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RECOMMENDED READING ON THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

Annotated by Carole Krucoff, head of the Oriental Institute Museum Education Department, with the assistance of a panel of teachers from the Chicago Public Schools

Abbreviations: pb: available in a paper bound edition

If you purchase any of these or other books by following this link to Amazon or Barnes and Noble a portion of your costs will go to support the Research Archives of the Oriental Institute.

General Information On Ancient Mesopotamia

Archaeology

First Cities

The Invention Of Writing

Literature

Math And Measurement/Science And Inventions

Law And Government

Religion

Architecture

Daily Life

The Role Of Women

Warfare and Empire

General Information On Ancient Mesopotamia

Books and Publications for Students:

Ancient Near East Coloring Book. Santa Barbara, CA: Bellerophon Books, 1992.
- Well-drawn pictures to color, based on mainly on Assyrian reliefs.
Calliope: World History Magazine for Young People. Mesopotamia Issue. Vol. 4, no. 1. Peterborough, New Hampshire: Cobblestone Publishing, Inc., September/October 1993.
- This excellent issue contains information and activities on a variety of Mesopotamian topics, all written to the level of the student. Especially useful for farming; the cites of Ur and Babylon; and the empires of Sargon the Great, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians.
Hunter, Erica. First Civilizations: Cultural Atlas for Young People. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1994.
- Wonderful full-color illustrations on all aspects of life in ancient Mesopotamia. Especially good on archaeological techniques, life and work in cities, ancient buildings and how they were constructed, and views of ancient sites as they look today. Text may be difficult for all but advanced readers.
Odjik, Pamela. The Sumerians. The Ancient World Series. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Silver Burdett Press, 1990.
- Well illustrated with full-color photographs and drawings. Most valuable as an introduction since it covers many topics but with little depth.
Pofahl, Jane. Mesopotamia. The Time Traveler Series. Minneapolis: T.S. Denison & Company, Inc. 1993.
- Valuable only for its activity ideas. Background information contains many factual errors.

Books for Teachers:

Scarre, Chris. Smithsonian Timelines of the Ancient World. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1993.
- Illustrated timelines in full color offer overviews in four areas- food and environment; shelter and architecture; technology and innovation; and art and ritual-around the world and across time from the first life on earth to 1500 A.D. Excellent reference for Mesopotamia and many other cultures.
Kramer, Samuel Noah. Cradle of Civilization. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1967.
- Beautifully written book contains thoughtful material on many Mesopotamian topics, especially cities; literature (with excerpts from literary works); religious belief and ritual; art and architecture; and science and technology. Highly recommended.
Kramer, Samuel Noah. History Begins at Sumer: Twenty-seven "Firsts" in Man's Recorded History. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1981.
- Mesopotamian achievements in fields that range from farming to medicine and education to politics are covered in this readable and interesting book.
Roaf, Michael. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. New York: Facts on File, 1990.
- Best single source for full-color illustrations and maps, as well as the best historical, archaeological, and geographical overview of ancient Mesopotamia.
Roux, George. Ancient Iraq. 2nd edition. New York: Viking Penguin Inc., 1980.
- A comprehensive and readable single volume on Mesopotamian history with good coverage of many topics.
Saggs, H. F. W. The Greatness That Was Babylon (New York: Hawthorne Books, 1962) and The Might That Was Assyria. (London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1984)
- Both volumes contain interesting and detailed information on daily life, technological development, and warfare, although both are written in a somewhat stilted style.
Time-Life. Sumer: Cities of Eden (1994) and Mesopotamia: The Mighty Kings (1995). Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books.
- These volumes from Time-Life's Lost Civilizations Series are fine sources for general information and superb illustrations concerning Mesopotamia in ancient times and views of sites in Iraq today. Especially useful for coverage of farming, daily life, literature (including excerpts from proverbs and poetry), and full color reconstructions of ancient Mesopotamian cities and their greatest buildings. Advanced student readers might enjoy both these books.

Audio-Visual Materials:

Iraq: The Cradle of Civilization (Legacy Series). New York: Ambrose Video Publishing, Inc., 1991. Color: 57 minutes.
- Fine video overview of ancient Mesopotamia, and its influence on our lives today. Special emphasis is placed on environmental issues.
Oriental Institute Slide Set. The History and Culture of Ancient Mesopotamia.
- Full-color slides and accompanying script provide an introduction to the peoples and history of the Tigris-Euphrates river valley, from the time of the Sumerians to the Persian conquest. Available for classroom loan. Call the Museum Education Office at (773)702-9507.

Other Resources:

Egypt and the Ancient Near East: Web Resources for Young People and Teachers, by Alexandra A. O'Brien.
Oriental Institute. Mesopotamian Mini-Museum.
A kit of authentically reproduced artifacts relating to many aspects of Mesopotamian life and culture. Especially useful for archaeology, farming, the invention of writing, architecture, and daily life. Most of the artifacts are reproductions of originals in the Oriental Institute Museum's collection. Includes teacher's guide.

Call the Oriental Institute Museum Education Office at (773)702-9507 for additional information on this and other resources.

Archaeology

Books for Students:
- Pickering, Robert B. I Can Be an Archaeologist. Chicago: Children's Press, 1987.
  - Very easy to read.
- Weitzman, David. Great Lives. Charles Scribner's Sons: New York, 1994.
  - This book profiles twenty-eight archaeologists, anthropologists, and folklorists, many of whom are famous for their work at ancient sites. Men and women of diverse backgrounds are featured, with information about their lives as children as well as their adult successes.
Books and Publications for Teachers:
- Chicago Tribune. "Maccabees cave found, Israelis say." Friday, November 17, 1995 issue, Section 1, p. 3.
  - Article tells of archaeologists finding cave containing remains of the Maccabees, the Jewish warriors whose fight against tyranny is celebrated at the festival of Hanukkah. Photograph shows some Israelis protesting the excavation as a sacrilegious disturbance of human remains.
- Daily Herald. "Archaeological Find Halts Naperville Bridge Plans." Tuesday, September 19, 1995 issue, p. 1.
  - This article describes how the Stone Age has collided with the transportation age here in the Chicago area. Archaeologists have discovered a treasure trove of Native American artifacts dating to 7000 B.C. at the site where the suburb of Naperville plans to build a crucial east-west highway bridge.
- McIntosh, Jane. Archaeology. Eyewitness Books, New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1994.
  - A book for beginning study. Superb illustrations could be shared with students.
- Renfrew, Colin, and Paul Bahn. Archaeology: Theory, Methods, and Practice. Thames and Hudson, 1991.
  - For those who wish to do in-depth study of archaeology, especially its current technological advances.
- Sterling, Mary Ellen. Archaeology. Huntington Beach, California: Teacher Created Materials, Inc. 1992.
  - Information for teachers and classroom activities for students.
- Warren, Rebecca Lowe and Mary H. Thompson, eds. "Dr. Aslihan Yener-Turkey-Archaeology-Digging Up History Project. Women in Science From Seven Continents, Vol. 2 in The Scientist Within You Series. Eugene, Oregon: ACI Publishing, 1995.
  - Featuring Oriental Institute archaeologist, Dr. Aslihan Yener, this article includes her biography and student activities related to her work.
- Wenke, Robert. Patterns in Prehistory. Oxford, 1990.
  - An enjoyable, readable discussion of the history and methods of archaeology.
Video:
- National Film Board of Canada. The Dig. 1989. VHS and 16mm, 22 min., color. Available to rent from Indiana University, Audio Visual Center, Franklin Hall, Bloomington, Indiana 47405-5901. Call 1(800) 552-8260.
  - Seventh grade teacher Richard Edwardson manufactures artifacts and archaeological sites and teaches his students excavation techniques. Archaeology magazine called this video an "impressive testimony to an impressive teacher."

First Farmers

See General Information Resources.

First Cities

Books and Publications for Students:
- Wilkinson, Philip and Jacqueline Dineen. Mysterious Places: The Lands of The Bible. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1994.
  - Chapters highlight the cities of Ur, Babylon, and Khorsabad, as well as ancient cities and sites in Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Iran, and Turkey.
Books and Publications for Teachers:
- Scientific American. Ancient Cities Issue. Vol. 5, no. 1. New York: Scientific American, Inc., 1994
  - Reprinting of seventeen important articles on ancient cities in both the old and worlds.

The Invention Of Writing

Books for Teachers:
- Claiborne, Robert. The Birth of Writing. The Emergence of Man Series. Time Life Books: Alexandria, Virginia, 1974.
  - A readable, well-illustrated survey of the birth and development of writing in the ancient Near East, with some information on writing as it appeared in the Far East and the Americas.
- Parrish, Joan. The Beginning of Civilization in Sumer: The Advent of Written Communication: A Unit of Study for Grades 5-8. Los Angeles: National Center for History in the Schools, University of California at Los Angeles, 1991.
  - A curriculum guide with information for teachers and activities for students. Some of background information is dated and does not reflect the latest research.
- Walker, C.B.F. Cuneiform: Reading the Past. University of California Press: Berkeley, California, 1987.
  - A detailed discussion of cuneiform writing. Also contains information on how cuneiform symbols were used in mathematics.

Literature

Books and Publications for Students:
- Bryson, Bernarda. Gilgamesh: Man's First Story. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1966.
  - Excellent version for teacher to read aloud to students. May be difficult for all but advanced students to read alone.
- Calliope: World History Magazine for Young People. Epic Heroes Issue. Vol. 1, no. 3. Peterborough, New Hampshire: Cobblestone Publishing, January/February 1991.
  - The Mesopotamian hero Gilgamesh is featured in this excellent issue, which also includes information and activities on heroes from other ancient cultures.
- Saxby, Maurice and Robert Ingpen. The Great Deeds of Superheroes. New York: Peter Bedrick Books, 1989.
  - Beautifully illustrated retelling of epic tales ranging from Gilgamesh to the heroes of medieval Europe. Introduction offers a summary of the themes common to epics of all eras and cultures. Text may be difficult for all but advanced readers.
- Zemen, Ludmilla. Gilgamesh The King. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1992. The Revenge of Ishtar. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1993. The Last Quest of Gilgamesh. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1995
  - Superb illustrations and a simplified text make the Gilgamesh story accessible to all readers.
Books and Articles For Teachers:
- Grutz, Jane Waldron. "Zeman's Gilgamesh." Aramco World Magazine. Vol. 47, No. 3, May/June 1996.
  - Fascinating article describing Ludmilla Zeman's research to prepare the children's books described above. Beautiful illustrations would be excellent for bulletin board display.
- Kovacs, Maureen Gallery. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1989.
  - Recent translation of the complete Gilgamesh epic.
- Kramer, Samuel Noah. The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1963
  - Much information and many excerpts from Sumerian literary works, including proverbs, tales, and poems.
- McCall, Henrietta. Mesopotamian Myths. London: British Museum Publications, 1990.
  - Good reference work, especially valuable for its listing of definitions.

Math And Measurement/Science And Inventions

Books for Students:
- Moss, Carol. Science in Ancient Mesopotamia. Franklin Watts: New York, 1989.
  - Complete resource for the more advanced student reader. Chapter on Mesopotamian mathematics is especially helpful in making a difficult subject understandable.
Books for Teachers:
- Hodges, Henry. Technology in the Ancient World. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 1992.
  - Fascinating study of many aspects of ancient mathematics, science, and technology. Excellent line drawing illustrations.
- Lumpkin, Beatrice. Multicultural Math and Science Connections. Portland, ME: J. Weston Walch Publisher, 1995.
  - Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Nubia are featured in this book of creative math and science activities for middle school students. Attribution of some inventions to ancient Africa is debatable. Other areas included are ancient India, China, and Mexico.
Video and Film:
- Coronet/MTI Film and Video. Ancient Mesopotamia. 1976. Color, 10 minutes. Available for purchase as video or film from Coronet /MTI Film and Video. P.O. Box 2649, Columbus, Ohio 43216. 1(800) 621-2131.
  - Highlights the technological achievements of the Mesopotamians as well as the role archaeologists play in bringing ancient accomplishments to light.
- Benchmark Films. The Glassmakers of Herat. Produced for the Corning Museum of Glass, 1982. Color, 16mm, 30 minutes. Available as 16mm film rental from Indiana University. 1-800-552-8620. $26.40, including shipping and handling.
  - A superb film showing how a family of glassmakers in today's Afghanistan produce beautiful glassware using the same techniques that are described on an ancient Assyrian cuneiform tablet.

Law And Government

Books for Students:
- Constitutional Rights Foundation. Of Codes and Crowns: The Development of Law. Law and World History Series. Los Angeles: Constitutional Rights Foundation, 1983.
  - Background information and activities on the development of law and legal systems from ancient times to the Renaissance. Written to the level of a middle school student, this book would also help teachers plan study units. An entire section is devoted to Hammurabi's Law Collection.
Books for Teachers:
- Fiero, Gloria. Origins of the Humanistic Tradition: The First Civilizations and the Classical Legacy. The Humanistic Tradition Series. Dubuque, Iowa: William C. Brown Communications, 1992.
  - Good introduction to the laws of ancient Mesopotamia, and how they compare to legal systems as they emerged in other areas of the ancient world.
- Roth, Martha. Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor. Scholars Press: Atlanta, Georgia, 1995.
  - The most recent translation of Hammurabi's Law Collection, as well as a compendium of the laws that preceded and followed it. Fine resource for those interested in an in-depth study of ancient Mesopotamian law.
- Woodard, Jo Ann A. The Code of Hammurabi: Law of Mesopotamia: A Unit of Study for Grades 9-12. University of California at Los Angeles: National Center for History in the Schools, 1991.
  - This curriculum guide has good activity ideas that can readily be adapted for middle school use. Some of the background information is dated and does not reflect the latest research.
Other Materials:
- Oriental Institute Museum Shop, the Suq. Neo-Babylonian Document Conferring Freedom on a Slave Family. Reproduction of a cuneiform tablet in the Oriental Institute collection.
  - Reproduction of a cuneiform tablet written in 560 B.C, which documents that a slave woman and her children were granted permanent freedom by their owner. Tablet comes with translation by J.A. Brinkman, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, For additional information, call the Suq at (773)702-9509.

Religion

Books for Teachers:
- Black, Jeremy and Anthony Green. Gods, Demons, and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia: An Illustrated Dictionary. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1992.
  - Contains excellent line-drawings of gods and goddesses and religious symbols.
- Edwards, Carolyn McVicker. The Storytellers Goddess: Tales of the Goddess and Her Wisdom Around the World. New York: Harper Collins, 1992.
  - Recommended highly by teachers as a source of stories to read aloud to students.
- Hamilton, Virginia. In the Beginning: Creation Stories From Around the World. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1989.
  - Also teacher-recommended as a good source for read-aloud stories.
- Frankfort, H. and H.A., John A. Wilson, and Thorkild Jacobsen. Before Philosophy: The Intellectual Adventure of Ancient Man. Penguin Books: Baltimore, Maryland, 1946.
  - A very popular source on religion.
- Wolkstein, Diane, and Samuel Noah Kramer. Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1983.
  - Good read-aloud material about the goddess who was also called Ishtar.

Architecture

Books for Students:
- Leacock, Helen and Richard. The Buildings of Ancient Mesopotamia. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., 1974.
  - Full color drawings and excellent black and white sketches make this the best visual overview on Mesopotamian architecture for young people. Text, however, may be difficult for all but advanced readers.
- Oakes, Lorna. The Assyrians Activity Book. London: British Museum Press, 1995
  - Wonderful black and white sketches, interesting, easy-to-read text, and creative activities.
Books for Teachers:
- Leick, Gwendolyn. A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Architecture. London: Routledge, 1988.
  - Good for definition of terms. Some illustrations.
- Reade, Julian. Assyrian Sculpture. London: The British Museum, 1983.
  - Good photographs of reliefs from ancient Assyrian palaces.

Daily Life

Books for Students:
- Morin, Etienne. Une Ville en Mesopotamie sous Nabuchodonosor: Babylon. (A City in Mesopotamia under Nebuchadnezzar: Babylon) Paris: Albin Michel Jeunesse, 1984.
  - While the text is in French, the book has detailed black and white sketches that bring ancient Babylon to life.
Books and Publications for Teachers:
- Bottero, Jean. "The Cuisine of Ancient Mesopotamia," Biblical Archaeologist, March 1985, pp.36-47.
  - Delightful article on Mesopotamian haute cuisine, written by an historian who is also a chef. Contains several ancient recipes.
- Conteneau, George. Everyday Life in Babylonia and Assyria. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1966.
  - The best single volume on Mesopotamian daily life.
- Oppenheim, Leo. Letters from Mesopotamia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987.
  - Translations of personal and official letters written on clay tablets mirror Mesopotamian life in all its variety.
- Poliakoff, Michael. Contact Sports in the Ancient World. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1987.
  - Focuses on boxing and wrestling in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece.
- Time Life. Time Frame 3000-1500 B.C: The Age of God Kings. Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books, 1987.
  - The first book in the Time Frame series of volumes that surveys historic developments throughout the ancient world, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Far East and the Americas. The section on Mesopotamia offers much material on daily life.
Other Resources:
- Kilmer, Anne. Sounds From Silence. Bit Enki Recordings and Publications: Berkeley, 1976.
  - LP Record and accompanying 26-page booklet on Babylonian music and musical instruments recovered during archaeological excavations. Order from Prof. Anne Kilmer, Department of Near Eastern Studies, 250 Barrows Hall, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-1940.
- Oriental Institute Museum Gift Shop, the Suq, sells a reproduction of the Royal Game of Ur, as well as reproductions of games from ancient Egypt. Call the Suq at (773) 702-9510.

The Role Of Women

Books and Publications for Teachers:
- Barber, Elizabeth Wayland. Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1994.
  - Highly readable survey of women's work in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. Also contains information on specific women in Mesopotamian history, one of the few readily available sources to do so.
- Van Der Toon, Karel. From Her Cradle to Her Grave. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 1994.
  - A look at the religious life of women in Mesopotamia and ancient Israel.
- Harris, Rivkah. "Women: Mesopotamia." The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol 6. New York: Doubleday, 1992 .
  - Concise, informative article on women's lives and social status in ancient Mesopotamia.

Warfare And Empire

Books for Students:
- Stillman, Nigel, and Nigel Tallis. Armies of the Ancient Near East, 3000 B. C. to 539 B.C. Worthing, Sussex, England: Wargames Research Group Publications, 1984.
  - Excellent reference for grades 6-8 with good illustrations of uniforms and equipment and an understandable text. Print is small.
For Teachers:
- Parpola, Simo. Letters from Assyria and the West: The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press, 1987.
  - Good description of communications in the Assyrian Empire and wonderful line drawings based on original reliefs.
- Time-Life Books. Time Frame: Barbarian Tides, 1500 - 600 B.C. Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books, Inc., 1987.
  - A good summary of empire-building in Mesopotamia, along with sections on warfare and other aspects of life in ancient Egypt, Greece, China, and the ancient Americas.
- Ussishkin, David. The Conquest of Lachish by Sennacherib. Tel Aviv, Israel: Tel Aviv University Publications, 1982.
  - The story of how the Lachish reliefs were created, rediscovered, and restored. Beautiful line drawings taken from the original reliefs.

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Revised: August 17, 2000
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