Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II

Marc Van De Mieroop is Professor of Ancient Near Eastern History at Columbia University, New York. He has also taught at Yale University and 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).

"Throughout the chapters, various basic problems of historical methodology from interaction to self-identification, from technological change to collapse are faced and explained in an easy but correct way." (Recensiones, 2010) “Van de Mieroop takes on a complex topic-the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the Late Bronze Age in the Middle East and Mediterranean world. The bibliographic essays, more like bibliographic notes, are very useful for further reading … .Recommended." (Choice Reviews, December 2008) “A refreshingly literate depiction … .Welcome broad-brush viewpoint to those of us who study … one culture at a time, and sorely need the wider lens." (About.com)

• List of illustrations. Preface. Acknowledgments. Note to the reader. 1 The World in 1279 BC. 2 The Primary Actors: States. 3 The Other Actors: On the Fringes of the States. 4 Political Organization and Social Structure. 5 Diplomacy and War. 6 Food and Drink. 7 Aspects of the economy: textiles, metals, and trade. 8 Cultures in Contact. 9 A Mediterranean system. 10 End of an Era. Appendix: King Lists. Notes. Bibliography. Index.