Babilonia

This is 2nd in the "Ancient Cities & Temples" series. The 1st volume was Jerusalem. Babylon has more historical reality as the archeological discoveries have revealed remains of her glory & documents have given credence to the rumored brilliance of her sociological development. Babylon retained importance for almost 1200 years. Military success wasn't all. The impact of her culture, religious development, crafts, trade, law code, transportation & communication methods--all have taken on significance with Mesopotamian archeology. This book is an attempt to recreate Babylonia, on the groundwork of the Sumerian culture, on what's known of her rulers. In the Old Babylonian era the sources of knowledge are dependent on clay tablets, deciphered documents, remnants of art--all pointing to a way of life. Hammurabi's Code had overtones of morality as well as politics. The city state's life was remarkably cohesive. Then a gap--with high spots known down to the sacking of Thebes. The NeoBabylonian era was ushered in by Nebuchadnezzar, who added to his father's conquests, whose kingdom fell only before the onslaught of the Persian Cyrus. Considerable space is devoted to recreating the city as it must have been--a city now taken over by the desert.--Kirkus (edited)