Early Mesopotamia: Society and Economy at the Dawn of History

the book gives an in-depth look at the foundation of much of western history.

Nicholas Postgate makes reading ancient history as interesting as reading a well written novel. Yet, he is thorough and detailed. This is an excellent book.

only a little bit writing, but still good

This is the main book everyone needs to have if they are going to be a Near eastern archaeologist. It covers nearly all aspects of Mesopotamia and even has further reading recommendations after chapters. Fantastic book!

Reading several books on Mesopotamia, I like this one the best! IT is useful for a class but also engaging and interesting. Now, I might not choose this as a pleasure read, but worth the work for the learning.

This is a true scholarly work, exhaustively researched and written by a pre-eminent authority in the field, making it unfortunately very dull. Postgate is unquestionably a master, with a vast knowledge of his field. He leaves no stone unturned, and explores all the critical issues in Mesopotamian archaeology, complete with numerous citations from cuneiform texts. However, being a true academic, his writing is very dry and sometimes awkward, making it difficult to stay awake when reading. Postgate provides detailed information and insightful commentaries on all aspects of Mesopotamian life, making this a worthwhile read. One can't help but wonder however, if the Mesopotamians weren't somewhat more exciting than Postgate's writing makes them.

Postgate has written an extremely helpful volume for students of ancient Near Eastern history and culture. It is a scholarly work yet quite readable. His emphasis upon geographical and environmental factors is refreshing and fills a needed gap at this level. Brief citations from contemporanious texts provide helpful illustrations along the way. Always conservative in his own estimation, Postgate provides a variety of alternative solutions to problems and questions raised by the evidence. He does not hesitate, however, to challenge prevailing views where the evidence suggests an alternative like the central role of the temple vs. the palace in this ancient economic setting. The book opens with a historical survey and moves on to provide an understanding of early Mesopotamian society up to the Old Babylonian period. This is a very fine volume.

Great!!!