The Sumerian World (Routledge Worlds)

The Sumerian World explores the archaeology, history and art of southern Mesopotamia and its relationships with its neighbours from c.3,000 - 2,000BC. Including material hitherto unpublished from recent excavations, the articles are organised thematically using evidence from archaeology, texts and the natural sciences. This broad treatment will also make the volume of interest to students looking for comparative data in allied subjects such as ancient literature and early religions. Providing an authoritative, comprehensive and up to date overview of the Sumerian period written by some of the best qualified scholars in the field, The Sumerian World will satisfy students, researchers, academics, and the knowledgeable layperson wishing to understand the world of southern Mesopotamia in the third millennium. Physical geography / Jennifer Pournelle Hydraulic landscapes and irrigation systems of sumer / Tony J Wilkinson Sumerian agriculture and land management / Magnus Widell The end of prehistory and the Uruk period / Guillermo Algaze The Sumerian language / Graham Cunningham History and chronology / Nicole Brisch Patterns of settlement in Sumer and Akkad / Jason Ur The organisation of a Sumerian town : the physical remains of ancient social systems / Elizabeth C. Stone Public buildings, palaces and temples / Marlies Heinz Kings and queens : representation and reality / Claudia E. Suter Sacred marriage / Kathleen McCaffrey In the service of the gods : the ministering clergy / Joan Goodnick Westenholz Democracy and the rule of law, the assembly and the first law code / Marc Van de Mieroop Administrators and scholars : the first scribes and their ethos / Jon Taylor Calendars and counting / Tonia Sharlach Seals and sealings in the Sumerian world / Holly Pittman. Archaeology of the Sumerian home : reconstructing Sumerian daily life / Paul Collins Women and agency : a survey from late Uruk to the end of Ur III / Julia M. Ascher-Greve A note on Sumerian fashion / Lamia al Gailani Sumerian industries and their makers : crafting textiles / Rita P. Wright Death and burial / Helga Vogel Sumerian mythology / Benjamin R. Foster Trade in the Sumerian world / Harriet Crawford North Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC / Augusta McMahon Cultural developments in western Syria and the Middle Euphrates Valley during the Sumer, Akkad, Ebla and Anatolia / Christoph Bachhuber The kindgom of Mari / Jean-Claude Margueron Ebla / Frances Pinnock Iran and its neighbours / C.C.Lamberg-Karlovsky The Sumerians and the Gulf / Robert Carter Mesopotamia, Meluhha, and those in between / Christopher P. Thornton Egypt and Mesopotamia / Alice Stevenson The Mesopotamian marshlands, a personal recollection / Azzam Alwash. Cover Title Copyright CONTENTS List of illustrations List of contributors Chronological framework for fourth millennium southern Mesopotamia Historical phases and kings of the third millennium BC Introduction PART I: THE BACKGROUND 1 Physical geography 2 Hydraulic landscapes and irrigation systems of Sumer 3 Sumerian agriculture and land management 4 The end of prehistory and the Uruk period 5 The Sumerian language 6 History and chronology PART II: SUMERIAN SOCIETY: THE MATERIAL REMAINS 7 Patterns of settlement in Sumer and Akkad 8 The organisation of a Sumerian town: the physical remains of ancient social systems 9 Public buildings, palaces and temples 10 Kings and queens: representation and reality 11 The Sumerian sacred marriage: texts and images 12 In the service of the gods: the ministering clergy PART III: SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT 13 Democracy and the rule of law, the assembly and the first law code 14 Administrators and scholars: the first scribes 15 Calendars and counting 16 Seals and sealings in the Sumerian World PART IV: LIFE AND DEATH 17 Everyday life in Sumer 18 Women and agency: a survey from Late Uruk to the end of Ur III 19 A note on Sumerian fashion 20 Sumerian and Akkadian industries: crafting textiles 21 Death and burial 22 Sumerian mythology PART V: THE NEIGHBOURS 23 Trade in the Sumerian World 24 North Mesopotamia in the third millennium BC 25 Cultural developments in western Syria and the middle Euphrates Valley during the third millennium BC 26 Sumer, Akkad, Ebla and Anatolia 27 The Kingdom of Mari 28 Ebla PART VI: THE ENDS OF THE SUMERIAN WORLD 29 Iran and its neighbors 30 The Sumerians and the Gulf 31 Mesopotamia, Meluhha, and those in between 32 Egypt and Mesopotamia POSTSCRIPT The Mesopotamian marshlands: a personal recollection Index 'The Sumerian World' explores the archaeology, history and art of southern Mesopotamia and its relationships with its neighbours from c.3,000 - 2,000BC. Including material hitherto unpublished from recent excavations, the articles are organized thematically using evidence from archaeology, texts, and the natural sciences