Synopsis
Ancient Iraq, published in 1964, by Georges Roux, which, he modestly claimed, was for laymen and students, not scholars. But it was a major work, readable and authoritative, on the ancient history of the region formerly known as Mesopotamia, whose cultural achievements underlie much of our own civilisation. He justified the "Iraq" of his title by pointing out that the term covered three-quarters of the Tigris-Euphrates valley and also the ancient capital cities of Sumer, Babylonia and Assyria. Beginning with the geographical setting and an examination of the basis of chronology, Roux goes on to prehistoric origins before arriving at the first villages. Then, tracing the successive peoples, he shows exemplary caution in any attempt to characterise the Sumerians as a distinct race, and he likewise rejects the view that all Semitic-speaking people were nomads. Of the other peoples of ancient Iraq, he gives an excellent account of them all, moving into Hellenistic times and right to the beginning of the Christian period.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Georges Roux was a French writer born in Salon-de-Provence in 1914. The son of an army officer, he lived for 12 years with his parents in Syria and Lebanon before returning to study medicine at the University of Paris, graduating in 1941. While practicing medicine he also pursued oriental studies at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes. In 1950 he became a medical officer for the Iraq Petroleum Company, staying for two years in Qatar and seven in Iraq. Between 1956 and 1960 he wrote for the IPC's widely read journal, the articles of which eventually became Ancient Iraq, the authoritative work on political, cultural, and socioeconomic history from Mesopotamia days of prehistory to the Christian era. First published in English in 1964, the work has also been translated into French, Arabic, Spanish, and Polish.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
