First Civilizations

Robert Chadwick

ISBN 10: 1904768784 / ISBN 13: 9781904768784

Published by Equinox Publishing Ltd, GB, 2005

About this Item

First Civilizations is the second edition of a popular student text first published in 1996 in Montreal by Les Editions Champ Fleury. This much updated and expanded edition provides an introductory overview of the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. It was conceived primarily for students who have little or no knowledge of ancient history or archaeology. The book begins with the role of history and archaeology in understanding the past, and continues with the origins of agriculture and the formation of the Sumerian city-states in Mesopotamia. Three subsequent chapters concentrate on Assyrian and Babylonian history and culture. The second half of the book focuses on Egypt, begining with the physical environment of the Nile, the formation of the Egyptian state and the Old Kingdom. Subsequent chapters discuss the Middle Kingdom, the Hyksos period,and the 18th Dynasty, with space devoted to Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, the Ramesside period. The text ends with the Persian conquest of Mesopotamia and Egypt. First Civilizations also contains sections on astronomy, medicine, architecture, eschatology, religion, burial practices and mummification, and discusses the myths of Gilgamesh, Isis and Osiris. Each chapter has a basic bibliography which emphasizes English language encyclopedias, books and journals specializing in the ancient Near East.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781904768784

Bibliographic Details

• Title: First Civilizations
• Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd, GB
• Publication Date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1904768784
• ISBN 13: 9781904768784
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: New
• Weight: 903 grams

About this title

Synopsis

First published in French in 1996, this second edition of First Civilizations has been expanded and updated offering an up-to-date overview of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Geared towards students new to the subject, the readable text and abundant illustrations offer a basic guide to the history of these two civilisations with discussion of other topics such as religion, science and medicine.

About the Author

Robert Chadwick is Adjunct Professor at McGill University. He has, since 1972, taught the history and culture of the ancient Near East at John Abbott College, Concordia University, McGill University, l'Universite de Montreal and Bishop's University. He has excavated in England, the American south-west, Syria and Jordan. He is currently the assistant director of the Wadi Ath-Thamad Excavation Project.