Gr 6-10-This excellent presentation incorporates information about archaeological study and projects that led to revealing the history of that area. Chapters trace this ancient land from its early settlements and agrarian societies in the Fertile Crescent through the growth of city-states and empires to their demise. The text is highly readable; material is well organized; and black-and-white photographs, reproductions, and maps are well integrated. The addition of quotes from many primary archaeological sources makes this a vivid study of the ancient Near East. An extensive bibliography and list of suggested reading round out a welcome and useful addition to sources on ancient cultures. Pamela Service's Ancient Mesopotamia (Benchmark, 1998) is another good choice with the added plus of good-quality color photographs.
