The Early History of the Ancient Near East, 9000-2000 B.C. by Hans J Nissen

The Early History of the Ancient Near East, 9000-2000 B.C. by Hans J Nissen

Hans J. Nissen here provides a much-needed overview of 7000 years of development in the ancient Near East from the beginning of settled life to the formation of the first regional states. His approach to the study of Mesopotamian civilization differs markedly from conventional orientations, which impose a sharp division between prehistoric and historic, literate, periods. Nissen argues that this approach is too rigid to explain the actual development of that civilization. He deemphasizes the invention of writing as a turning point, viewing it as simply one more phase in the evolution of social complexity and as the result of specific social, economic, and political factors.

With a unique combination of material culture analysis written data, Nissan traces the emergence of the earliest isolated settlements, the growth of a network of towns, the emergence of city states, and finally the appearance of territorial states. From his synthesis of the prehistoric and literate periods comes a unified picture of the development of Mesopotamian economy, society, and culture. Lavishly illustrated, The Early History of the Ancient Near East, 9000-2000 B.C. is an authoritative work by one of the most insightful observers of the evolution and character of Mesopotamian civilization.

Nissen, Hans J.: - Hans Nissen is professor of ancient Near Eastern archaeology at the Free University of Berlin.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780226586588
ISBN 10	0226586588
Title	The Early History of the Ancient Near East, 9000-2000 B.C.
Author	Hans J Nissen
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	The University of Chicago Press
Year published	1990-05-15
Number of pages	224
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.