Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent source for Egyptian and Mesopotamian History
Jack Finegan's book "Archaeological History of the Ancient Middle East" is a wonderful classic. His book is separated into two parts. The first being an examination of Mesopotamia from the beginning of theMesolithic to the end of the Persian empire. He covers in detailsignificant historical events within that time period of Mesopotamia. TheSecond part of his book deals with Egypt from the Mesolithic era to thefall of the Late Dynastic period at the coming of Alexander the Great.Thebook is beautifully pieced together with hundreds of photographs, tables,and maps from all the periods discussed. I highly recommend Finegan's bookfor anyone interested in Mesopotamian and Eygptian history. A must for anycollection ... Read more

Product Description
This pioneering study wrestles with the perpetual problem of chronology inthe Books of Kings. Starting from the conservative assumptions that the courtsof Israel and Judah maintained regnal records, and that these for the mostpart accurately reflect regnal length, the author arrives at a new andpersuasive dating for the reigns and their synchronisms.In addition, his chronological scheme includes all points of contact betweenIsrael and Judah and external powers, especially Assyria. The result is one ofthe most responsible and yet most critical chronologies proposed to date, andwill be the standard chronological reference for the next decade, if notlonger. ... Read more

Product Description
Volume II Part 2 deals with the history of the region from about 1380 to 1000 B.C., and includes accounts of Akhenaten and the Amarna 'revolution' in Egypt, the expansion and final decline of the Mycenaean civilization in Greece, the exodus and wanderings of the Israelites, and the Asstrian and Hittite empires. ... Read more

Product Description
Volumes I and II of The Cambridge Ancient History have had to be entirely rewritten as a result of the very considerable additions to knowledge which have accrued in the past forty-five years. For the same reason it has also been necessary to increase the size of the volumes and to divide each of them into two separately published parts. The individual chapters have already appeared as fascicles, but without maps, indexes and chronological tables which, for practical reasons, have been reserved for these volumes. Some additions and corrections have also been made in order to bring the text, as far as possible, up to date. Together the new volumes provide a history of Egypt and the Ancient Orient (including Greece and the Aegean region) down to 1000 BC in a form suitable for both specialist and student. Volume II, Part I, deals with the history of the region from about 1800 to 1380 BC. This was the era of Hammurabi in Western Asia, the Hyksos and warrior-kings of the Eighteenth Dynasty in Egypt, and the Minoan and early Mycenaean civilizations in Crete and mainland Greece. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Probably the most comprehensive work of history on paper
I remember growing up and finding the Cambridge Ancient History set of books in my local library. As a 10 year old, they were amazing - even if I didn't understand a lot of it.

Now, being slightly older, I can really appreciate a book like this. Not only is this book (and the entire set) this amazing collection of history, but I'm blown away with the depth and breath within these pages. If these books weren't so expensive, they deserve to be in every amateur historian's home.

Volume 1, Part 1 involves the history of the Near East from 3000 to 1750 BC/BCE. During that time, Egypt became unified and thus stable and created the environment to build the pyramids. Having been in Egypt earlier this year and at the Giza plateau, you go from shock and awe to How? and Why? This helped answer some of the questions I had. I'm still trying to work my way through the book. This book isn't casual reading, but it's a remarkable work. It's fascinating but dry.

The price of the books make this prohibitively expensive, but the used book prices might make this a tempting introduction to this amazing body of work. It's worth it.

Reference Title
The information in this volume is somewhat dated, but it remains a rich reference source.

Tried, Tested and True
This book even though a little startling at first. Brings to light some very hidden truths. These truths have been hidden from knowledge. The Bible states that "we shall know the truth, and the truth shall set us free". We need truth in a world full of uncertainties and lies. Truth brings knowledge. It is our Plumbline to measure everything with. We need this to survive. Life is empty in uncertainties. We know where we are going in truth and where we have come from! This book reveals - lays open, it is bare! Thanks for all the arduous research but it was well worth it. Thanks and well done. ... Read more

Product Description
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, art historians, scientists, and other specialists. It begins with an examination of prehistory, and then focuses on social and cultural themes while broadly outlining Near Eastern political and military developments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

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 howevercovers 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 butpolitical history is given less attention than typical.Despite the broad coverage, most of the key points are covered.Only four stars because there areno footnotes and inadequate bibliography. There is only a short list of suggestions for further reading.

Recommended with Reservations
This book is well-written, clear, and informative.It covers, naturally, the ancient near east, the Mesopotamians to the Persians inclusive.I do, however, have reservations about the book, namely because the author is quite antagonistic to religion.The text includes beautifully-phrased hostilities such as, "Atonism quickly took on the intolerance perculiar to religions focusing on one god" (143) and treats all religions as articifial, superfluous elements of human history.

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 textwithout pulling the reader from the words.A little expensive forundergraduates but could easily be the only book in an introductory classon 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 authorwrites 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. ... Read more

Product Description
Provides an account of what is known about the remotest geological ages, comprising chapters on the different kinds of evidence concerning man and his physical environment. ... Read more