The Ancient Near East c. 3000-330 B.C.

• Author: Frame, G.
• Position: Book Review

The Ancient Near East c. 3000-330 B.C. By AMELIE KUHRT. 2 vols. Routledge History of the Ancient World. London: ROUTLEDGE, 1995. Pp. xxviii + 381; xix + 400; illus.

This introduction to the history of the ancient Near East from the time of the earliest written documents in Mesopotamia and Egypt until the fall of the Persian Empire is intended primarily for students, although scholars will also undoubtedly find it useful. The book deals with a long period of time (ca. 3000 to 330 B.C.), a wide geographical area (Egypt, the Levant, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and western Iran), and numerous different cultures and peoples (in particular, Akkadians, Arameans, Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Elamites, Hittites, Hurrians, Israelites, Persians, Phoenicians, Sumerians, Urartians). No one individual can be an expert in all the areas, periods, and cultures discussed in this book. Nevertheless, the author can be congratulated for providing an up-to-date, well-balanced view for the areas treated in her study. The detailed bibliographies and numerous text references in the body of the study show that she has made great efforts to examine and utilize materials from all the areas treated in the book.

The work begins with a brief introductory section dealing with such matters as the geographical area of concern, languages and writing, environment, problems of the source material, and chronology. The body of the text is divided into thirteen chapters, each dealing with a particular area and period of time (e.g., "Mesopotamia c. 1600-c. 900"). These chapters are grouped into three parts: "The development of states and cities (c. 3000-c. 1600)," "The great powers (c. 1600-c. 1050)," and "Political transformation and the great empires (c. 1200-330)." An extensive bibliography (arranged by chapter and topic) and an index complete the work. Scattered throughout the volumes are numerous translations from ancient texts, which allow the reader to hear the ancients' own words. Almost one hundred charts, drawings, maps, and photographs are found in the volumes, but even more of these would have been useful (e.g., a detailed map of the Assyrian heartland). One is impressed with the breadth of material covered, the clear manner in which it is presented, and the commendable caution used in dealing with the ancient source materials.

The author states at the very beginning of her work that it "is intended as an introduction to ancient Near Eastern history, the main sources...