Part II of volume I deals with the history of the Near East from about 3000 to 1750 B.C. In Egypt, a long period of political unification and stability enabled the kings of the Old Kingdom to develop and exploit natural resources, to mobilize both the manpower and the technical skill to build the pyramids, and to encourage sculptors in the production of works of superlative quality. After a period of anarchy and civil war at the end of the Sixth Dynasty the local rulers of Thebes established the so-called Middle Kingdom, restoring an age of political calm in which the arts could again flourish. In Western Asia, Babylonia was the main centre and source of civilisation, and her moral, though not always her military, hegemony was recognized and accepted by the surrounding countries of Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, Assyria and Elam. The history of the region is traced from the late Uruk and Jamdat Nasr periods up to the rise of Hammurabi, the most significant developments being the invention of writing in the Uruk period, the emergence of the Semites as a political factor under Sargon, and the success of the centralized bureaucracy under the Third Dynasty of Ur.

Product details

Hardcover: 1080 pages
Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 3 edition (November 10, 1971)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0521077915
ISBN-13: 978-0521077910
Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 2.5 x 9.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 6 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,141,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7419 in Ancient Civilizations
- #1939 in Ancient History (Books)

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6 customer reviews

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Thomas Ahlswede

Super geeky book

March 17, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Super geeky book, therefore I love it! This volume covers roughly the third millennium BC, plus a little before and after. The Sumerians, the early Egyptians (Old and Middle kingdoms) and a few others.

2 people found this helpful

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Mark D. Hornbogen

Established conservative history

January 26, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The Cambridge Ancient History books are packed with information but very dry reading. They present the established conservative scientific viewpoint. There is an overabundance of time spent on pottery and speculation from it. Personally, I think that many theories established from pottery are on shaky ground. However, these are the books used as reference by many other books and worth reading.

4 people found this helpful

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Karen

A Marvelous Book!

August 10, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This was a wonderful find. It is in perfect condition and completes his 13 volume set. Now he can rearrage his whole library!

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S. M. Guzman

Outstanding, though somewhat outdated

February 4, 2009

Format: Hardcover

The Cambridge Ancient History is a fantastic achievement. However, it began to be written 40 years ago, and it shows. The first few volumes (including this one) have been left far behind by new findings and modern scholarship, a situation that contrasts sharply with the volumes dealing with more "recent" times (particularly the Roman period), which were only just completed, contain state-of-the-art material and are far easier to read. The volumes dealing with the ancient Near East are badly in need of an update. Still, if you want an authoritative, broad (and dry) treatise that will point you in the right direction for further research, this is a good place to start.
It would be unfair to demand richer narrative from a book dealing with a time when writing was still in the process being invented. However, the work does become overly tedious at times, particularly when discussing "remains" (i.e. barely recognizable foundations of buildings of ambiguous purpose). Field archaeologists may find it more palatable than armchair historians.

13 people found this helpful

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Lee Martin

Ancient Near East

January 18, 2008

Format: Hardcover

I read this one awhile back and I enjoyed it very much although it was very technical. The book is profusely illustrated with maps, building plans, and tables. Great book (but very expensive) for history buffs.

5 people found this helpful

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Somehumanbeing

Great

June 20, 2014

Format: Hardcover

Better than what I expected! I got the book right on time and it was in an excellent condition. Bravo!

One person found this helpful

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The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 1, Part 2: Early History of the Middle East 3rd Edition

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6 customer reviews

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Rent On clicking this link, a new layer will be open

$44.98 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open

Buy used On clicking this link, a new layer will be open

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$255.38 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open