Summary of Amanda H. Podany's The Ancient Near East

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The ancient Near East is the birthplace of many of the units of measurement used today. The region was also the first to practice law and diplomacy, and its history was lost for centuries until archaeological excavations and the decipherment of ancient scripts. #2 The preservation of the civilization was due to the fact that in parts of the Near East, particularly in southern Mesopotamia, where many of the earliest cities were built, little stone or wood was available. The hot, dry climate of southern Mesopotamia did not allow for the growth of the types of tall, straight pine and cedar trees that were best for construction. #3 The tragedy of all this is that nothing that has been destroyed in the course of digging or looting can ever be recovered. Much of the knowledge that could have been obtained from these ancient towns and cities is lost forever. #4 The ancient Near East is a history of the region that is dependent on what has been recovered from the ground and when and by whom it was recovered. Modern scholars follow along in the footsteps of the early enthusiasts and thieves, piecing together a history from what they left behind.