Modern-day archaeological discoveries in the Near East continue to illuminate man's understanding of the ancient world. This illustrated handbook describes the

The roots of our modern world lie in the civilization of Mesopotamia, which saw the development of the first urban society and the invention of writing. The cun

"This splendid work of scholarship . . . sums up with economy and power all that the written record so far deciphered has to tell about the ancient and compleme

Innovative study of the early state and urban societies in Mesopotamia, c. 5000 to 2100 BC.

Describes the enormous accomplishments of the Sumerians and Babylonians of ancient Mesopotamia in every scientific area, a heritage which affects our own everyd