Uruk Mesopotamia & Its Neighbors: Cross-Cultural Interactions in the Era of State Formation (School of American Research Advanced Seminar Series) [Paperback]

Guillermo Algaze (Contributor), Holly Pittman (Contributor), Terence N. D'Altroy (Contributor), Marcella Frangipane (Contributor), Hans J. Nissen (Contributor), Susan Pollock (Contributor), Glenn Schwartz (Contributor), Gil Stein (Contributor), Henry Wright (Contributor), Mitchell Rothman (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001 | ISBN-10: 1930618034 | ISBN-13: 978-1930618039 | Edition: First Edition first Printing

In Uruk Mesopotamia & Its Neighbors, ten field and theoretical archaeologists working in the area today offer an overview and analysis of new data and interpretations for Greater Mesopotamia during the late fifth and fourth millennia B.C. They radically reassess the chronological framework for the region, assemble the basic data sets on both local and regional levels, and interpret and synthesize these data in order to put local patterns and dynamics into their widest regional context. Their contributions have applications beyond the cultural history of Mesopotamia itself, reaching into the wider fields of anthropology, history, and political science. With its thorough documentation and comprehensive scope, this volume is an indispensable reference on the state of Mesopotamian archaeology at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The authors begin with a new chronology that has wide-reaching implications for future study, then focus on the spread of Uruk culture in terms of local developments and regional networks rather than an imposition from a politically dominant center. Traditional views of Uruk civilization have largely overlooked the cultural diversity in this broad geographical setting as well as the complex dynamics by which cultural elements were disseminated. Recent archaeological discoveries, radiocarbon data, and innovative theoretical approaches to world systems have called for a general reassessment of this crucial period. This closely integrated set of papers preserves an exciting sense of history in the re-making. --S. Langdon, CHOICE, November 2002

a seminal interim contribution to specialists' understanding of Mesopotamia and early complex societies. --Richard Zettler, Religious Studies Review

Uruk Mesopotamia & Its Neighbors offers readers important new data and compelling interpretations of the era of state formation in Greater Mesopotamia. --Elizabeth Carter, Science 296 (7 June 2002)

…a seminal interim contribution to specialists' understanding of Mesopotamia and early complex societies. --Richard Zettler, Religious Studies Review

Uruk Mesopotamia & Its Neighbors offers readers important new data and compelling interpretations of the era of state formation in Greater Mesopotamia. --Elizabeth Carter, Science 296 (7 June 2002)

Product Details

• Paperback: 594 pages
• Publisher: SAR Press; First Edition first Printing edition (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930618034
• ISBN-13: 978-1930618039
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,267,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Fantastic, Up-to-Date Overview of the Uruk Period For the Serious Scholar, August 3, 2008

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Mike From Canada - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uruk Mesopotamia & Its Neighbors: Cross-Cultural Interactions in the Era of State Formation (School of American Research Advanced Seminar Series) (Paperback)

This book really is an incredible, informative read. Collecting experts on the Uruk period from across the world, we finally have a coherant, balanced account that gives an excellent overview of the strides in development that have been made Uruk scholarship over the last decade. Each essay takes a slightly different view and focus, which together provides a whole new picture of early Mesopotamia society; it also highlights the areas in which further research is needed, for many of these experts disagree with each other to varying degrees. What we have here is not a definitive, absolute history but instead a thought-provoking collection that illustrates the new understanding that is slowly emerging and re-writing what was assumed about the period. Most striking is that, for example, Algaze's "World System" theory is remarkably out of date in light of archeological development made in the decade since that explanation was first proposed.

This book, it should be noted, is for the expert; it is not written with the layman in mind, and it is often very technical as well. For those who wish to learn about the society of early Mesopotamia, a general, working knowledge is pretty much a required prerequisite to fully understand much of the content here. However, for those looking for a closer look at a fascinating period, this book is a remarkable, illuminating and informative read that brings the new research out of the more obscure pages of archeological journals and into a more available format. I cannot say enough good things about this book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book, but pre-knowledge required, April 23, 2009

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aaa - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Uruk Mesopotamia & Its Neighbors: Cross-Cultural Interactions in the Era of State Formation (School of American Research Advanced Seminar Series) (Paperback)

"Uruk..." is a collection of scientific articles. The articles were written by leading scientists. The book discusses the rise of an urban way of life and the rise of Western civilization in the fourth millennium BC, the so-called Uruk period; the name Uruk period comes from the city of Uruk (Biblical Erech) in ancient Sumer (present-day Iraq). It discusses more or less new data and more or less new theories which make sense of the data. The different articles highlight different aspects or different regions of the ancient Middle East during the fourth millenium BC. Pre-knowledge is required to understand the book, but I'm not an expert and found it easy to read.