Amanda H. Podany is Professor Emeritus of History at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and the author of Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East and The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction. She is also the author and instructor of an audio and video lecture series for Wondrium called Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization.

Adopting a truly innovative approach, Podany has provided us with a wonderfully vivid and compelling account of the region.

• Introduction 1. Uruk, the First City: Builders and Organizers, 3500-3300 BCE 2. The Uruk Period: Colonizers, Scribes, and the Gods, 3300-3000 BCE 3. The Early Dynastic Period: Kings and Subjects, 2900-2400 BCE 4. The Early Dynastic Period: Queens, Diplomats, and Weavers, 2400-2300 BCE 5. The Early Dynastic Period: Royal Couples, Divine Couples, and Envoys, 2400-2300 BCE 6. The Akkadian Period: A Conqueror and a Priestess, 2300-2200 BCE 7. The Ur III Period: Brickmakers, Litigants, and Slaves, 2200-2000 BCE 8. The Isin-Larsa Period: Kings and Military Commanders 2000-1800 BCE 9. Merchants and Families 10. Princesses and Musicians 11. The Old Babylonian Period: A Lawgiver, Land Overseers, and Soldiers, 1792-1750 BCE 12. The Old Babylonian Period: Naditums and Scribal Students, 1792-1712 BCE 13. The Late Old Babylonian Period: Barbers, Mercenaries, and Exiles, 1742-1550 BCE 14. The Late Bronze Age: Businessmen, Charioteers, and Translators, 1550-1350 BCE 15. The Late Bronze Age: Gift Recipients and Royal In-Laws, 1450-1333 BCE 16. The Late Bronze Age: Negotiators, Sea Traders, and Famine Sufferers, 1333-1000 BCE 17. Empire Builders, Sculptors, and Deportees 18. The Neo-Assyrian Period: Conspirators, Diviners, and Officials, 681-648 BCE 19. The Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian Periods: Gardeners, Artisans, and a Centenarian Priestess, 648-544 BCE 20. The Neo-Babylonian and Achaemenid Periods: Brewers, Rebels, and Exorcists 544-323 BCE Cast of Characters Acknowledgements Abbreviations Bibliography

Amanda H. Podany is Professor Emeritus of History at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and the author of Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East and The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction. She is also the author and instructor of an audio and video lecture series for Wondrium called Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization.

Adopting a truly innovative approach, Podany has provided us with a wonderfully vivid and compelling account of the region.

• Introduction 1. Uruk, the First City: Builders and Organizers, 3500-3300 BCE 2. The Uruk Period: Colonizers, Scribes, and the Gods, 3300-3000 BCE 3. The Early Dynastic Period: Kings and Subjects, 2900-2400 BCE 4. The Early Dynastic Period: Queens, Diplomats, and Weavers, 2400-2300 BCE 5. The Early Dynastic Period: Royal Couples, Divine Couples, and Envoys, 2400-2300 BCE 6. The Akkadian Period: A Conqueror and a Priestess, 2300-2200 BCE 7. The Ur III Period: Brickmakers, Litigants, and Slaves, 2200-2000 BCE 8. The Isin-Larsa Period: Kings and Military Commanders 2000-1800 BCE 9. Merchants and Families 10. Princesses and Musicians 11. The Old Babylonian Period: A Lawgiver, Land Overseers, and Soldiers, 1792-1750 BCE 12. The Old Babylonian Period: Naditums and Scribal Students, 1792-1712 BCE 13. The Late Old Babylonian Period: Barbers, Mercenaries, and Exiles, 1742-1550 BCE 14. The Late Bronze Age: Businessmen, Charioteers, and Translators, 1550-1350 BCE 15. The Late Bronze Age: Gift Recipients and Royal In-Laws, 1450-1333 BCE 16. The Late Bronze Age: Negotiators, Sea Traders, and Famine Sufferers, 1333-1000 BCE 17. Empire Builders, Sculptors, and Deportees 18. The Neo-Assyrian Period: Conspirators, Diviners, and Officials, 681-648 BCE 19. The Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian Periods: Gardeners, Artisans, and a Centenarian Priestess, 648-544 BCE 20. The Neo-Babylonian and Achaemenid Periods: Brewers, Rebels, and Exorcists 544-323 BCE Cast of Characters Acknowledgements Abbreviations Bibliography

Amanda H. Podany is Professor Emeritus of History at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and the author of Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East and The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction. She is also the author and instructor of an audio and video lecture series for Wondrium called Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization.

Adopting a truly innovative approach, Podany has provided us with a wonderfully vivid and compelling account of the region.

• Introduction 1. Uruk, the First City: Builders and Organizers, 3500-3300 BCE 2. The Uruk Period: Colonizers, Scribes, and the Gods, 3300-3000 BCE 3. The Early Dynastic Period: Kings and Subjects, 2900-2400 BCE 4. The Early Dynastic Period: Queens, Diplomats, and Weavers, 2400-2300 BCE 5. The Early Dynastic Period: Royal Couples, Divine Couples, and Envoys, 2400-2300 BCE 6. The Akkadian Period: A Conqueror and a Priestess, 2300-2200 BCE 7. The Ur III Period: Brickmakers, Litigants, and Slaves, 2200-2000 BCE 8. The Isin-Larsa Period: Kings and Military Commanders 2000-1800 BCE 9. Merchants and Families 10. Princesses and Musicians 11. The Old Babylonian Period: A Lawgiver, Land Overseers, and Soldiers, 1792-1750 BCE 12. The Old Babylonian Period: Naditums and Scribal Students, 1792-1712 BCE 13. The Late Old Babylonian Period: Barbers, Mercenaries, and Exiles, 1742-1550 BCE 14. The Late Bronze Age: Businessmen, Charioteers, and Translators, 1550-1350 BCE 15. The Late Bronze Age: Gift Recipients and Royal In-Laws, 1450-1333 BCE 16. The Late Bronze Age: Negotiators, Sea Traders, and Famine Sufferers, 1333-1000 BCE 17. Empire Builders, Sculptors, and Deportees 18. The Neo-Assyrian Period: Conspirators, Diviners, and Officials, 681-648 BCE 19. The Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian Periods: Gardeners, Artisans, and a Centenarian Priestess, 648-544 BCE 20. The Neo-Babylonian and Achaemenid Periods: Brewers, Rebels, and Exorcists 544-323 BCE Cast of Characters Acknowledgements Abbreviations Bibliography