Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture [Paperback]

William H. Stiebing (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 032106674X | ISBN-13: 978-0321066749 | Publication Date: November 18, 2002 | Edition: 1st

This book is a general introduction to the history and culture of the Ancient Near East. The Ancient Near East offers the right amount of detail for the course without being encyclopedic. Organized by the periods, kingdoms and empires generally used in Near Eastern political history, social and cultural history is balanced with the political narrative. This combination allows students to get a rounded introduction to the subject of Ancient Near Eastern history. An emphasis on problems and areas of uncertainty helps students understand how evidence is used to create interpretations and allows them to realize that several different interpretations of the same evidence are possible.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture

William H. Stiebing Jr.

Second Edition

 

"Simply the best textbook currently available for the study of the Ancient Near East and Egypt.  It is a well-written, intelligent, up-to-date survey that provides students with an excellent background while at the same time holding their interest."

- Devin J. Steward, Emory University

 

"Far and away the very best textbook available for a general history course on the Ancient Near East."

- Glen Cooper, Brigham Young University

 

Organized by the periods, kingdoms, and empires generally used in Near Eastern political history, this text interlaces social and cultural history with a political narrative.  An emphasis on historical debates and areas of uncertainty helps students understand how evidence is used to create interpretations and that several different interpretations of history are possible.

 

New Features

• Controversial issues are highlighted in sections titled "Debating the Evidence," making it easier for students and teachers to find and use the portions of the text devoted to scholarly arugments about the evidence for various aspects of ancient Near Eastern history.
• A new Chapter 4, "The Old Babylonian Period and Its Aftermath" gives more insight into this important period.
• More information is provided on culture and economy, especially in the sections on the Old Babylonian, Neo-Assyrian, and Neo-Babylonian periods. 

 

Visit us at www.ablongman.com/history

 

 

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 1st edition (November 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 032106674X
• ISBN-13: 978-0321066749
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #937,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rare comprehensive and readable history of Ancient Near East, November 22, 2004

By 

Jon Torodash (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture (Paperback)

This has been the textbook in my "History of the Ancient Near East" course and I find it to be remarkably effective in keeping a broad perspective and good continuity over time and space in the several topics it covers. Stiebings is a very good distiller of factual content and fairly presents conflicting theories. My professor pointed out a few flaws, though nothing too significant except when Stiebing's used and misconstrued his very work (primarily on the Indo-European migration and The Sea Peoples). It would have also been nice to have more diagrammed maps given the density of the text at times.

There is just so much misinformation in this field of study and little effort to tie together "The Near East" into a single narrative core - a need which Stiebing's book fills marvelously. This one will stay on my bookshelf for years to come.