Scan barcode
berenikeasteria's review
5.0
Well known as a classic of its field, Mario Liverani’s book was first published in 1988 in Italian, but proved to be so popular that it has been translated into several other languages for the use of students of the ancient near east, and an updated edition issued in 2013. I read the latest version, in English. I’m not sure you could ever call any book concerned with one particular region in history ‘definitive’ or ‘comprehensive’, since the scope is too impossibly vast to fit into one book. What I would call Liverani’s book, however, is thorough. By ‘near east’ it takes the eastern reaches of Mesopotamia to the western coastline of Anatolia, and from Urartu in the north to the Levant in the south, covering a time period from the nascent Bronze Age to the rise of the Persian empire across the entire region. Liverani begins each chapter by clearly explaining the historical events and engaging the reader, before going on to more complex concepts of the administrative, economic, and religious functioning of the state. In this way his writing style holds the attention as well as illuminating its particular subject. It is well worth the read for new students, and a re-read from experienced ancient near east historians too.
9 out of 10
anshin's review against another edition
5.0
Ancora non riesco a credere di averlo studiato tutto!
È un'opera universale! Tutto il Vicino Oriente antico analizzato per filo e per segno da Mario Liverani. È un testo di ampio respiro che riesce a sottolineare tutti gli aspetti più importanti (e non solo) dell'Antica Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Iran e quant'altro.
Davvero stupefacente.
Studiato tutto per un esame universitario, assolutamente attuale anche se è passato del tempo dalla sua prima stesura (anni '80 con revisione degli anni 2000).
Tutta la storia dal III millennio al VI secolo a.C.in un solo volume! :)
È un'opera universale! Tutto il Vicino Oriente antico analizzato per filo e per segno da Mario Liverani. È un testo di ampio respiro che riesce a sottolineare tutti gli aspetti più importanti (e non solo) dell'Antica Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Iran e quant'altro.
Davvero stupefacente.
Studiato tutto per un esame universitario, assolutamente attuale anche se è passato del tempo dalla sua prima stesura (anni '80 con revisione degli anni 2000).
Tutta la storia dal III millennio al VI secolo a.C.in un solo volume! :)
brynhammond's review
5.0
This is an acknowledged classic in the Italian that took a while to be translated; the English version has been updated, however.
I've read selections; from them, it's romped home to be my first consult on the societies covered. From prehistory to the advent of the Persians; but it's 600+ pages, large format (1000 in the Italian paperback) and Liverani has the skill to convey issues in this space -- in other words, it feels as if it has depth. Liverani, I understand, elsewhere, is not afraid of theory and its applications; but this is plainly written and enjoyable to read. If I taught I'd set it as the text.
Frequent boxes with primary sources add; pretty well illustrated too.
I've read selections; from them, it's romped home to be my first consult on the societies covered. From prehistory to the advent of the Persians; but it's 600+ pages, large format (1000 in the Italian paperback) and Liverani has the skill to convey issues in this space -- in other words, it feels as if it has depth. Liverani, I understand, elsewhere, is not afraid of theory and its applications; but this is plainly written and enjoyable to read. If I taught I'd set it as the text.
Frequent boxes with primary sources add; pretty well illustrated too.
More...