Summary
The author, a historian brings to life the world of ancient Mesopotamia and the city of Babylon, tracing their rise from a loose federation to a monarchy to the rise of ancient Sumerian civilization, with its tales of the Great Flood and the epics of semidivine heroes such as Gilgamesh. Full description
- Lessons from the past: an Introduction
- Kingship descends from heaven: the urban revolution before 4000 BCE
- The City of Gilgamesh: temple rule between c. 4000 and 3000 BCE
- The flood: a Caesura in history
- Big men and kings: the city-states, c. 3000 to 2300 BCE
- Rulers of the four quarters: the bronze heroic age, c. 2300 to 2200 BCE
- Sumer resurgent: the Dirigiste state, c. 2100 to 2000 BCE
- Old Babylon: the culmination, c. 1900 to 1600 BCE
- Empire of Ashur: colossus of the first millennium, c. 1800 BCE to 700 BCE
- Passing the baton: an end and a beginning after 700 BCE.