The Ancient Near East: Ancient History Series, Volume I

by William E. Dunstan

Book Overview

Written for the student of history and the general reader, this study of the civilization of the ancient Near East brings together the findings of historians, anthropologists, linguists, geographers,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0030352991
• ISBN13: 9780030352997
• Release Date: July 1997
• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.7" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Excellent reading!

This book is excellent and full of good information. If it has one small weakness, more could be put in about the the reasons for the decline of late Bronze age empires, but that's a minor point.

The one intro that truly covers entire region.

There are several good well-written introductions to the Ancient Near East currently available. Most focus on Mesopotamia and give little or no attention to other parts of the Ancient Near East. Dunstan however covers Mesopotamia, Egypt, Asia Minor, the Levant and the Ancient Hebrews. Thus this one introductory book does the work of four books. He also provides very good coverage of cultural and religious issues but political history is given less attention than typical. Despite the broad coverage, most of the key points are covered. Only four stars because there are no footnotes and inadequate bibliography. There is only a short list of suggestions for further reading.

Great undergraduate book

Dunstan's textbook works well as an undergraduate textbook, and, indeed, as an introduction for the layperson or non-specialist as well. His style is clear, his use of evidence appropriate, and his images improve the text without pulling the reader from the words. A little expensive for undergraduates but could easily be the only book in an introductory class on the entire Near East.

Easily the best book in the field.

I found this book thoroughly delightful and informative. This superbly researched and written work focuses on the ancient cultural and social history of the vast sweep of territory from Egypt to Iraq. The author writes with soaring prose, covering complex material with absolute clarity. You won't be able to put this one down until you reach the final page.