Civilization Before Greece and Rome

H. W. F. Saggs

ISBN 10: 0300044402 / ISBN 13: 9780300044409

Published by Yale Univ. Pr. (c.1989), 1989

Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0300044402I3N00

Synopsis:

For many centuries it was accepted that civilization began with the Greeks and Romans. During the last two hundred years, however, archaeological discoveries in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Crete, Syria, Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus Valley have revealed that rich cultures existed in these regions some two thousand years before the Greco-Roman era. In this fascinating work, H.W.F Saggs presents a wide-ranging survey of the more notable achievements of these societies, showing how much the ancient peoples of the Near and Middle East have influenced the patterns of our daily lives. Saggs discussesthe the invention of writing, tracing it from the earliest pictograms (designed for account-keeping) to the Phoenician alphabet, the source of the Greek and all European alphabets. He investigates teh curricula, teaching methods, and values of the schools from which scribes graduated. Analyzing the provisions of some of the law codes, he illustrates the operation of international law and the international trade that it made possible. Saggs highlights the creative ways that these ancient peoples used their natural resources, describing the vast works in stone created by the Egyptians, the development of technology in bronze and iron, and the introduction of useful plants into regions outside their natural habitat. In chapters on mathematics, astronomy, and medicine, he offers interesting explanations about how modern calculations of time derive from the ancient world, how the Egyptians practiced scientific surgery, and how the Babylonians used algebra. The book concludes with a discussion of ancient religion, showing its evolution from the most primitive forms toward monotheism.

From the Back Cover: In this fascinating work, H.W.F. Saggs presents a wide-ranging survey of the greatest achievements of the ancient civilizations of the Near and Middle East--from the Phoenician alphabet to mathematics, astronomy, medicine, religion, and international law--and shows how their influence is still felt today.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Civilization Before Greece and Rome
Publisher: Yale Univ. Pr. (c.1989)
Publication Date: 1989
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket