The Ancient Mesopotamian City

Author: Mieroop

Urban history starts in Mesopotamia. In this volume Marc Van De Mieroop examines the evolution of the very earliest cities which, for millennia, inspired the rest of the ancient world. The political and social structure, economy, literature, and arts of Mesopotamian culture cannot be understood without acknowledging their urban background.

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Urban history starts in ancient Mesopotamia: the earliest known cities developed there as the result of long indigenous processes, and, for millennia, the city determined every aspect of Mesopotamian civilization. Marc Van De Mieroop examines urban life in the historical period, investigating urban topography, the role of cities as centres of culture, their political and social structures, economy, literature, and the arts. He draws on material from the entirety ofMesopotamian history, from c. 3000 to 300 BC, and from both Babylonia and Assyria, arguing that the Mesopotamian city can be regarded as a prototype that inspired the rest of the ancient world andshared characteristics with the European cities of antiquity.

Critic Reviews

“'Van de Mieroop's thoroughgoing treatment of the subject can be read toadvantage by every kind of ancient historian ... a splendid work of synthesis.'A R George, Bulletin of the SOAS 62:3 1999”

offers a starting point to the cities of Mesopotamia for both the lay reader and the undergraduate student.'E.J. Owens, The Classical Review, 2000.Van de Mieroop's thoroughgoing treatment of the subject can be read to advantage by every kind of ancient historian ... a splendid work of synthesis.'A R George, Bulletin of the SOAS 62:3 1999`His comparison and contrast of southern versus northern cities and planned versus unplanned cities gives a sense of the complexity, and his intelligent analysis of th e multiple loci fo social power offers insights into the contradictions ... frequent references to archaeological material are well integrated. This book deserves a wide audience.'Anthony Sinclair, AntiquityThis work is the survey of a city in Mesopotamian history by an author who has studied Old Babylonian Ur with distinction and it is a welcome addition to our understanding of Mesopotamian society, economics and politics. The book is attractive and well illustrated. - Daniel Snell - Bibliotheca Orientalis LV No 5/6 Sept-Dec 1988

About the Author

Marc Van De Mieroop has taught Ancient Near Eastern studies at Columbia University, New York, and now also teaches at the University of Oxford. He has written numerous books and articles including, most recently, "King Hammurabi of Babylon: A Biography" (Blackwell, 2004) and "A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000-323 BC: Second Edition" (Blackwell, 2007).

More on this Book

Urban history starts in Mesopotamia: the earliest known cities developed there as a result of long indigenous processes and, for millennia, the city determined every aspect of Mesopotamian civilization. Marc Van De Mieroop examines urban life in the historical period, investigating urban topography, the role of cities as centres of culture, their political and social structures, economy, literature, and the arts. He draws on material from the entirety of Mesopotamian history, from c. 3000 to 300 BC, and from both Babylonia and Assyria, arguing that the Mesopotamian city can be regarded as a prototype that inspired the rest of the ancient world and shared characteristics with the European cities of antiquity.