of the subject can be read to advantage by every kind of ancient historian ... a splendid work of synthesis.' A R George, Bulletin of the SOAS 62:3 1999

`His comparison and contrast of southern versus northern cities and planned versus unplanned cities gives a sense of the complexity, and his intelligent analysis of th e multiple loci fo social power offers insights into the contradictions ... frequent references to archaeological material are well integrated. This book deserves a wide audience.' Anthony Sinclair, Antiquity

This work is the survey of a city in Mesopotamian history by an author who has studied Old Babylonian Ur with distinction and it is a welcome addition to our understanding of Mesopotamian society, economics and politics. The book is attractive and well illustrated. - Daniel Snell - Bibliotheca Orientalis LV No 5/6 Sept-Dec 1988

About the Author

Marc Van De Mieroop is at Columbia University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (December 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198152868
• ISBN-13: 978-0198152866
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, though scholarly, June 17, 2002

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ancient Mesopotamian City (Paperback)

In this book, Professor Van De Mieroop looks at the Mesopotamian city, from earliest Sumer to the Babylonian and Assyrian empires. Included in this work are chapters covering everything politics, organization of neighborhoods (districts might be a better word), clans, economics, and more. The author's grasp of the subject is obviously profound, and any student of Mesopotamia can gather a great deal of information from this book. On the downside, though, the book was obviously written for an academic audience, rather than for general readers. This means that the book is often dry and verbose. However, that said, it is a fascinating work, one with a great deal to offer anyone interested in the Mesopotamian city.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instant classic!, February 19, 2000

By 

Steven J. Garfinkle (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ancient Mesopotamian City (Paperback)

This book is a long overdue survey of the urban experience in the first literate society. This work goes beyond the 'origin of cities', to tell us how they worked, and what really went on! Informative and accessible, I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in ancient history.